We systematically surveyed period variations of superhumps in SU UMa-type dwarf novae based on newly obtained data and past publications. In many systems, the evolution of the superhump period is found to be composed of three distinct stages: an early evolutionary stage with a longer superhump period, a middle stage with systematically varying periods, and a final stage with a shorter, stable superhump period. During the middle stage, many systems with superhump periods of less than 0.08 d show positive period derivatives. We present observational characteristics of these stages and give greatly improved statistics. Contrary to an earlier claim, we found no clear evidence for a variation of period derivatives among different superoutbursts of the same object. We present an interpretation that the lengthening of the superhump period is a result of the outward propagation of an eccentricity wave, which is limited by the radius near the tidal truncation. We interpret that late-stage superhumps are rejuvenated excitation of a 3:1 resonance when superhumps in the outer disk are effectively quenched. The general behavior of the period variation, particularly in systems with short orbital periods, appears to follow a scenario proposed in Kato, Maehara, and Monard (2008, PASJ, 60, L23). We also present an observational summary of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae. Many of them have shown long-enduring superhumps during a post-superoutburst stage having longer periods than those during the main superoutburst. The period derivatives in WZ Sge-type dwarf novae are found to be strongly correlated with the fractional superhump excess, or consequently with the mass ratio. WZ Sge-type dwarf novae with a long-lasting rebrightening or with multiple rebrightenings tend to have smaller period derivatives, and are excellent candidates for those systems around or after the period minimum of evolution of cataclysmic variables.

Abstract. We report on time-series photometric observations in the earliest stages of superoutbursts of the extreme dwarf novae, AL Com and WZ Sge, which started on 2001 May after the 6 years quiescence and on 2001 July after the 23 years quiescence, respectively. We detected the growth of "early superhumps" during the each rising stage. Our observations reject the mass transfer instability for the trigger of the superoutburst of WZ Sge stars, and show the existence of some relations between the "early superhumps" and the spiral structure, which gives a hint of the origin of the "early superhumps."

Abstract. We report the abundance determination in the atmosphere of the bright halo star HD 221170. The spectra were taken with the Terskol Observatory's 2.0-m telescope with a resolution R = 45 000 and signal-to-noise ratio up to 250 in the wavelength region 3638-10 275 Å. The adopted atmospheric parameters correspond to an effective temperature T eff = 4475 K, a surface gravity log g = 1.0, a microturbulent velocity v micro = 1.7 km s −1 , and a macroturbulent velocity v macro = 4 km s −1 . The abundances of 43 chemical elements were determined with the method of spectrum synthesis. The large overabundances (by 1 dex relative to iron) of elements with Z > 38 are shown to follow the same pattern as the solar r-abundances. The present HD 221170 analysis confirms the non-universality of the r-process, or more exactly the observation that the astrophysical sites hosting the r-process do not always lead to a unique relative abundance distribution for the bulk Ba to Hg elements, the Pb-peak elements, and the actinides.

By using high dispersion spectra obtained by the 1.8 m telescope of Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory (South Korea), multiline least-square deconvolution of line profiles, and Fourier analysis techniques, we obtained the rotational velocities of the components of 23 binary systems. The rotational velocities for nine primary, eight secondary, and one tertiary components of these systems were determined for the first time. The rotational velocities for primary components of seven systems appeared to be significantly different than the corresponding synchronous values (more than twice as fast for five systems, and less than half as fast for two systems). Our velocities for AU Mon, RY Gem, and RZ Eri are significantly lower than the previously published values obtained by using one or very few lines. We show that these discrepancies can be explained by strong blending of the lines in the spectra of the primaries with strong lines of the secondaries, by influence of gaseous streams, and maybe by nonsolar chemical compositions.