90 research outputs found
The Shape of Long Outbursts in U Gem Type Dwarf Novae from AAVSO Data
We search the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
archives of the two best studied dwarf novae in an attempt to find light curves
for long outbursts that are extremely well-characterized. The systems are U Gem
and SS Cyg. Our goal is to search for embedded precursors such as those that
have been found recently in the high fidelity Kepler data for superoutbursts of
some members of the SU UMa subclass of dwarf novae. For the vast majority of
AAVSO data, the combination of low data cadence and large errors associated
with individual measurements precludes one from making any strong statement
about the shape of the long outbursts. However, for a small number of
outbursts, extensive long term monitoring with digital photometry yields high
fidelity light curves. We report the discovery of embedded precursors in two of
three candidate long outbursts. This is the first time that such embedded
precursors have been found in dwarf novae above the period gap, and reinforces
van Paradijs' finding that long outbursts in dwarf novae above the period gap
and superoutbursts in systems below the period gap constitute a unified class.
The thermal-tidal instability to account for superoutbursts in the SU UMa stars
predicts embedded precursors only for short orbital period dwarf novae,
therefore the presence of embedded precursors in long orbital period systems -
U Gem and SS Cyg - argues for a more general mechanism to explain long
outbursts.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; accepted into the Astrophysical Journa
The Fall and the Rise of X-rays from Dwarf Novae in Outburst: RXTE Observations of VW Hydri and WW Ceti
In a dwarf nova, the accretion disk around the white dwarf is a source of
ultraviolet, optical, and infrared photons, but is never hot enough to emit
X-rays. Observed X-rays instead originate from the boundary layer between the
disk and the white dwarf. As the disk switches between quiescence and outburst
states, the 2-10 keV X-ray flux is usually seen to be anti-correlated with the
optical brightness. Here we present RXTE monitoring observations of two dwarf
novae, VW Hyi and WW Cet, confirming the optical/X-ray anti-correlation in
these two systems. However, we do not detect any episodes of increased hard
X-ray flux on the rise (out of two possible chances for WW Cet) or the decline
(two for WW Cet and one for VW Hyi) from outburst, attributes that are clearly
established in SS Cyg. The addition of these data to the existing literature
establishes the fact that the behavior of SS Cyg is the exception, rather than
the archetype as is often assumed. We speculate on the origin of the diversity
of behaviors exhibited by dwarf novae, focusing on the role played by the white
dwarf mass.Comment: PASP, in press (18 pages including 3 figures
Application of the Hilbert-Huang Transform to the Search for Gravitational Waves
We present the application of a novel method of time-series analysis, the
Hilbert-Huang Transform, to the search for gravitational waves. This algorithm
is adaptive and does not impose a basis set on the data, and thus the
time-frequency decomposition it provides is not limited by time-frequency
uncertainty spreading. Because of its high time-frequency resolution it has
important applications to both signal detection and instrumental
characterization. Applications to the data analysis of the ground and space
based gravitational wave detectors, LIGO and LISA, are described
High Redshift GRBs
The Swift mission has opened a new, high redshift window on the universe. In this review we provide an overview of gamma-ray burst (GRB) science, describe the Swift mission, discuss high-z GRBs and tools for high-z studies, and look forward at future capabilities. A new mission concept - Lobster - is described that would monitor the X-ray sky at order of magnitude higher sensitivity than current missions
Kepler Observations of V447 Lyr: An Eclipsing U Gem Cataclysmic Variable
We present the results of an analysis of data covering 1.5 years of the dwarf
nova V447 Lyr. We detect eclipses of the accretion disk by the mass donating
secondary star every 3.74 hrs which is the binary orbital period. V447 Lyr is
therefore the first dwarf nova in the Kepler field to show eclipses. We also
detect five long outbursts and six short outbursts showing V447 Lyr is a U Gem
type dwarf nova. We show that the orbital phase of the mid-eclipse occurs
earlier during outbursts compared to quiescence and that the width of the
eclipse is greater during outburst. This suggests that the bright spot is more
prominent during quiescence and that the disk is larger during outburst than
quiescence. This is consistent with an expansion of the outer disk radius due
to the presence of high viscosity material associated with the outburst,
followed by a contraction in quiescence due to the accretion of low angular
momentum material. We note that the long outbursts appear to be triggered by a
short outburst, which is also observed in the super-outbursts of SU UMa dwarf
novae as observed using Kepler.Comment: Accepted by MNRA
- …