arXiv subjects

Taichi Kato

Publications and source records attributed to Taichi Kato.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

SSS J122221.7-311523: Double Superoutburst in a Best Candidate Period Bouncer

We observed the 2012-2013 superoutburst of the newly identified transient SSS J122221.7-311523 and found that this object showed successive two superoutbursts. Superhumps grew in amplitude during the second superoutburst and showed a characteristic pattern of period change reflecting the growth of the superhump. Assuming that the periods of superhumps during the growing stage [0.07721(1) d] and post-superoutburst stage [0.07673(3) d], represent the dynamical precession rates at the radius of the 3:1 resonance and the radius immediately after the superoutburst, respectively, we found that this object has a very small mass ratio q=M2/M1 < 0.05. The possible orbital period from quiescent data suggests q=0.045, one of the smallest among hydrogen-rich cataclysmic variables. The long orbital period and low q make this object a perfect candidate for a period bouncer. We suggest that the peculiar pattern of double superoutburst is a result of a low q and may be characteristic to period bouncers.

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arXiv2013

New Method to Estimate Binary Mass Ratios by Using Superhumps

We propose a new dynamical method to estimate binary mass ratios by using the period of superhumps in SU UMa-type dwarf novae during the growing stage (the stage A superhumps). This method is based on a working hypothesis in which the period of the superhumps at the growing stage is determined by the dynamical precession rate at the 3:1 resonance radius, a picture suggested in our new interpretation of the superhump period evolution during the superoutburst (Osaki, Kato 2013, arXiv:1305.5877). By comparison with the objects with known mass ratios, we show that our method can provide sufficiently accurate mass ratios comparable to those obtained by quiescent eclipse observations. This method is very advantageous in that it requires neither eclipses, nor an experimental calibration. It is particularly suited for exploring the low mass-ratio end of the evolution of cataclysmic variables, where the secondary is undetectable by conventional methods. Our analysis suggests that previous estimates of mass ratios using superhump periods during superoutburst were systematically underestimated for low mass-ratio systems and we provided a new calibration. It suggests that most of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae have secondaries close to the border of the lower main-sequence and brown dwarfs, and most of the objects have not yet reached the evolutionary stage of period bouncers. Our result is not in contradiction with an assumption that the observed minimum period (~77 min) of ordinary hydrogen-rich cataclysmic variables is indeed the period minimum. We highlight the importance of early observation of stage A superhumps and propose a future desirable strategy of observation.

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arXiv2013

Analysis of a Kepler Light Curve of the Novalike Cataclysmic Variable KIC 8751494

We analyzed a Kepler light curve of KIC 8751494, a recently recognized novalike cataclysmic variable in the Kepler field. We detected a stable periodicity of 0.114379(1) d, which we identified as being the binary's orbital period. The stronger photometric period around 0.12245 d, which had been detected from the ground-based observation, was found to be variable, and we identified this period as being the positive superhump period. This superhump period showed short-term (10-20 d) and strong variations in period most unexpectedly when the object entered a slightly faint state. The fractional superhump excess varied as large as ~30%. The variation of the period very well traced the variation of the brightness of the system. The time-scales of this variation of the superhump period was too slow to be interpreted as the variation caused by the change in the disk radius due to the thermal disk instability. We interpreted that the period variation was caused by the varying pressure effect on the period of positive superhumps. This finding suggests that the pressure effect, in at least novalike systems, plays a very important (up to ~30% in the precession rate) role in producing the period of the positive superhumps. We also described a possible detection of the negative superhumps with a varying period of 0.1071-0.1081 d in the Q14 run of the Kepler data. We also found that the phase of the velocity variation of the emission lines reported in the earlier study is compatible with the SW Sex-type classification. Further, we introduced a new two-dimentional period analysis using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) and showed superior advantage of this method.

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arXiv2013

The Cause of the Superoutburst in SU UMa Stars is Finally Revealed by Kepler Light Curve of V1504 Cygni

We have studied the SC (short cadence) Kepler light curve of an SU UMa star, V1504 Cyg, which extends for a period of about 630 d. All superoutbursts in V1504 Cyg have turned out to be of the precursor-main type and the superhump first appears near the maximum of the precursor. The superhumps grow smoothly from the precursor to the main superoutburst showing that the superoutburst is initiated by the tidal instability (as evidenced by growing superhump) as envisioned in the thermal-tidal instability (TTI) model proposed by Osaki (1989). We have performed power spectral analysis of the light curve of V1504 Cyg. One of outstanding features is an appearance of a negative superhump extending for around 300 d, well over a supercycle. We have found that an appearance of the negative superhump tends to reduce the frequency of occurrence of normal outbursts. Two types of supercycles are recognized in V1504 Cyg, which are similar to those of the Type L and S supercycles in the light curve of VW Hyi, a prototype SU UMa star, introduced by Smak (1985). It is found that the Type L supercycle is the one accompanied with the negative superhump and the Type S is that without the negative superhump. If we adopt a tilted disk as an origin of the negative superhump, two types of the supercycles are understood to be due to a difference in outburst intervals, which is in turn caused by a difference in mass supply from the secondary to different parts of the disk. The frequency of the negative superhump varies systematically during a supercycle in V1504 Cyg. This variation can be used as an indicator of the disk radius variation and we have found that observed disk radius variation in V1504 Cyg fits very well with a prediction of the TTI model.

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arXiv2013

Analysis of Three SU UMa-Type Dwarf Novae in the Kepler Field

We studied the Kepler light curves of three SU UMa-type dwarf novae. Both the background dwarf nova of KIC 4378554 and V516 Lyr showed a combination of precursor-main superoutburst, during which superhumps always developed on the fading branch of the precursor. This finding supports the thermal-tidal instability theory as the origin of the superoutburst. A superoutburst of V585 Lyr recorded by Kepler did not show a precursor outburst and the superhumps developed only after the maximum light, a first example in the Kepler data so far. Such a superoutburst is understood within the thermal-tidal instability model. The observation of V585 Lyr made the first clear Kepler detection of the positive period derivative commonly seen in the "stage B" superhumps in dwarf novae with short orbital periods. In all objects, there was no strong signature of a transition to the dominating stream impact-type component of superhumps, suggesting that there is no strong indication of an enhanced mass-transfer following the superoutburst. We have determined the orbital period of V516 Lyr to be 0.083999(8) d. In V516 Lyr, some of outbursts were double outbursts in a various degree. The preceding outburst in the double outburst was of the inside-out nature while the following one was of the outside-in nature. One of superoutbursts in V516 Lyr was preceded by a double precursor. The preceding precursor failed to trigger a superoutburst and the following precursor triggered a superoutburst by developing positive superhumps.

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arXiv2013

Survey of Period Variations of Superhumps in SU UMa-Type Dwarf Novae. IV: The Fourth Year (2011-2012)

Continuing the project described by Kato et al. (2009, arXiv:0905.1757), we studied 86 SU UMa-type dwarf novae. We confirmed the general trends such as the relation between period derivatives and orbital periods. There are some systems showing positive period derivatives despite the long orbital periods. We observed the 2011 outburst of the WZ Sge-type dwarf nova BW Scl, and recorded an O-C diagram similar to those of previously known WZ Sge-type dwarf novae. The WZ Sge-type dwarf nova OT J184228.1+483742 showed an unusual pattern of double outbursts composed of an outburst with early superhumps and one with ordinary superhumps. We propose an interpretation that a very small growth rate of the 3:1 resonance due to an extremely low mass-ratio led to a quenching of the superoutburst before the ordinary superhumps appeared. We studied ER UMa-type dwarf novae and found that V1159 Ori showed positive superhumps similar to ER UMa in the 1990s. The recently recognized ER UMa-type object BK Lyn dominantly showed negative superhumps, and its behavior was very similar to the present-day state of ER UMa. The pattern of period variations in AM CVn-type objects were very similar to short-period hydrogen-rich SU UMa-type dwarf novae, making them helium analogue of hydrogen-rich SU UMa-type dwarf novae. SBS 1108+574, a peculiar hydrogen-rich dwarf nova below the period minimum, showed a very similar pattern of period variations to those of short-period SU UMa-type dwarf novae. The mass-ratio derived from the detected orbital period suggests that this secondary is a somewhat evolved star whose hydrogen envelope was mostly stripped during the mass-exchange. CC Scl, MASTER OT J072948.66+593824.4 and OT J173516.9+154708 showed only low-amplitude superhumps with complex profiles. These superhumps are likely a combination of closely separated two periods.

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arXiv2013

Observation of ER UMa Stars

ER UMa stars are a recently recognized small subgroup of SU UMa-type dwarf novae, which are characterized by the extremely high outburst frequency and short (19--48 d) supercycles. From the current thermal-tidal disk instability scheme, they are considered to be high mass-transfer SU UMa-type dwarf novae, and comprise a link to "permanent superhumpers" below the period gap. They do not only provide an opportunity to test the applicability of thermal-tidal instability model but also pose problems on the origin of high mass-transfer in short orbital-period cataclysmic variables. A historical review of this subgroup and recent topics of ER UMa stars, the unique pattern of superhump evolution and the "helium ER UMa analog" (CR Boo), are also discussed.

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arXiv2012

A new look at the long-period eclipsing binary V383 Sco

V383Sco was discovered to be an eclipsing binary at the beginning of the XX century. This system has one of the longest orbital periods known (13.5yr) and was initially classified as a zet_Aur-type variable. It was then forgotten for decades. This study provides a detailed look at the V383Sco, using new data obtained around the last eclipse in 2007/8. There was a suspicion that this system could be similar to eclipsing systems with extensive dusty disks like EECep and eps_Aur. This and other, alternative hypotheses are considered. The ASAS-3 VI light curves have been used to examine photometric changes. Low-(LRS) and high-res.(HRS) spectra have been used for spectral classification, to analyse line profiles, as well as to determine the reddening, radial velocities (RVs) and distance. The SED was analysed. Using original numerical code, we performed a simplified model of the eclipse, taking into account the pulsations of one of the components. The LRS shows traces of molecular bands, characteristic of an M-type supergiant. The presence of this star in the system is confirmed by SED, by a strong dependence of the eclipse depth on the photometric bands, and by pulsational changes. The presence of a low excitation nebula around the system has been inferred from [OI] 6300A emission. Analysis of the RVs, reddening, and P-L relation for Mira-type stars imply a distance to the V383Sco of 8.4+-0.6 kpc. The distance to the nearby V381Sco is 6.4+-0.8 kpc. The very different and oppositely directed RVs of these systems (89.8 vs -178.8 km/s) seem to be in agreement with a bulge/bar kinematic model of the Galactic centre and inconsistent with purely circular motion. We have found evidence for the presence of a pulsating M-type supergiant in the V383Sco which periodically obscures the much more luminous F0I-type star, causing the deep (possibly total) eclipses which vary in duration and shape.

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arXiv2012

Detection of Change in Supercycles in ER Ursae Majoris

We examined data on about 20 years of observations of ER UMa available in AAVSO, VSNET, AFOEV, NSVS, VSOLJ databases together with published light curves. The obtained O-C diagram revealed a systematic change of the supercycle (time interval between two successive superotbursts) within 43.6 and 59.2 d. The time-scale of this change variation is from 300 to $\sim$ 1900 d. The number of normal outbursts within the supercycles also varied from 4 to 6 although no strong correlation between this number and supercycle length was found. We suggest that appearance of negative superhumps is responsible for the observed variations of number of normal outbursts. Our results generally confirms the expectations by the thermal-tidal instability theory.

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arXiv2012

Discovery of Negative Superhumps during a Superoutburst of January 2011 in ER Ursae Majoris

We report on a discovery of "negative" superhumps during the 2011 January superoutburst of ER UMa. During the superoutburst which started on 2011 January 16, we detected negative superhumps having a period of 0.062242(9) d, shorter than the orbital period by 2.2%. No evidence of positive superhumps was detected during this observation. This finding indicates that the disk exhibited retrograde precession during this superoutburst, contrary to all other known cases of superoutbursts. The duration of this superoutburst was shorter than those of ordinary superoutbursts and the intervals of normal outbursts were longer than ordinary ones. We suggest a possibility that such unusual outburst properties are likely a result of the disk tilt, which is supposed to be a cause of negative superhumps: the tilted disk could prevent the disk from being filled with materials in the outmost region which is supposed to be responsible for long-duration superoutbursts in ER UMa-type dwarf novae. The discovery signifies the importance of the classical prograde precession in sustaining long-duration superoutbursts. Furthermore, the presence of pronounced negative superhumps in this system with a high mass-transfer rate favors the hypothesis that hydrodynamical lift is the cause of the disk tilt.

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arXiv2012

Period Analysis using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (Lasso)

We introduced least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) in obtaining periodic signals in unevenly spaced time-series data. A very simple formulation with a combination of a large set of sine and cosine functions has been shown to yield a very robust estimate, and the peaks in the resultant power spectra were very sharp. We studied the response of lasso to low signal-to-noise data, asymmetric signals and very closely separated multiple signals. When the length of the observation is sufficiently long, all of them were not serious obstacles to lasso. We analyzed the 100-year visual observations of delta Cep, and obtained a very accurate period of 5.366326(16) d. The error in period estimation was several times smaller than in Phase Dispersion Minimization. We also modeled the historical data of R Sct, and obtained a reasonable fit to the data. The model, however, lost its predictive ability after the end of the interval used for modeling, which is probably a result of chaotic nature of the pulsations of this star. We also provide a sample R code for making this analysis.

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arXiv2012

Characterization of Dwarf Novae Using SDSS Colors

We have developed a method for estimating the orbital periods of dwarf novae from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) colors in quiescence using an artificial neural network. For typical objects below the period gap with sufficient photometric accuracy, we were able to estimate the orbital periods with an accuracy to a 1 sigma error of 22 %. The error of estimation is worse for systems with longer orbital periods. We have also developed a neural-network-based method for categorical classification. This method has proven to be efficient in classifying objects into three categories (WZ Sge type, SU UMa type and SS Cyg/Z Cam type) and works for very faint objects to a limit of g=21. Using this method, we have investigated the distribution of the orbital periods of dwarf novae from a modern transient survey (Catalina Real-Time Survey). Using Bayesian analysis developed by Uemura et al. (2010, arXiv:1003.0945), we have found that the present sample tends to give a flatter distribution toward the shortest period and a shorter estimate of the period minimum, which may have resulted from the uncertainties in the neural network analysis and photometric errors. We also provide estimated orbital periods, estimated classifications and supplementary information on known dwarf novae with quiescent SDSS photometry.

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arXiv2012

Survey of Period Variations of Superhumps in SU UMa-Type Dwarf Novae. III: The Third Year (2010--2011)

Continuing the project described by Kato et al. (2009, PASJ 61, S395, arXiv:0905.1757), we collected times of superhump maxima for 51 SU UMa-type dwarf novae mainly observed during the 2010-2011 season. Although most of the new data for systems with short superhump periods basically confirmed the findings by Kato et al. (2009) and Kato et al. (2010, PASJ 62, 1525, arXiv:1009.5444), the long-period system GX Cas showed an exceptionally large positive period derivative. An analysis of public Kepler data of V344 Lyr and V1504 Cyg yielded less striking stage transitions. In V344 Lyr, there was prominent secondary component growing during the late stage of superoutbursts, and the component persisted at least for two more cycles of successive normal outbursts. We also investigated the superoutbursts of two conspicuous eclipsing objects: HT Cas and the WZ Sge-type object SDSS J080434.20+510349.2. Strong beat phenomena were detected in both objects, and late-stage superhumps in the latter object had an almost constant luminosity during the repeated rebrightenings. The WZ Sge-type object SDSS J133941.11+484727.5 showed a phase reversal around the rapid fading from the superoutburst. The object showed a prominent beat phenomenon even after the end of the superoutburst. A pilot study of superhump amplitudes indicated that the amplitudes of superhumps are strongly correlated with orbital periods, and the dependence on the inclination is weak in systems with inclinations smaller than 80 deg.

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arXiv2011

Spectral Evolution of the Unusual Slow Nova V5558 Sgr

We report on the spectral evolution of the enigmatic, very slow nova V5558 Sgr, based on the low-resolution spectra obtained at the Fujii-Bisei Observatory and the Bisei Astronomical Observatory, Japan during a period of 2007 April 6 to 2008 May 3. V5558 Sgr shows a pre-maximum halt and then several flare-like rebrightenings, which is similar to another very slow nova V723 Cas. In our observations, the spectral type of V5558 Sgr evolved from the He/N type toward the Fe II type during the pre-maximum halt, and then toward the He/N type again. This course of spectral transition was observed for the first time in the long history of the nova research. In the rebrightening stage after the initial brightness maximum, we could identify many emission lines accompanied by a stronger absorption component of the P-Cygni profile at the brightness maxima. We found that the velocity of the P-Cygni absorption component measured from the emission peak decreased at the brightness maxima. Furthermore, we compared the spectra of V5558 Sgr with V723 Cas, and other novae which exhibited several rebrightenings during the early phase.

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arXiv2011

MN Dra - In-the-Gap Dwarf Nova With Negative Superhumps

The multi-site photometric observations of MN Dra were made over 77 nights in August-November, 2009. The total exposure was 433 hours. During this time the binary underwent two superoutbursts and five normal outbursts. During the course of first superoutburst period of positive superhumps decreased with extremely large $\dot P = -1.5 \times 1.0^{-4}$ for SU UMa-like dwarf novae, confirming known behavior of MN Dra [1]. Between the superoutbursts MN Dra displayed negative superhumps. Their period changed cyclically around 0.096-day value.

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arXiv2010

Survey of Period Variations of Superhumps in SU UMa-Type Dwarf Novae. II: The Second Year (2009-2010)

As an extension of the project in Kato et al. (2009, arXiv:0905.1757), we collected times of superhump maxima for 61 SU UMa-type dwarf novae mainly observed during the 2009-2010 season. The newly obtained data confirmed the basic findings reported in Kato et al. (2009): the presence of stages A-C, as well as the predominance of positive period derivatives during stage B in systems with superhump periods shorter than 0.07 d. There was a systematic difference in period derivatives for systems with superhump periods longer than 0.075 d between this study and Kato et al. (2009). We suggest that this difference is possibly caused by the relative lack of frequently outbursting SU UMa-type dwarf novae in this period regime in the present study. We recorded a strong beat phenomenon during the 2009 superoutburst of IY UMa. The close correlation between the beat period and superhump period suggests that the changing angular velocity of the apsidal motion of the elliptical disk is responsible for the variation of superhump periods. We also described three new WZ Sge-type objects with established early superhumps and one with likely early superhumps. We also suggest that two systems, VX For and EL UMa, are WZ Sge-type dwarf novae with multiple rebrightenings. The O-C variation in OT J213806.6+261957 suggests that the frequent absence of rebrightenings in very short-Porb objects can be a result of sustained superoutburst plateau at the epoch when usual SU UMa-type dwarf novae return to quiescence preceding a rebrightening. We also present a formulation for a variety of Bayesian extension to traditional period analyses.

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arXiv2010

On the Rebrightenings of Classical Novae during the Early Phase

We report on the spectral evolution of 6 classical novae, V1186 Sco, V2540 Oph, V4745 Sgr, V5113 Sgr, V458 Vul, and V378 Ser, based on the low-resolution spectra obtained at the Fujii-Bisei Observatory and the Bisei Astronomical Observatory, Japan. In the light curves, these 6 novae show several rebrightenings during the early phase lasting ~10 days after the first maximum in fast novae, and ~100 days in slow novae. The early spectra of all of these novae had emission lines with a P-Cygni profile at the maximum brightness. The absorption component of the P-Cygni profiles then disappeared after the maximum, and reappeared when the novae brightened to the next maximum. We suggest that the re-appearance of the absorption component at the rebrightening is attributable to re-expansion of the photosphere after it once shifts sufficiently inside. From the light curves, we found that the time intervals of the rebrightenings of these 6 novae show a similar systematic trend, which is applicable to all types of novae: fast and slow, and Fe II type and hybrid type. Moreover, we note the difference between the spectra at the rebrightenings during the early phase and at the rebrightening in V2362 Cyg, and at the oscillation during the transition phase in V1494 Aql, which means difference of the physical mechanism of the rebrightening during the early phase and the later oscillations.

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arXiv2010

Optical and Near-Infrared Photometry of Nova V2362 Cyg : Rebrightening Event and Dust Formation

We present optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometry of a classical nova, V2362 Cyg (= Nova Cygni 2006). V2362 Cyg experienced a peculiar rebrightening with a long duration from 100 to 240 d after the maximum of the nova. Our multicolor observation indicates an emergence of a pseudophotosphere with an effective temperature of 9000 K at the rebrightening maximum. After the rebrightening maximum, the object showed a slow fading homogeneously in all of the used bands for one week. This implies that the fading just after the rebrightening maximum ( less or equal 1 week ) was caused by a slowly shrinking pseudophotosphere. Then, the NIR flux drastically increased, while the optical flux steeply declined. The optical and NIR flux was consistent with blackbody radiation with a temperature of 1500 K during this NIR rising phase. These facts are likely to be explained by dust formation in the nova ejecta. Assuming an optically thin case, we estimate the dust mass of 10^(-8) -- 10^(-10) M_solar, which is less than those in typical dust-forming novae. These results support the senario that a second, long-lasting outflow, which caused the rebrightening, interacted with a fraction of the initial outflow and formed dust grains.

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