Multi-wavelength spectrophotometry of EX Hydrae

Abstract

We present phase-resolved infrared and optical spectrophotometry of the intermediate polar EX Hya supplemented by archival ultraviolet data. The spin-modulated emission from the accretion funnel and the emission from the accretion disk or ring contain substantial optically thin components. The white dwarf dominates the unmodulated flux in the ultraviolet and is identified by numerous absorption lines. Metal absorption in the accretion curtain may add to the observed spectral features. The secondary star is of spectral type M4+-1 and is detected by its ellipsoidal modulation. We derive a distance of 65+-11 pc which makes EX Hydrae one of the closest cataclysmic variables with a known distance. The luminosity derived from the integrated overall spectral energy distribution is 3x10^32 erg/s. The accretion rate of 3x10^15 g/s (for an 0.6 Msun white dwarf) is in reasonable agreement with the rates expected from angular momentum loss by gravitational radiation and from the observed spin-up of the white dwarf

15 A&A Latex, 9 Figures, accepted for publication in A&A

References in corpus (6)

• Brown Dwarfs and the Cataclysmic Variable Period Minimum
• Determining the mass of the accreting white dwarf in magnetic CVs using data
• The Spin Period of EX Hydrae
• Outbursts of EX Hydrae: mass-transfer events or disc instabilities?
• Secondary stars in CVs - the observational picture
• Infrared Observations of AR Ursae Majoris: Modeling the Ellipsoidal Variations

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• X-ray Confirmation of the Intermediate Polar HT Cam
• Spectroscopic Observations of the Intermediate Polar EX Hydrae in Quiescence
• Testing the cooling flow model in the intermediate polar EX Hydrae
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• X-ray Light Curves and Accretion Disk Structure of EX Hydrae
• Outbursts of EX Hydrae Revisited
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• Current and secular accretion rates of EX Hydrae