We present 33 new mid-eclipse times spanning approximately eight years of the eclipsing polar UZ Fornacis. We have used our new observations to test the two-planet model previously proposed to explain the variations in its eclipse times measured over the past ∼35 years. We find that the proposed model does indeed follow the general trend of the new eclipse times, however, there are significant departures. In order to accommodate the new eclipse times, the two-planet model requires that one or both of the planets require highly eccentric orbits, that is, e ≥ 0.4. Such multiple planet orbits are considered to be unstable. Whilst our new observations are consistent with two cyclic variations as previously predicted, significant residuals remain. We conclude that either additional cyclic terms, possibly associated with more planets, or other mechanisms, such as the Applegate mechanism are contributing to the eclipse time variations. Further long-term monitoring is required.

We present an extensive Doppler tomography study of the eclipsing novalike EC21178-5417, which exhibits the classic accretion disc signature in the form of double-peak emission lines in its spectrum. Doppler tomograms confirm the presence of a strong, two-armed spiral pattern visible in the majority of the spectral lines studied. This makes EC21178-5417 one of the very few novalikes that show spiral structure in their discs. We also report night-to-night changes in the position and relative strength of the spiral arms, revealing fluctuations on the conditions in the accretion disc.

We present phase-resolved optical spectroscopy of the eclipsing nova-like cataclysmic variable EC21178-5417 obtained between 2002 and 2013. The average spectrum of EC21178-5417 shows broad double-peaked emission lines from HeII 4686Å (strongest feature) and the Balmer series. The high-excitation feature, CIII/NIII at 4640-4650Å, is also present and appears broad in emission. A number of other lines, mostly HeI, are clearly present in absorption and/or emission. The average spectrum of EC21178-5417 taken at different months and years shows variability in spectral features, especially in the Balmer lines beyond Hγ, from pure line emission, mixed line absorption and emission to pure absorption lines. Doppler maps of the HeII 4686Å emission reveal the presence of a highly-inclined asymmetric accretion disc and a two spiral armlike structure, whereas that of the Balmer lines (Hα and Hβ) reveal a more circular accretion disc. There is no evidence of a bright spot in the Doppler maps of EC21178-5417 and no emission from the secondary star is seen in the tomograms of the HeII 4686Å and Balmer lines. Generally, the emission in EC21178-5417 is dominated by emission from the accretion disc. We conclude that EC21178-5417 is a member of the RW Tri or UX UMa sub-type of nova-like variables based on these results and because it shows different spectral characteristics at different dates. This spectral behaviour suggests that EC21178-5417 undergoes distinct variations in mass transfer rate on the observed time scales of months and years.

We present phase-resolved spectroscopy, photometry and circular spectropolarimetry of the eclipsing polar UZ Fornacis. Doppler tomography of the strongest emission lines using the inside-out projection revealed the presence of three emission regions: from the irradiated face of the secondary star, the ballistic stream and the threading region, and the magnetically confined accretion stream. The total intensity spectrum shows broad emission features and a continuum that rises in the blue. The circularly polarized spectrum shows the presence of three cyclotron emission harmonics at ∼4500Å, 6000 A and 7700Å, corresponding to harmonic numbers 4, 3, and 2, respectively. These features are dominant before the eclipse and disappear after the eclipse. The harmonics are consistent with a magnetic field strength of ∼57 MG. We also present phaseresolved circular and linear photopolarimetry to complement the spectropolarimetry around the times of eclipse. MeerKAT radio observations show a faint source which has a peak flux density of 30.7 ± 5.4 µJy/beam at 1.28 GHz at the position of UZ For.

We present phase-resolved spectroscopy and circular spectropolarimetry of the eclipsing polar UZ Fornacis. Doppler tomography of the strongest features (Hβ line) using the inside-out technique revealed the presence of three emission regions: from the irradiated face of the secondary star, the ballistic stream and the threading region, and the magnetic confined accretion stream. The total intensity spectrum shows broad emission features that span the entire bandwidths with the continuum that rises in the blue. The circularly polarized spectrum shows the presence of three cyclotron harmonics at 4500 Å, 6000 Å and 7700 Å, corresponding to harmonic numbers 4, 3, and 2, respectively. These features are dominant before the eclipse and disappears after the eclipse. The harmonics are consistent with the magnetic field strength of ∼57 MG. We also present phaseresolved circular and linear photopolarimetry to complement the spectro-polarimetry around the times of eclipse. Our current MeerKAT observations show a faint source which has a peak flux density of 31 ± 6 µJy per beam at a position of UZ For. We place the formal upper limit of ∼37 µJy per beam at 1.28 GHz.

The blue continuum of the eclipsing polar UZ For is dominated by single- or double-peaked emission from He ii, He i and the Balmer lines. The red spectrum shows weak emission from the Na i doublet at λ 8183 and 8194 Å and strong emission from the Ca ii lines at λ 8498 and 8542 Å. Doppler tomography of the strongest emission features reveals the presence of emission from the irradiated face of the secondary star, the threading region, and the ballistic and magnetically confined accretion stream. We have obtained 28 new eclipse times of UZ For during 2011–2016 as part of our eclipse timing follow-up programme to test the two-planet model proposed to explain variations in the eclipse times of UZ For.