A Spectrophotometric Study of IR GEM at Outburst and Quiescence

Abstract

The authors present optical spectra with 2.5 Å resolution obtained throughout the orbit of the SU UMa cataclysmic variable IR Gem during a five day sequence beginning at an outburst state and ending at quiescence. In addition, B magnitude light curves and IUE spectra throughout other quiescent-state orbits are discussed. The broad absorption and narrower emission components of the outburst spectra are found to have the same orbital elements, although the velocity variation is much less apparent in the absorption component. The semiamplitude of 30 km/s and period of 98.5 min derived from analysis of the Hβ and Hγ lines are identical to previous solutions from Hα (Szkody, Shafter, and Cowley, 1984). The authors find no obvious second component in the emission lines.