On the frequency-dependent time lags of the intermediate polar V709 Cas

Abstract

Cataclysmic variables (CVs) are binary systems in which a white dwarf (WD) primary accretes material from a late-type secondary, typically via a disc. To date, only six CVs, all of which are non-magnetic, have been found to exhibit lags (delayed variability in one band with respect to another). In all six cases, these lags are ``red'' (i.e., red lags blue) with a time lag of order seconds. While there is no generally accepted mechanism for producing red lags in CVs, current theories suggest reprocessing in the disc, either on the thermal or recombination time-scales, or inside-out shocks propagating through the disc. Using $g$-, $r$-, and $i$-band data from the OPtical TIming CAMera (OPTICAM), we report the discovery of frequency-dependent red lags from V709 Cas: a magnetic CV of the intermediate polar (IP) subclass. These red lags reach a maximum of $\sim$4--6 s on time-scales of 7.4--13.0 min, similar to previously-reported lags in non-magnetic CVs. The detection of lags in an IP is significant as the WD's magnetic field truncates the accretion disc, limiting disc-based lag mechanisms to large radii; as a result, characteristic accretion disc time-scales cannot explain the observed lags. However, recombination can occur on second time-scales, even in systems with truncated discs. For example, we show that recombination in the disc's bright spot, where overflowing material from the secondary meets the outer-edge of the disc, plausibly explains V709 Cas's optical spectrum, the prominence of optical spin-orbit beat pulsations, and the red lags found in this work.