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High-speed photometry of Gaia14aae : an eclipsing AM CVn that challenges formation models

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Green, Matthew J., Marsh, Tom, Steeghs, D., Kupfer, T., Ashley, R. P., Bloemen, S., Breedt, E., Campbell, H. C., Chakpor, A., Copperwheat, C. M. et al.
(2018) High-speed photometry of Gaia14aae : an eclipsing AM CVn that challenges formation models. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 476 (2). pp. 1663-1679. doi:10.1093/mnras/sty299 ISSN 0035-8711.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/sty299

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Abstract

AM CVn-type systems are ultra-compact, hydrogen-deficient accreting binaries with degenerate or semi-degenerate donors. The evolutionary history of these systems can be explored by constraining the properties of their donor stars. We present high-speed photometry of Gaia14aae, an AM CVn with a binary period of 49.7 minutes and the first AM CVn in which the central white dwarf is fully eclipsed by the donor star. Modelling of the lightcurves of this system allows for the most precise measurement to date of the donor mass of an AM CVn, and relies only on geometric and well-tested physical assumptions. We find a mass ratio q=M2/M1=0.0287±0.0020 and masses M1=0.87±0.02M⊙ and M2=0.0250±0.0013M⊙. We compare these properties to the three proposed channels for AM CVn formation. Our measured donor mass and radius do not fit with the contraction that is predicted for AM CVn donors descended from white dwarfs or helium stars at long orbital periods. The donor properties we measure fall in a region of parameter space in which systems evolved from hydrogen-dominated cataclysmic variables are expected, but such systems should show spectroscopic hydrogen, which is not seen in Gaia14aae. The evolutionary history of this system is therefore not clear. We consider a helium-burning star or an evolved cataclysmic variable to be the most likely progenitors, but both models require additional processes and/or fine-tuning to fit the data. Additionally, we calculate an updated ephemeris which corrects for an anomalous time measurement in the previously published ephemeris.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Dwarf novae, Photometry
Journal or Publication Title: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISSN: 0035-8711
Official Date: 5 February 2018
Dates:
DateEvent
5 February 2018Available
30 January 2018Accepted
Volume: 476
Number: 2
Page Range: pp. 1663-1679
DOI: 10.1093/mnras/sty299
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit: 6 February 2018
Date of first compliant Open Access: 6 February 2018
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
ST/N504506/1Science and Technology Facilities Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000271
ST/L000733/1Science and Technology Facilities Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000271
ST/P000495/1Science and Technology Facilities Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000271
ST/J001589Science and Technology Facilities Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000271
639.042.218Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoekhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003246
#HST-HF2-51357.001-ANational Aeronautics and Space Administrationhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000104
NAS5-26555National Aeronautics and Space Administrationhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000104
UNSPECIFIEDCalifornia Institute of Technologyhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100006961

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