Polars Changing State: Multiwavelength Long Term Photometry and Spectroscopy of QS Tel, V834 Cen, and BL Hyi

Long term optical and near-infrared photometric and blue spectroscopic observations were obtained for QS Tel, V834 Cen, and BL Hyi. The optical light curves of all three polars displayed large magnitude changes during our observations. These same high/low state transitions were also apparent in near...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2006-03
Main Authors: Gerke, Jill R, Howell, Steve B, Walter, Frederick M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Deposition
Field strength
Infrared photometry
Light curve
Long term
Luminosity
Near infrared radiation
Photometry
White dwarf stars
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Summary:Long term optical and near-infrared photometric and blue spectroscopic observations were obtained for QS Tel, V834 Cen, and BL Hyi. The optical light curves of all three polars displayed large magnitude changes during our observations. These same high/low state transitions were also apparent in near-infrared JHK photometry, though with decreased amplitude. The color of the polar with respect to its state was examined and found not to be a good indicator of the instantaneous state. During low to high state transitions, a nearly constant magnitude difference was observed in all three polars. This \(\Delta\)m value was found to be consistent with the level expected to occur if accretion onto the white dwarf reached the Eddington luminosity during the high state. The high state Balmer decrement was measured for each star and used to estimate that the temperature of the emission line forming region was ~12,000K with N\(_H\) near 12.8 dex. No relationship between the Balmer emission line strength and the white dwarf magnetic field strength was seen, in contrast to a good correlation between these two parameters observed for UV emission lines.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.0603097