Evolution of spin in the intermediate polar CC sculptoris

Paice, John A; Scaringi, S; Castro Segura, N; Sahu, A; Iłkiewicz, K; Coppejans, Deanne L; De Martino, D; Knigge, C; Veresvarska, M

Abstract

We report on spin variations in the intermediate polar and cataclysmic variable CC Scl, as seen by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). By studying both the spin period and its harmonic, we find that the spin has varied since it was first observed in 2011. We find the latest spin value for the source to be 389.473(6) s, equivalent to 0.00450779(7) d, 0.02 s shorter than the first value measured. A linear fit to these and intermediate data give a rate of change of spin (Ṗ) ∼ −4.26(2.66)× 10−11 and a characteristic time-scale τ ∼ 2.90 × 105 yr, in line with other known intermediate polars with varying spin. The spin profile of this source also matches theoretical spin profiles of high-inclination intermediate polars, and furthermore, appears to have changed in shape over a period of three years. Such ‘spin-up’ in an intermediate polar is considered to be from mass accretion on to the white dwarf (the primary), and we note the presence of dwarf nova eruptions in this source as being a possible catalyst of the variations.

Citation

Paice, J. A., Scaringi, S., Castro Segura, N., Sahu, A., Iłkiewicz, K., Coppejans, D. L., …Veresvarska, M. (2024). Evolution of spin in the intermediate polar CC sculptoris. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 531(1), L82-L86. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slae035

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 23, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Apr 27, 2024
• Publication Date: Mar 29, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 8, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 8, 2024
• Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-3933
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 531
• Issue: 1
• Pages: L82-L86
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slae035
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2521584