Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2000-11-15
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted by ApJ Letters. LaTeX, 14 pages, 3 PostScript figures
Scientific paper
10.1086/318922
We report on the discovery of variable circular polarization in the SW Sex 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 Hbeta, with a period of 33.5 minutes. The difference between both frequencies is just the orbital frequency, so we relate the 33.5-min 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 B(1) ~ 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.
Casares Jorge
Gonzalez Martinez-Pais I.
Hakala Pasi
Rodríguez-Gil Pablo
Steeghs Daniel
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