Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2012-03-21
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
15 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS
Scientific paper
We present phase-resolved spectroscopy of two new short period low accretion rate magnetic binaries, SDSSJ125044.42+154957.3 (Porb = 86 min) and SDSSJ151415.65+074446.5 (Porb = 89 min). Both systems were previously identified as magnetic white dwarfs from the Zeeman splitting of the Balmer absorption lines in their optical spectra. Their spectral energy distributions exhibit a large near-infrared excess, which we interpret as a combination of cyclotron emission and possibly a late type companion star. No absorption features from the companion are seen in our optical spectra. We derive the orbital periods from a narrow, variable H_alpha emission line which we show to originate on the companion star. The high radial velocity amplitude measured in both systems suggests a high orbital inclination, but we find no evidence for eclipses in our data. The two new systems resemble the polar EF Eri in its prolonged low state and also SDSSJ121209.31+013627.7, a known magnetic white dwarf plus possible brown dwarf binary, which was also recovered by our method.
Breedt Elme
Copperwheat Chris M.
Drake Andrew J.
Gaensicke Boris T.
Girven Jon
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