Open AccessV533 Herculis: the second SW Sex old nova displaying emission‐line flaring
Author(s) -
RodríguezGil P.,
MartínezPais I. G.
Publication year - 2002
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.1365-8711.2002.05904.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , nova (rocket) , balmer series , white dwarf , emission spectrum , cataclysmic variable star , line (geometry) , stars , astronomy , orbital period , spectral line , geometry , mathematics , aeronautics , engineering
We present high‐time‐resolution spectroscopy of the non‐eclipsing old nova V533 Herculis (N Her 1963). It is the second nova remnant affected by the ‘SW Sex syndrome’. A modulation of the equivalent width of the emission lines with a period of 23.33 min has been detected. This, together with the strong He ii λ4686 emission characteristic of magnetic systems, leads us to link this period to the spin of a magnetic white dwarf. Similar flaring activity has been recorded in other SW Sex stars, namely, the old nova BT Mon, LS Peg and DW UMa, supporting the idea of these systems being magnetic accretors. Stationary emission features are also observed in the Balmer lines, which we attribute to the ejected nova shell.