Schwope, A. D., Horne, K., Steeghs, D. and Still, M. (2011) Dissecting the donor star in the eclipsing polar HU Aquarii. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Vol.531 . Article A34. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201016373

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Abstract

Medium-resolution spectroscopic observations with full phase coverage of the eclipsing polar HU Aqr are presented. Na I absorption and Ca II emission lines are used to trace the secondary star. While the Na I lines seem to have contributions from both hemispheres of the donor star, the Ca II lines were found to originate from the irradiated part of its surface alone. An irradiation model was applied and the irradiation-weighted radial velocity amplitude was used to determine the mass ratio Q = M(WD)/M(2) = 4.58 +/- 0.20. When combined with high-speed photometric low-state eclipse light curves, the white dwarf mass is constrained to 0.75 < M(WD)/M(circle dot) < 0.84 with a best-fit value of M(WD) = (0.80 +/- 0.04) M(circle dot), and M(2) = (0.18 +/- 0.06) M(circle dot) at an orbital inclination of i = 87(-0.5)(o+0.8).

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Eclipsing binaries, Variable stars
Journal or Publication Title:	Astronomy & Astrophysics
Publisher:	E D P Sciences
ISSN:	0004-6361
Official Date:	2011
Dates:	Date Event 2011 Published
Volume:	Vol.531
Page Range:	Article A34
DOI:	10.1051/0004-6361/201016373
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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