Gary Billings | Searcharxiv

arXiv2017

Evidence for High Eccentricity and Apsidal Motion in the Detached Eclipsing Binary GSC 04052-01378

We observed the recently discovered eccentric eclipsing binary GSC 04052-01378 in order to improve the light curve parameters and to find further evidence of its probable high eccentricity and of apsidal motion. Furthermore, we propose a basic stellar model that fits very well the observations of our dataset and where the eccentricity is found to be e = 0.538(6), which corresponds to an high value among this group of binaries.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2002

Rapid Oscillations in Cataclysmic Variables. XV. HT Camelopardalis (= RX J0757.0+6306)

We present photometry and spectroscopy of HT Camelopardalis, a recently discovered X-ray-bright cataclysmic variable. The spectrum shows bright lines of H, He I, and He II, all moving with a period of 0.059712(1) d, which we interpret as the orbital period. The star's brightness varies with a strict period of 515.0592(2) s, and a mean full amplitude of 0.11 mag. These properties qualify it as a /bona fide/ DQ Herculis star (intermediate polar) -- in which the magnetism of the rapidly rotating white dwarf channels accretion flow to the surface. Normally at V=17.8, the star shows rare and very brief outbursts to V=12-13. We observed one in December 2001, and found that the 515 s pulse amplitude had increased by a factor of ~100 (in flux units). A transient orbital signal may also have appeared.

astro-ph↗