The old nova V603 AQL : an intermediate polar ?

Abstract

A total of 1510 UVB photometric observations obtained with the 50-cm telescope at ESO in 13 6-h runs during July-August 1981 and two-channel polarimeter measurements obtained at the 60-cm Bochum and 1-m telescopes at ESO during the same period are reported for the old nova V 603 Aql. The data are presented in graphs and tables and characterized in detail. Findings presented include a humplike structure in the light curve with a repetition period of 3 h 28.6 min, spectroscopic period 3 h 18.9 min, linear and circular polarization modulation period 2 h 48.0 min, and magnetic field approximately 1 MG. A system configuration comprising an intermediate polar model and a temporary eccentric disk is proposed to account for the observed periodicities.