Bibcode
DOI
Rodríguez-Gil, Pablo; Casares, Jorge; Martínez-Pais, Ignacio G.; Hakala, Pasi; Steeghs, Danny
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 548, Issue 1, pp. L49-L52.
Advertised on:
2
2001
Journal
Citations
63
Refereed citations
50
Description
We report on the discovery of variable circular polarization in the SW
Sextantis star LS Pegasi. The observed modulation has an amplitude of
~0.3% and a period of 29.6 minutes, which we assume as the spin period
of the magnetic white dwarf. We also detected periodic flaring in the
blue wing of Hβ, with a period of 33.5 minutes. The difference
between both frequencies is just the orbital frequency, so we relate the
33.5 minute modulation to the beat between the orbital and spin period.
We propose a new accretion scenario in SW Sex stars, based on the shock
of the disk-overflown gas stream against the white dwarf's
magnetosphere, which extends to the corotation radius. From this
geometry, we estimate a magnetic field strength of B1~5-15
MG. Our results indicate that magnetic accretion plays an important role
in SW Sex stars, and we suggest that these systems are probably
intermediate polars with the highest mass accretion rates. Based on
observations made with the William Herschel Telescope, operated on the
island of La Palma by PPARC in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de Los
Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias.