Open AccessK ‐band spectroscopy of the intermediate polar XY Ari
Author(s) -
Littlefair S.P.,
Dhillon V.S.,
Marsh T.R.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04766.x
Subject(s) - physics , polar , spectroscopy , intermediate polar , astrophysics , astronomy , stars , white dwarf
We present the K ‐band infrared spectrum of the intermediate polar XY Ari. The spectrum confirms the cataclysmic binary nature of XY Ari, showing emission lines of He i ( λ 2.0587 μm) and the Brackett and Paschen series of H i . The broad nature of these lines suggests an origin in an accretion disc. The spectrum is strongly reddened by absorption within the molecular cloud Lynds 1457 and shows prominent absorption features from the secondary star, from which we determine a spectral type for the secondary of M0V. The secondary contributes per cent of the K ‐band light. We derive a visual extinction to XY Ari of and a distance of , placing XY Ari behind the molecular cloud.