The Library
XMM-Newton observations of AM CVn binaries
Tools
Ramsay, G., Hakala, P., Marsh, T. R., Nelemans, G., Steeghs, D. and Cropper, Mark (2005) XMM-Newton observations of AM CVn binaries. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Vol.440 (No.2). pp. 675-681. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20052950 ISSN 0004-6361.
PDF
WRAP_Marsh_98_XMM-Newton_observations.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (525Kb) |
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20052950
Abstract
We present the results of XMM-Newton observations of four AM CVn systems – AM CVn, CR Boo, HP Lib and GP Com. Their light curves show very different characteristics. The X-ray light curves show no coherent pulsations, suggesting the accreting white dwarfs have relatively low magnetic field strengths. Their spectra were best modelled using a
multi-temperature emission model and a strong UV component. We find that CR Boo and HP Lib have X-ray spectra with
abundances consistent with relatively low temperature CNO processed material, while AM CVn and GP Com show an enhancement of nitrogen. A large fraction of the accretion luminosity is emitted in the UV. We determine accretion luminosities of ∼1.6 × 10 33 erg s −1 and 1.7 × 10 31 erg s
−1 for AM CVn and GP Com respectively. Comparing the implied mass transfer rates with that derived using model fits to optical and UV spectra, we find evidence that in the case of AM CVn, we do not detect a significant proportion of the accretion energy. This missing component could be lost in the form of a wind.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | Q Science > QB Astronomy | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Physics | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Cataclysmic variable stars, X-ray sources, Galactic | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Astronomy & Astrophysics | ||||
Publisher: | EDP Sciences | ||||
ISSN: | 0004-6361 | ||||
Official Date: | September 2005 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Vol.440 | ||||
Number: | No.2 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 675-681 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1051/0004-6361:20052950 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||
Funder: | European Space Agency (ESA), United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Suomen Akatemia [Academy of Finland], Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |