The intermediate polar cataclysmic variable GK Persei 120 years after the nova explosion: a first dynamical mass study [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2107.06932


We present a complete dynamical study of the intermediate polar and dwarf nova cataclysmic variable GK Per (Nova Persei 1901) based on a multi-site optical spectroscopy and $R$-band photometry campaign. The radial velocity curve of the evolved donor star has a semi-amplitude $K_2=126.4 \pm 0.9 \, \mathrm{km}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}$ and an orbital period $P=1.996872 \pm 0.000009 \, \mathrm{d}$. We refine the projected rotational velocity of the donor star to $v_\mathrm{rot} \sin i = 52 \pm 2 \, \mathrm{km}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}$ which, together with $K_2$, provides a donor star to white dwarf mass ratio $q=M_2/M_1=0.38 \pm 0.03$. We also determine the orbital inclination of the system by modelling the phase-folded ellipsoidal light curve and obtain $i=67^{\circ} \pm 5^{\circ}$. The resulting dynamical masses are $M_{1}=1.03^{+0.16}{-0.11} \, \mathrm{M}{\odot}$ and $M_2 = 0.39^{+0.07}{-0.06} \, \mathrm{M}{\odot}$ at $68$ per cent confidence level. The white dwarf dynamical mass is compared with estimates obtained by modelling the decline light curve of the $1901$ nova event and X-ray spectroscopy. The best matching mass estimates come from the nova light curve models and the X-ray data analysis by arXiv:1711.01727 that use the ratio between the Alfv\’en radius in quiescence and during dwarf nova outburst.

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A. Álvarez-Hernández, M. Torres, P. Rodríguez-Gil, et. al.
Fri, 16 Jul 21
39/61

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