Possible First Detection of Ultraviolet Pulses from an Intermediate Polar: V603 Aquila

Abstract

We report possible independent detection of a pulsation in the UV continuum radiation of the intermediate polar star, V603 Aql, at 2.2 sigma level. Since the period of the pulsation of 62.9 minutes is very close to the period of X-ray and optical modulations discovered earlier, its detection combined with previous data confirms reality of UV, X-ray, and optical oscillations at an 4-8 sigma level, depending on how robust and sensitive a test one applies. The UV pulses have a sinusoidal shape and amplitude of 8 percent; i.e., intermediate between those in the X-ray and optical ranges. We believe that the origin of the UV pulses is similar to the pulses in the other ranges, in that they are caused by rotation of the magnetized white dwarf.