BeppoSAX observations of the long period polar system V1309 Ori

Abstract

We present BeppoSAX observations of the peculiar long period polar system V1309 Ori (RXJ0515.6+0105). The source was detected simultaneously at soft and, for the first time, at hard X-rays with the LECS and the MECS detectors. Both, the LECS and the MECS light curves are irregular with a bursting/flaring type behaviour indicating inhomogeneous accretion onto the white dwarf. This peculiar variability, together with an extreme high soft-to-hard X-ray luminosity ratio, indicates that in V1309 Ori accretion occurs predominantly in highly compressed chunks or ``blobs'' of matter. From coordinated ESO optical spectroscopy, we find indications that the magnetic field strength of the white dwarf is < 70 MG, not expected either from the 8 hr orbital period synchronism or from the strong soft-to-hard X-ray ratio suggesting alternative solutions for sustaining synchronism in this system.