Follow Up Observations of SDSS and CRTS Candidate Cataclysmic Variables

Abstract

We present photometry of 11 and spectroscopy of 35 potential cataclysmic variables from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey and vsnet-alerts. The photometry results include quasi-periodic oscillations during the decline of V1363 Cyg, nightly accretion changes in the likely Polar (AM Herculis binary) SDSS J1344+20, eclipses in SDSS J2141+05 with an orbital period of 76±2 min, and possible eclipses in SDSS J2158+09 at an orbital period near 100 min. Time-resolved spectra reveal short orbital periods near 80 min for SDSS J0206+20, 85 min for SDSS J1502+33, and near 100 min for CSS J0015+26, RXS J0150+37, SDSS J1132+62, SDSS J2154+15 and SDSS J2158+09. The prominent He II line and velocity amplitude of SDSS J2154+15 are consistent with a Polar nature for this object, while the lack of this line and a low velocity amplitude argue against this classification for RXS J0150+37. Single spectra of 10 objects were obtained near outburst and the rest near quiescence, confirming the dwarf novae nature of these objects. * Based on observations obtained with the Apache Point Observatory (APO) 3.5-meter telescope, which is owned and operated by the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC).

Exploratory Spectroscopy of Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables Candidates and Other Variable Objects

“…They are broadly consistent with previous studies in the field (e.g., Szkody et al 2002Szkody et al , 2003Szkody et al , 2004Szkody et al , 2005Szkody et al , 2006Szkody et al , 2007Szkody et al , 2009Szkody et al , 2011Szkody et al , 2014Thorstensen & Skinner 2012;Thorstensen et al 2016;Breedt et al 2014;Woudt et al 2012;Coppejans et al 2014).…”

“…Another outburst was recorded by ASAS at 16.39 mag on 2013 August 27 (Ohshima 2013). Szkody et al (2014) present a spectrum with strong emission Balmer lines obtained on 2013 September 3 and classify the object as a dwarf nova, possibly eclipsing due to the dispersion of the CRTS quiescent light curve. This spectrum was taken in a state brighter than the quiescent flux in the CRTS light curve.…”

A Trip to the Cataclysmic Binary Zoo: Detailed Follow-Up of 35 Recently Discovered Systems

“…Our mean spectrum ( Fig. 1) shows strong emission on a blue continuum, similar to that published by Szkody et al (2014) but covering a greater spectral range. Hα has an equivalent width (EW 2 ) of 80Å, and a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 1200 km s −1 .…”

“…Denisenko (2013;Vsnet-alert 16457) monitored the source more closely and suggested that it might be an active polar, or AM Her star. Szkody et al (2014) obtained spectroscopy on one night, indicating an orbital period near 103 min, which was corroborated by two humps seen in 2.8 hours of time series photometry. Because the HeII λ4686 line was absent, and the velocity amplitude modest, they rejected the polar classification.…”

High-speed photometry of faint cataclysmic variables – IX. Targets from multiple transient surveys

“…The system name and orbital period are shown in the plot. Only the later five runs (S8533 -S8545) are shown for ASASSN-14eq.4.5 CSS 0353-03 (CSS111231:035318-034847)After its discovery on 2011 Dec 31(Drake et al 2009),Szkody et al (2014) obtained a spectra of CSS 0353-03 during the 2013 Jan outburst. The spectrum showed a flat blue continuum.…”