A model for the optical high state light curve of AM Herculis
Preprint
- 10 April 2001
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.Keywords
All Related Versions
- Version 1, 2001-04-10, ArXiv
- Published version: Astronomy & Astrophysics, 372 (2), 557.
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