Variable Stars in the 50BiN Open Cluster Survey.Ⅲ.NGC 884

Open clusters are the basic building blocks that serve as a laboratory for the study of young stellar populations in the Milky Way.Variable stars in open clusters provide a unique way to accurately probe the internal structure,temporal and dynamical evolutionary stages of individual stars and the host cluster.The most powerful tool for such studies is time-domain photometric observations.This paper follows the route of our previous work,concentrating on a photometric search for variable stars in NGC 884.The target cluster is the companion of NGC869,forming the well-known double cluster system that is gravitationally bound.From the observation run in 2016 November,a total of 9247 B-band CCD images and 8218Ⅴ-band CCD images were obtained.We detected a total of 15 stars with variability in visual brightness,including five Be stars,three eclipsing binaries,and seven of unknown types.Two new variable stars were discovered in this work.We also compared the variable star content of NGC 884 with its companion NGC 869.

A Study on White Dwarf Masses in Cataclysmic Variables Based on XMM-Newton and Suzaku Observations

The distribution of the mass of white dwarfs(WDs)is one of the fundamental questions in the field of cataclysmic variables(CVs).In this work,we make a systematical investigation on the WD masses in two subclass of CVs:intermediate polars(IPs)and non-magnetic CVs in the solar vicinity based on the fiux ratios of Fe XXVI-Lyαto Fe XXV-Heαemission lines(I_(7.0)/I_(6.7))from archival XMM-Newton and Suzaku observations.We first verify the(semi-empirical)relations between I_(7.0)/I_(6.7),the maximum emission temperature(T_(max))and the WD mass(M_(WD))with the mkcfiow model based on the apec description and the latest Atom DB.We then introduce a new spectral model to measure M_(WD)directly based on the above relations.A comparison shows that the derived M_(WD)is consistent with dynamically measured ones.Finally,we obtain the average WD masses of 58 CVs(including 36IPs and 22 non-magnetic CVs),which is the largest X-ray selected sample.The average WD masses are<M_(WD,IP)>=0.81±0.21 M☉and<M_(WD,DN)>=0.81±0.21M☉ for IPs and non-magnetic CVs,respectively.These results are consistent with previous works.

Two Cataclysmic Variables Identified from ROSAT Bright Sources

This paper presents the results of optical spectroscopic observations of two ROSAT bright sources, 1RXS J020928.9+283243 and 1RXS J042332.8+745300. The low-dispersion spectra suggest the cataclysmic variable classification for the two objects. Further photometric observations are expected to reveal the variable features and to confirm the classifications.

Physical parameters and orbital period variation of a newly discovered cataclysmic variable GSC 4560-02157

GSC 4560-02157 is a new eclipsing cataclysmic variable with an orbital period of 0.265359 days. By using the published V- and R-band data together with our observations, we discovered that the O - C curve of GSC 4560-02157 may show a cyclic variation with a period of 3.51 years and an amplitude of 1.40 min. If this variation is caused by a light travel-time effect via the existence of a third body, then its mass can be derived as M3 sin i1≈ 91.08 Mjup, and it should be a low-mass star. In addition, several physical parameters were measured. The color of the secondary star was determined to be V - R = 0.77（±0.03） which corresponds to a spectral type of K2-3. The secondary star＇s mass was estimated as M2 = 0.73（±0.02） Mo by combing the derived V - R value around phase 0 with the assumption that it obeys the mass-luminosity relation for main sequence stars. This mass is consistent with the mass-period relation for CV donor stars. For the white dwarf, the eclipse durations and contacts of the white dwarf yield an upper limit on the white dwarf＇s radius corresponding to a lower limit on mass of M1 ≈ 0.501 M⊙. The overestimated radius and previously published spectral data indicate that the boundary layer may have a very high temperature.

Simulation of the emission lines radiated from cataclysmic variables

Cataclysmic variables are special celestial bodies because they have particular light curves and spectra.The mechanisms for generating emission lines radiated from dwarf novae in their quiescent phases are studied.We assume that the incident radiation field which is emitted by a hot source（white dwarf and boundary layer）irradiates the gaseous layer evaporated from the accretion disk,and the emission lines are radiated from the gas.We model the fluxes of emission lines by using the photoionization code CLOUDY.Using this method,we input some reasonable parameters and get a series of simulated spectra.In order to find a simulated spectrum which is the best fit to an observed spectrum,we use a cross-correlation method to match them.After the calculation,we use the approximation that the parameters of the simulated spectrum can simulate the observed spectrum.Finally,we learn more about the physical conditions of the system.

New Variable Stars Discovered as By-product of the Beijing Astronomical Observatory Supernova Survey

The Beijing Astronomical Observatory (BAO) 0.6 m telescope has been used for nearby supernova survey in more than 3000 fields, covering a total area of 235 deg2. More than 260000 CCD images have been collected since April 1996, with 45 supernovae discovered. We searched for variables in about 90000 images taken during 1996-1998. For the fields in which long period variables (LPVs) were discovered, we reduced further images taken from 1999 to 2000, for the period estimation. Among the 280000 stars selected from the survey fields, i.e., brighter than 18 mag, we discovered seven new LPVs and reconfirmed three known LPVs. Additionally, we found 146 variable star candidates, and reconfirmed about 20 previously known or suspected objects.

An investigation of a magnetic cataclysmic variable with a period of 14.1 ks

Magnetic cataclysmic variables （CVs） contain a white dwarf （WD） with a magnetic field strong enough to control the accretion flow from a late type secondary. In this paper, we identify a magnetic CV （CXOGSG J215544.4＋380116） from the Chandra archive data. The X-ray light curves show a significant period of 14.1 ks, and the X-ray spectra can be described by a multi-temperature hot thermal plasma, suggesting the source is a magnetic CV. The broad dip in the X-ray light curve is due to the eclipse of the primary magnetic pole, and the additional dip in the bright phase of the soft and medium bands may be caused by the accretion stream crossing our line of sight to the primary pole. Follow-up optical spectra show features of an M2-M4 dwarf dominating the red band and a WD which is responsible for the weak upturn in the blue band. The mass （~ 0.4 34⊙） and radius （~0.4 R⊙） for the M dwarf are obtained using CV evolution models and empirical relations between the orbital period and the mass/radius. The estimated low X-ray luminosity and accretion rate may suggest the source is a low-accretion-rate polar. In addition, Very Large Array observations reveal a possible radio counterpart to the X-ray source, but with a low significance. Further radio observations with high quality are needed to confirm the radio counterpart and explore the properties of this binary system.

Searching for Variable Stars in the Field of NGC 7789

We present the results of a time-series CCD photometric survey of variable stars in the field of the open cluster NGC 7789. In a field of about one degree centering on the cluster, a total of 28 new variable stars are discovered (14 W UMa systems, nine EA-type eclipsing binaries, one RR Lyr star, and four unclassified). In addition, we recovered 11 old variables previously discovered by other authors. Preliminary parameters are given for some of these variables.

The Fifth Edition of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars:experiences in the constellation Centaurus

We have recently announced that the General Catalogue of Variable Stars enters the stage of its fifth, purely electronic edition （GCVS 5.1）. We have included 1408 variable stars in the constellation Centaurus in this new version, GCVS 5.1. Working on this revision, we applied current possibilities from data mining, suggested new variability types for many variable stars and found new light elements for a large number of periodic variables. This paper describes the work completed during the preparation of GCVS 5.1 for Centaurus and discusses in detail a number of the most astrophysically significant cases.

Photometry of δ Sct-type and Related Stars: Results of AD Ari, IP Vir and YZ Boo

Photometric results of three δ Scuti stars, AD Ari, IP Vir and YZ Boo from new observations obtained at the:Xinglong Station of the Beijing Astronom- ical Observatory (BAO) during 2000 aELd 2001 are reported. We present here the preliminary analyses. Detailed studies of these stars based on additional data will be published separately.

Discovery of Four Peculiar Variable Stars

Four stars, GSC 1258–0143, GSC 1986–1665, GSC 3045–0892 and GSC 2983–1597 were found to be new variables during a campaign of CCD photometric monitoring of short-period eclipsing binary stars. The variabilities of these new variables are reported. The main characteristics and probable classifications of the variables are discussed through a preliminary analysis on their light curves. Among these stars, GSC 1258–0143 is classified as a RR Lyr star of sub-type a. Its pulsation period is determined to be about 0.5206 days. The other three stars, are definite variables, but their periods and types of light variations remain unknown.

Variable stars in the field of open cluster NGC 2126

We report the results of a time-series CCD photometric survey of variable stars in the field of open cluster NGC 2126. In about a one square degree field covering the cluster, a total of 21 variable candidates are detected during this survey, of which 16 are newly found. The periods, classifications and spectral types of 14 newly discovered variables are discussed, which consist of six eclipsing binary systems, three pulsating variable stars, three long period variables, one RS CVn star, and one W UMa or δ Scuff star. In addition, there are two variable candidates, the properties of which cannot be determined. By a method based on fitting observed spectral energy distributions of stars with theoretical ones, the membership probabilities and the fundamental parameters of this cluster are determined. As a result, five variables are probably members of NGC 2126. The fundamental parameters of this cluster are determined as： metallicity to be 0.008 Z, age log（t） = 8.95, distance modulus （m - M）0 = 10.34 and reddening value E（B - V） = 0.55 mag.

Pulsation and Long-Term Variability of the High-Amplitude δ Scuti Star AD Canis Minoris

Time-series photometry was made for the large-amplitude δ Scuff star AD CMi in 2005 and 2006. High-quality photometric data provided in the literature were used to analyze the pulsation of the star, with the derived multiple frequencies fitted to our new data. Besides the dominant frequency and its harmonics, one low frequency （2.27402 c d^-1） is discovered, which provides a reasonable interpretation for the long-noticed luminosity variation at the maximum and minimum light. Combining the nine new times of light maxima determined from the new data with the 64 times collected from the literature, we analyzed the long-term variability of AD CMi with the O - C technique. The results provide the updated value of period of 0.122974478 days, and seem to be in favor of the model of combination of the evolutionary effect and light-time effect of a binary system, of which some parameters are hereby deduced.

G328: A Small-Amplitude Red Variable with a Period Near One Day

G328 = A65 = L3314 （V = 13.83, B - V = 1.91） is a field star in the direction of the globular cluster M4. If we take E（B - V） = 0.40, then its （B - V）0 = 1.51, corresponding to a spectral type of K5Ⅲ if it is a giant star; or of dM2 if it is a dwarf. Observations at both the MSSSO and Yunnan Observatory have shown that G328 is a new variable with peak to peak amplitude ≌ 0.05 mag in V. While it is not unusual for so red a star to be a variable, special attention must be paid to its short period of about one day. If the variability is due to pulsation, the spectral type and luminosity as well as effective temperature should be determined in order to compare it with Xiong＇s theory.

Population Synthesis for Mira Variables

By means of a population synthesis code, we investigate the Mira variables. Their birth rate （over 0.65yr^-1） and their number （～ 130000） in the Galaxy are estimated. For all possible Mira variables, ranges of their initial masses,pulsating periods, mass losses and lifetimes are given. We check our model with the observed Mira variables near the Sun and our results prove to be valid.

Long-term photometric behavior of the eclipsing Z Cam-type dwarf nova AY Psc

New eclipse timings of the Z Cam-type dwarf nova AY Psc were measured and the orbital ephemeris was revised. In addition, based on long-term AAVSO data, the outburst behaviors were also explored. Our analysis suggests that normal outbursts are quasi-periodic, with an amplitude of 2.5（4-0.1） mag and a period of - 18.3（4-0.7） d. The amplitude vs. recurrence-time relation ofAY Psc is discussed, and we conclude that this relation may represent general properties of dwarf nova outbursts. The observed standstill ends with an outburst, which is inconsistent with the general picture of Z Cam- type stars. This unusual behavior was considered to be related to mass-transfer outbursts. Moreover, the average luminosity Is brighter during standstills than during outburst cycles. The changes in brightness mark variations in M2 due to the fact that the disk of AY Psc is nearly steady state.M2 value was limited to the range from 6.35 × 10-9 to 1.18 × 10-8 M yr-1. More detailed examination shows that there are a few small outbursts present during standstills. These events with amplitudes of - 0.5 - 0.9 mag are very similar to the stunted outbursts reported in some nova-like cataclysmic variables. We discussed several possible mechanisms and suggested that the most reasonable mechanism for these stunted outbursts is a changing mass-transfer rate.

A Spectroscopic Study of the SU UMa-type Dwarf Nova YZ Cnc during its 2002 Superoutburst

We report on time-resolved spectroscopic observations of the SU Ursae Majoris dwarf nova, YZ Cnc for over llh on two nights during its 2002 January superoutburst. The spectra on the first day only showed absorption-line profiles, while on the second day the lines showed “W” profiles with blue and red troughs. The radial velocity curve of the absorption troughs and emission peaks of H/3 has an amplitude of 49±10 km s^-1 and a phase offset of -0.07±0.04, which are very similar to those measured in quiescence. However, the γ velocity deviates strongly from the systemic velocity measured in quiescence, by some ±60 km s^-1. Large shifts of -70 km s^-1 in the orbital-averaged velocity and -0.09 in the phase are also found in our observations. All these features can be well explained by a precessing, eccentric disk.

V2551 Cyg:a pulsating star with enigmatic peculiarities

Intensive photometric and spectral observations of the variable star V2551 Cyg are presented.The light curve shape reveals that the target is a pulsating star, contrary to its previous classification as an eclipsing binary. The period and amplitude of the light curve, the amplitudes of color changes and the radial velocity curve of V2551 Cyg are similar to those of a high-amplitude δ Scuti variable. The target seems to pulsate with the fundamental mode. However, V2551 Cyg exhibits several important peculiarities：（i） the decreasing branch of its light curve is steeper than the increasing one;（ii） the radial velocity curve has a flat section in the phase range 0.7-1.2 and short increase of the negative radial velocity at phase 0.7;（iii） the rotational velocity is quite big for a HADS star;（iv） the Fourier coefficients of V2551 Cyg are quite different from those of HADS stars. The target classification is difficult due to these peculiarities.

Linear nonadiabatic pulsation models of the double-mode Cepheid V371 Per

A recently found double-mode Cepheid with the shortest known period in our Galaxy and abnormal period ratio, V371 Per, is investigated by linear nonadiabatic pulsation models. V371 Per is likely to be crossing the instability strip for the first time, because the mass derived from pulsation models is larger than the evolution mass for the second or higher crossing objects. This result seems to support the conclusion obtained from spectroscopic observation. We also found that models with observed period and period ratio of V371 Per need to have mass and Teff in a narrow range which shifts as heavy element abundance Z changes. We have checked the agreement between Teffranges estimated observationally and derived from pulsation models using observational Z. We found that those ranges overlap marginally. We need more spectroscopic estimations of Teff and [Fe/H], and more photometric monitoring to estimate the evolutional period change for confirmation of our result.

Revisiting the X-ray emission of the asynchronous polar V1432 Aql

As the only eclipsing asynchronous polar,V1432 Aql provides an excellent laboratory to study the interaction between the accreted matter and the magnetic field.Here,we report an analysis of the X-ray data from the contemporaneous NuSTAR and Swift-XRT observations.The X-ray data present a profile with a low-intensity state for almost half an orbital period,a dip at 0.6 phase,and a peak at 0.75 phase,which suggests that there was only one accretion region during the observation and the claim is supported by the spectral analysis.The comparison with the previous data indicates that the X-ray data have an orbital modulation,as the case in BeppoSAX,rather than a spin one observed in ROSAT.We attribute the orbit and spin modulations to the different accretion geometries at work.The spectral analysis of the wide-band data presents a significant reflection effect,a commonly observed soft X-ray temperature,and the energy balance in V1432 Aql.Additionally,we obtained a low total accretion rate of 1.3×10~(-10)M yr~(-1)and a high specific accretion rate of 3.8 g cm~(-2)s~(-1)which explains the strong reflection from the surface of the white dwarf.However,due to its complex emission,a more physical understanding of its accretion geometry is still outstanding.