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Classifying Optical (Out)bursts in Cataclysmic Variables: The Distinct Observational Characteristics of Dwarf Novae, Micronovae, Stellar Flares, and Magnetic Gating

Iłkiewicz, Krystian; Scaringi, Simone; Veresvarska, Martina; De Martino, Domitilla; Littlefield, Colin; Knigge, Christian; Paice, John A.; Sahu, Anwesha

Classifying Optical (Out)bursts in Cataclysmic Variables: The Distinct Observational Characteristics of Dwarf Novae, Micronovae, Stellar Flares, and Magnetic Gating Thumbnail


Authors

Krystian Iłkiewicz

Domitilla De Martino

Colin Littlefield

Christian Knigge

John A. Paice

Anwesha Sahu



Abstract

Cataclysmic variables can experience short optical brightenings, which are commonly attributed to phenomena such as dwarf novae outbursts, micronovae, donor flares, or magnetic gating bursts. Since these events exhibit similar observational characteristics, their identification has often been ambiguous. In particular, magnetic gating bursts and micronovae have been suggested as alternative interpretations of the same phenomena. Here we show that the timescales and energies separate the optical brightenings into separate clusters consistent with their different classifications. This suggests that micronovae and magnetic gating bursts are in fact separate phenomena. Based on our findings, we develop diagnostic diagrams that can distinguish between these bursts/flares based on their properties. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach on observations of a newly identified intermediate polar, CTCV J0333-4451, which we classify as a magnetic gating system. CTCV J0333-4451 is the third highest spin-to-orbital period ratio intermediate polar with magnetic gating, suggesting that these bursts are common among these rare systems.

Citation

Iłkiewicz, K., Scaringi, S., Veresvarska, M., De Martino, D., Littlefield, C., Knigge, C., …Sahu, A. (2024). Classifying Optical (Out)bursts in Cataclysmic Variables: The Distinct Observational Characteristics of Dwarf Novae, Micronovae, Stellar Flares, and Magnetic Gating. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 962(2), Article L34. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad243c

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 30, 2024
Online Publication Date Feb 15, 2024
Publication Date Feb 20, 2024
Deposit Date Mar 20, 2024
Publicly Available Date Mar 20, 2024
Journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Print ISSN 2041-8205
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 962
Issue 2
Article Number L34
DOI https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad243c
Keywords Dwarf novae, Time domain astronomy, DQ Herculis stars, Cataclysmic variable stars, Optical bursts, Flare stars
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2258155

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