We present time-resolved photometry of the cataclysmic variable (CV) PTF1J2224+17 obtained during 4 nights in October 2018 and January 2019 from Inastars observatory. The object is variable on a period of 103.82 min. Archival Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey (CRTS), PTF, and ZTF-data show frequent changes between high and low states. Based on its photometric properties and the cyclotron humps in the identification spectrum the object is certainly classified as an AM Herculis star (or polar) with a likely magnetic field strength of B ~ 65 MG. Its accretion duty cycle was estimated from nine years of photometric monitoring to be about 35 %.
Polars are highly magnetic cataclysmic variables which have been long observed to have both high and low brightness states. The duration of these states has been previously seen to vary from a number of days up to years. Despite this; these states and their physical origin has not been explained in a consistent manner. We present observations of the shortest duration states of a number of Polars observed by ZTF and TESS. This has allowed us to determine that short duration states are a relatively common feature across the population of Polars. Furthermore we have been able to generalise the mo…
We improved the discless accretion models of Wynn \& King, considering the effects of the changing aspect due to the white dwarf spin and the variable feeding intensity caused by the asynchronism, and set up a more general spot model which is not sensitive to the different forms of these effects and can be applied for the period analysis of the optical and X-ray light curve. The spot model can produce the power spectra compatible with the observations, and its simulations limit the ratio $P_{spin}/P_{orb}<2$ between the powers at the white dwarf spin and the binary orbital frequencies, which i…
We aimed to identify the variable X-ray source 3XMM J000511.8+634018, which was serendipitously discovered through routine inspections while the 3XMM catalogue was compiled. We analysed the archival XMM-Newton observation of the source, obtained BUSCA photometry in three colours, and performed optical spectroscopy with the LBT. These data were supplemented by archival observations from the Zwicky Transient Facility. Based on its optical and X-ray properties, 3XMM J000511.8+634018 is classified as a magnetic cataclysmic variable, or polar. The flux is modulated with a period of 2.22 hr (8009.1 …
We studied Romanov V48, which had been considered as a possible polar below the period minimum (orbital period of 0.0420991 d). We analyzed the publicly available Zwicky Transient Facility data and found that this object is an intermediate polar with an orbital period of 0.102312 d (in the period gap) and a spin period of 0.0420991 d. The amplitude of the spin variation was very large (0.6 mag) and the profile has been confirmed to vary with the beat period of 0.071534 d. The ratio between the spin and orbital periods was large and the system resembles the intermediate polar DW Cnc below the p…
Based on the X-ray observations from XMM-Newton and Swift, and optical observations from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and AAVSO, we present temporal and spectral properties of probable intermediate polar SWIFT J0503.7-2819. The X-ray light curve shows two distinctive features, where possibly the second pole seems to be active during the middle of the XMM-Newton observations. Present analysis confirms and also refines the previously reported orbital period of SWIFT J0503.7-2819 as 81.65$\pm$0.04 min. The X-ray and optical variations of this target have been found to occur at the…
In this work, we present the first results of a study of a new sample of 7 polar candidates from polarimetric data obtained at the Pico dos Dias / LNA observatory. From the four polars analysed so far, we confirm the presence of high and variable polarization in 3. The data will be analysed using the code CYCLOPS.
Based on XMM--Newton X-ray observations IGR J19552+0044 appears to be either a pre-polar or an asynchronous polar. We conducted follow-up optical observations to identify the sources and periods of variability precisely and to classify this X-ray source correctly. Extensive multicolor photometric and medium- to high-resolution spectroscopy observations were performed and period search codes were applied to sort out the complex variability of the object. We found firm evidence of discording spectroscopic (81.29+/-0.01m) and photometric (83.599+/-0.002m) periods that we ascribe to the white dwar…
This study confirms MLS110213:022733+130617 as a new eclipsing polar. We performed optical spectroscopic, polarimetric and photometric follow-up of this variable source identified by the Catalina Real Time Transient Survey. Using the mid-eclipse times, we estimated an orbital period of 3.787 h, which is above the orbital period gap of the cataclysmic variables. There are nine other known polars with longer orbital periods, and only four of them are eclipsing. We identified high and low-brightness states and high polarization modulated with the orbital period. The spectra are typical of polars,…
Gaia19bxc is a transient detected on 2019 May 9 by the Gaia Photometric Science Alerts Team. I analyzed the past public Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) data and found that Gaia19bxc has a period of 0.04473647(3) d and two different maxima in one cycle. This object also showed high and low states in the ZTF data. Based on the high amplitude (2.0 mag) of the short-term variations, short period, almost zero color indices between the different ZTF bands and the absence of a longer period, I classified it to be a likely polar. There has been no established polar below the period minimum of cataclys…
We report the observation of a new dwarf nova, OT J055717+683226, during its first-ever recorded superoutburst in December 2006. Our observation shows that this object is an SU UMa-type dwarf nova having a very short superhump period of 76.67+/- 0.03 min (0.05324+/-0.00002 d). The next superoutburst was observed in March 2008. The recurrence time of superoutbursts (supercycle) is, hence, estimated to be ~480 d. The supercycle is much shorter than those of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae having supercycles of >~ 10 yr, which are a major population of dwarf novae in the shortest orbital period regime (<…
We present results of CCD photometric study of the intermediate polars FO Aqr, EX Hya and RXS J180340.0+401214 = USNO-A2.0 1275-09738647 and corresponding corrected ephemerids.
In this study, we investigate the period changes of eight short-period Type II Cepheids of the BL Her subtype, i.e., with periods in the 1-4 day range. The $O-C$ diagrams for these stars are constructed using all suitable observational data from ground and space surveys. This spans a time interval of over one century and includes digitized photographic plates as well as photometry from the literature. The $O-C$ diagrams show parabolic evolutionary trends, which indicate the presence of both increasing and decreasing periods for these eight short period stars. These period changes are in good a…
Blue Large Amplitude Pulsators (BLAPs) are a relatively new class of blue variable stars showing periodic variations in their light curves with periods shorter than a few tens of mins and amplitudes of more than ten percent. We report nine blue variable stars identified in the OmegaWhite survey conducted using ESO's VST, which show a periodic modulation in the range 7-37 min and an amplitude in the range 0.11-0.28 mag. We have obtained a series of followup photometric and spectroscopic observations made primarily using SALT and telescopes at SAAO. We find four stars which we identify as BLAPs,…
Magnetic cataclysmic variables are close binaries which consist of a compact object - a white dwarf - and a red dwarf filling its Roche Lobe. Such systems are physical laboratories which enable study of the influence of magnetic fields on matter flows. They often exhibit spin-up or spin-down of the white dwarf, while some systems exhibit more complex behaviour of the spin period change. We monitor changes of the spin periods of white dwarfs in a sample of close binary systems to study interaction of the magnetic field and accretion processes as well as evolution of intermediate polars. Within …
Our goal is to assess Gaia's performance on the period recovery of short period (p < 2 hours) and small amplitude variability. To reach this goal first we collected the properties of variable stars that fit the requirements described above. Then we built a database of synthetic light-curves with short period and low amplitude variability with time sampling that follows the Gaia nominal scanning law and with noise level corresponding to the expected photometric precision of Gaia. Finally we performed period search on the synthetic light-curves to obtain period recovery statistics. This work ext…
SuperWASP light curves for 53 W UMa-type eclipsing binary (EB) candidates, identified in previous work as being close to the contact binary short-period limit, were studied for evidence of period change. The orbital periods of most of the stars were confirmed, and period decrease, significant at more than 5 sigma, was observed in three objects: 1SWASP J174310.98+432709.6 (-0.055 \pm0.003 s/yr), 1SWASP J133105.91+121538.0 (-0.075 \pm0.013 s/yr) and 1SWASP J234401.81-212229.1 (-0.313 \pm0.019 s/yr). The magnitudes of the observed period changes cannot be explained by magnetic braking or gravitat…
We present the first scientific results of the program on short term period variable stars observed using the OAUNI facility at the peruvian Andes. These results include good quality light curves of delta Scuti stars, rapidly oscillating stars along with eclipsing and cataclysmic binaries. The photometric precision reached by the available instrumental and equipment, and used in the several scientific subprograms, has satisfied the initial expectations.
TESS light curves of two new magnetic cataclysmic variables: an asynchronous polar at the period minimum, and an eclipsing system with a large spin-to-orbit ratio
Bay Area Environmental Research Institute（湾区环境研究所）；Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences（波兰科学院尼古拉·哥白尼天文学中心）；New Mexico State University（新墨西哥州立大学）；Picture Rocks Observatory（皮克洛克天文台）；Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame（圣母大学物理系）；Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy, Department of Physics, Durham University（达勒姆大学物理系河外天文中心）；INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte（意大利国家天体物理研究所卡波迪蒙特天文台）
We present high speed optical, spectroscopic and Swift X-ray observations made during the dwarf nova superoutburst of CC Scl in November 2011. An orbital period of 1.383 h and superhump period of 1.443 h were measured, but the principal new finding is that CC Scl is a previously unrecognised intermediate polar, with a white dwarf spin period of 389.49 s which is seen in both optical and Swift X-ray light curves only during the outburst. In this it closely resembles the old nova GK Per, but unlike the latter has one of the shortest orbital periods among intermediate polars.
Sub-Neptunes around FGKM dwarfs are evenly distributed in log orbital period down to $\sim$10 days, but dwindle in number at shorter periods. Both the break at $\sim$10 days and the slope of the occurrence rate down to $\sim$1 day can be attributed to the truncation of protoplanetary disks by their host star magnetospheres at co-rotation. We demonstrate this by deriving planet occurrence rate profiles from empirical distributions of pre-main-sequence stellar rotation periods. Observed profiles are better reproduced when planets are distributed randomly in disks---as might be expected if planet…
Wong et al. (2018) recently performed an encouraging criticism to our paper "Gravitational waves from ultra-short period exoplanets" (Cunha, Silva, Lima 2018) exploring the potentialities of a subset of exoplanets with extremely short periods (less than 80 min) as a possible scientific target to the planned space-based LISA observatory. Here we call attention to some subtleties and limitations underlying the basic criticism which in our view were not properly stressed in their comment. Particularly, simple estimates show that a sphere encircling the Earth with a radius of 250 pc may accommodat…
