3,237 research outputs found
A Self-Occulting Accretion Disk in the SW Sex Star DW UMa
We present the ultraviolet spectrum of the SW Sex star and nova-like variable
DW UMa in an optical low state, as observed with the Space Telescope Imaging
Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The data are well
described by a synthetic white dwarf (WD) spectrum with T_eff = 46,000 +/- 1000
K, log g = 7.60 +/- 0.15, v*sin(i) = 370 +/- 100 km/s and Z/Z_solar = 0.47 +/-
0.15. For this combination of T_eff and log g, WD models predict M_WD = 0.48
+/- 0.06 M_solar and R_WD = (1.27 +/- 0.18) * 10^9 cm. Combining the radius
estimate with the normalization of the spectral fit, we obtain a distance
estimate of d = 830 +/-150 pc.
During our observations, DW UMa was approximately 3 magnitudes fainter in V
than in the high state. A comparison of our low-state HST spectrum to a
high-state spectrum obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer shows
that the former is much bluer and has a higher continuum level shortward of
1450 A. Since DW UMa is an eclipsing system, this suggests that an optically
thick accretion disk rim blocks our view of the WD primary in the high state.
If self-occulting accretion disks are common among the SW Sex stars, we can
account for (i) the preference for high-inclination systems within the class
and (ii) their V-shaped continuum eclipses. Moreover, even though the emission
lines produced by a self-obscured disk are generally still double-peaked, they
are weaker and narrower than those produced by an unobscured disk. This may
allow a secondary line emission mechanism to dominate and produce the
single-peaked, optical lines that are a distinguishing characteristic of the SW
Sex stars.Comment: 9 pages, including 2 figures; accepted for publication in
Astrophysical Journal Letters; New version matches version in press (footnote
added to discussion section; figures now use color
A new magnetic white dwarf : PG2329+267
We have discovered that the white dwarf PG 2329+267 is magnetic, and assuming
a centered dipole structure, has a dipole magnetic field strength of
approximately 2.3MG. This makes it one of only approximately 4% of isolated
white dwarfs with a detectable magnetic field. Linear Zeeman splitting as well
as quadratic Zeeman shifts are evident in the hydrogen Balmer sequence and
circular spectropolarimetry reveals 10% circular polarisation in the two
displaced sigma components of Halpha. We suggest from comparison with spectra
of white dwarfs of known mass that PG 2329+267 is more massive than typical
isolated white dwarfs, in agreement with the hypothesis that magnetic white
dwarfs evolve from magnetic chemically peculiar Ap and Bp type main sequence
stars.Comment: 5 pages, with 2 encapsulated postscipts figures include
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