Investigating AM Her Cataclysmic Variables with the Optical Pulsar Timing Analyzer - OPTIMA


Slowikowska A., Gozdziewski K., Nasiroglu I., Kanbach G., Rau A., Krzeszowski K.

18th European White Dwarf Workshop, EUROWD12, Krakow, Poland, 13 - 17 August 2012, vol.469, pp.363-364 identifier

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • Volume: 469
  • City: Krakow
  • Country: Poland
  • Page Numbers: pp.363-364
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We focus on short period eclipsing binaries that belong to a class of Cataclysmic Variables (CVs). They are known as polars and intermediate polars, closely resembling their prototype AM Herculis. These binaries consist of a red dwarf and a strongly magnetic white dwarf, having orbital periods of only a few hours. Monitoring eclipses of these typically faint sources demands high-time resolution photometry. We describe the very recent results obtained for two CVs, HU Aqr and DQ Her, which were observed with the Optical Pulsar Timing Analyzer (OPTIMA). The new observations of HU Aqr confirm that the O-C (Observed minus Calculated) diagrams exhibit variations known for this binary which can be explained by a single, massive Jupiter-like planet, possibly accompanied by a very distant companion.