paper

Orbital and spin variability of the Intermediate Polar BG CMi

arXiv:astro-ph/0507086 · doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20052995

Abstract

Results of a CCD study of the variability of the cataclysmic variable BG CMi obtained at the Korean 1.8m telescope in 2002-2005 are presented. The "multi-comparison star" method had been applied for better accuracy estimates. The linear ephemeris based on 19 mean maxima for 2002--2005 is HJD 2453105.31448(6)+0.01057257716(198)(E-764707). The period differs from that predicted by the quadratic ephemeris by Pych et al. (1996) leading to a possible cycle miscount. The statistically optimal ephemeris is a fourth-order polynomial, as a quadratic or even a cubic ephemeris leads to unaceptably large residuals: Min.HJD= Thus the rate of the spin-up of the white dwarf is decreasing. An alternative explanation is that the spin-up has been stopped during recent years. The deviations between the amplutudes of the spin variability in V and R, as well as between phases are not statistically significant. However, the orbital light curves exhibit distinct difference; the corresponding color index shows a nearly sinusoidal shape with a maximum at orbital phase The variations of the amplitude of spin waves shows a short maximum at the phase of the orbital dip. The corrected ephemeris for orbital minima is Min.HJD=$2448368.7225(12)+0\fd13474841(6)\cdot(E-24849)$ with a narrow dip occuring 0.07P later. The rate of the spin period variation seems to be changed, justifying the necessity of regular observations of intermediate polars.

13 pages, 9figures, accepted in 2005 issue of Astronomy and Astrophysics

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