EXOSAT Observations of V471 Tauri: A 9.25 Minute White Dwarf Pulsation and Orbital Phase Dependent X-Ray Dips
Sion, E. M.; Guinan, E. F.; Swank, J. H.; Shipman, H. L.; Petre, R.; Jensen, K. A.
United States
Abstract
New results obtained from a 28 hr continuous observation of V471 Tauri with the EXOSAT satellite are reported. The detection of soft X-ray fluxes from both the white dwarf and the K dwarf, the discovery of a 9.25 minute pulsation from the white dwarf, and the discovery of orbital phase-related soft X-ray dips are discussed. The dips may be correlated with the triangular Lagrangian points of the binary orbit. The X-ray flux from the white dwarf is consistent with thermal models for a white dwarf photosphere with T(eff) of about 35,000 K, log g = 8.0-8.5, and log N(H) = 18.65 + or - 0.2.