The true nature of Swift J0746.3-1608: a possible Intermediate Polar showing accretion state changes

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dc.contributor.authorBernardini, F.
dc.contributor.authorde Martino, D.
dc.contributor.authorMukai, K.
dc.contributor.authorFalanga, M.
dc.date.accessioned2019-06-21T18:24:33Z
dc.date.available2019-06-21T18:24:33Z
dc.date.issued2018-12-21
dc.description.abstractOptical and X-ray observations suggested that the 9.38 h binary, SWIFT J0746.3- 1608 could be a Cataclysmic Variable of the magnetic or nova-like type, or a low mass X-ray binary. Its optical, UV, and X-ray light curves are strongly variable over years. We report on a recent XMM-Newton observation (28 April 2018), when the source had recovered from a deep low state that likely begun mid-late 2011. We detect for the first time a signal at about 38 min that we interpret as the rotation of the accreting white dwarf primary. Its amplitude decreases with increasing energy, indicating localised photoelectric absorption from cold material. The X-ray spectrum shows optically thin thermal emission with excess at the iron complex, absorbed by a dense medium partially covering the X-ray source. Based on these features, we propose that SWIFT J0746.3-1608 is a magnetic CV of the Intermediate Polar (IP) type. The long-term light curves at different wavelengths show high and low states, a rare phenomenon in the IP subclass and observed so far in only three other systems. The long orbital period, the peculiar long term variability, and its proposed magnetic nature, makes SWIFT J0746.3-1608 an interesting evolutionary test case.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work is based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States, with Swift, a NASA science mission with Italian participation, and with Gaia, a ESA mission. Gaia data are processed by the Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC).en_US
dc.description.urihttps://arxiv.org/abs/1812.09153en_US
dc.format.extent7 pagesen_US
dc.genrejournal articlesen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/m2deap-brxo
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/14290
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Physics Department Collection
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Faculty Collection
dc.rightsThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.
dc.subjectNovaeen_US
dc.subjectcataclysmic variablesen_US
dc.subjectwhite dwarfsen_US
dc.subjectX-rays: individualen_US
dc.subjectSwift J0746.3-1608 (aka 1RXS J074616.8-161127)en_US
dc.titleThe true nature of Swift J0746.3-1608: a possible Intermediate Polar showing accretion state changesen_US
dc.typeTexten_US

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