Littlefair, S. P., Savoury, C. D. J., Dhillon, V. S., Marsh, T. R., Gänsicke, B. T. (Boris T.), Butterleym, T., Wilson, R. W., Southworth, J. and Watson, C. A. (2013) A J-band detection of the sub-stellar mass donor in SDSS J1433+1011. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 431 (Number 3). pp. 2820-2825. doi:10.1093/mnras/stt378 ISSN 0035-8711.

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Abstract

We present time-resolved J-band spectroscopy of the short-period cataclysmic variable SDSS J143317.78+101123.3. We detect absorption lines from the sub-stellar donor star in this system, which contributes 38 ± 5 per cent to the J-band light. From the relative strengths of the absorption lines in the J band, we estimate the spectral type of the donor star to be L2 ± 1. These data are the first spectroscopic detection of a donor with a confirmed sub-stellar mass in a cataclysmic variable, and the spectral type is consistent with that expected from semi-empirical evolutionary models.

Using skew mapping, we have been able to derive an estimate for the radial velocity of the donor of Kd = 520 ± 60 km s−1. This value is consistent with, though much less precise than, predictions from mass determinations found via photometric fitting of the eclipse light curves.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Physics
Journal or Publication Title:	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	0035-8711
Official Date:	21 May 2013
Dates:	Date Event 21 May 2013 Published 26 March 2013 Available 26 February 2013 UNSPECIFIED 15 February 2013 Submitted
Volume:	Volume 431
Number:	Number 3
Page Range:	pp. 2820-2825
DOI:	10.1093/mnras/stt378
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Open Access Version:	ArXiv

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