SPECTRAL MAPPING OF THE INTERMEDIATE POLAR DQ HERCULIS

R. K. Saito*, R. Baptista, K. Horne, P. Martell

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We report an eclipse-mapping study of the intermediate polar DQ Her based on time-resolved optical spectroscopy (Delta lambda similar to 3800-5000 angstrom) covering four eclipses. The spectra were sliced into 295 narrow passbands in the continuum and in the lines, and the corresponding light curves were analyzed to solve for a set of monochromatic maps of the disk brightness distribution and for the flux of an additional uneclipsed component in each band. Eclipse maps of the He II lambda.4686 line indicate that an azimuthally and vertically extended bright spot at disk rim is an important source of the reprocessing of X-rays from the magnetic poles. The disk spectrum is flat with no Balmer or Helium lines in the inner regions, and shows double-peaked emission lines in the intermediate and outer disk regions, while the slope of the continuum becomes progressively redder with increasing radius. The inferred disk temperatures are in the range T similar or equal to 13500-5000 K and can be reasonably well described by a steady-state disk with mass accretion rate of M = (2.7 +/- 1.0) x 10(-9) M(circle dot) yr(-1). A comparison of the radial intensity distribution for the Balmer lines reveals a linear correlation between the slope of the distribution and the transition energy. The spectrum of the uneclipsed light is dominated by Balmer and He I lines in emission (probably from the extended nova shell) with narrow absorption cores (likely from a collimated and optically thick wind from the accretion disk). The observed narrow and redshifted Ca II lambda 3934 absorption line in the total light spectra plus the inverse P-Cygni profiles of the Balmer and He II lambda 4686 emission lines in spectra of the asymmetric component indicate radial inflow of gas in the innermost disk regions and are best explained in terms of magnetically controlled accretion inside the white dwarf magnetosphere. We infer projected radial inflow velocities of similar to 200-500 km s(-1), significantly lower than both the rotational and the free-fall velocities for the corresponding range of radii. A combined net emission He II plus H beta low-velocity eclipse map reveals a twisted dipole emitting pattern near disk center. This is interpreted as being the projection of accretion curtains onto the orbital plane at two specific spin phases, as a consequence of the selection in velocity provided by the spectral eclipse mapping.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2542-2556
Number of pages15
JournalAstronomical Journal
Volume139
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2010

Keywords

  • accretion, accretion disks
  • binaries: eclipsing
  • novae, cataclysmic variables
  • stars: individual (DQ Her)
  • UX-URSAE-MAJORIS
  • HUBBLE-SPACE-TELESCOPE
  • 71 2ND OSCILLATION
  • NOVA Z-CHA
  • CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES
  • ACCRETION DISKS
  • RAPID OSCILLATIONS
  • DOPPLER TOMOGRAPHY
  • HT CASSIOPEIAE
  • EMISSION-LINES

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'SPECTRAL MAPPING OF THE INTERMEDIATE POLAR DQ HERCULIS'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this