A model for the optical high state light curve of AM Herculis
Astrophysics
2009-11-06 v1
Abstract
We present a simple quantitative model that can describe the photometric B and V band light curves of AM Herculis obtained during a high state. The double-humped shape of the V band light curve is dominated by cyclotron emission from a region at the main accreting pole with an area of ~5x10e16 cm^2 and sustaining an inflow of ~0.06 g/cm^2/s. The almost unmodulated B band is dominated by emission from the accretion stream. The contribution of the heated white dwarf to the optical emission is small in the B band, but comparable to that of the accretion stream in the V band. The emission of the secondary star is negligible both in B and in V.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0104167,
title = {A model for the optical high state light curve of AM Herculis},
author = {B. T. Gaensicke and A. Fischer and R. Silvotti and D. de Martino},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0104167},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
6 pages A&A-Latex, 6 Figures, accepted for publication in A&A