Far Ultraviolet Spectral Analysis of the Prototype Nova-Like Variable VY Sculptoris from the High State to the Low State

Abstract

The prototype nova-like variable VY Sculptoris was observed by the IUE during four different optical brightness states of the system. The FUV flux level from the highest state to the lowest state declines by a factor of 28. We have carried out model accretion disk and white dwarf atmosphere fitting to the spectra. The corresponding accretion rates range from $\dot{M}=8\times 10^{-9}$M$_{\sun}$ yr${}^{-1}$ at the highest FUV flux level down to $\dot{M}=1.9\times 10^{-10}$M$_{\sun}$ yr${}^{-1}$ at the lowest flux level. We report tentative evidence for the detection of the underlying white dwarf with $T_{\mathrm{eff}}=45,000$K in the spectrum with the lowest flux level.

Accepted for publication in the PASP (to appear in February, 2008 issue)

References in corpus (4)

• Detailed Mid- and Far-Ultraviolet Model Spectra for Accretion Disks in Cataclysmic Binaries
• A recalibration of IUE NEWSIPS low dispersion data
• MV Lyrae in Low, Intermediate, and High States
• Time-Resolved Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of the SW Sex Star DW UMa: Confirmation of a Hidden White Dwarf and the UV Counterpart to Phase 0.5 Absorption Events

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Novalike Cataclysmic Variables in the Infrared
• On The Accretion Rates of SW Sextantis Nova-Like Variables
• A Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Survey of High Declination Dwarf Novae
• Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Spectroscopy of the Nova-like BB Doradus
• Catching VY Sculptoris in a low state
• On the M_V -- Inclination Relationship for Nova-like Variables
• X-ray and UV observations of V751 Cyg in an optical high state