Search Publications
Observational studies of Cataclysmic Variable evolution: Of samples, biases and surprises
Gänsicke, B. T.
I present brief status reports on three large observational projects that are designed to test our current understanding of the evolution of cataclysmic variables (CVs): The spectroscopic selection of new CVs in the Hamburg Quasar Survey, the search for pre-CVs based on Sloan colours and UK Schmidt/6dF multiobject spectroscopy, and the identificat…
Accretion Processes in Mira AB
Raymond, J. C.; Marengo, M.; Karovska, M. +3 more
The Mira AB interacting binary provides an ideal laboratory for studying mass loss and accretion processes in systems containing an AGB star and a compact accretor, because its components have been resolved and can be studied individually. We present here results from our long term study of accretion processes in this system. These include recent …
A ULX in NGC 4559: a ``mini-cartwheel'' scenario?
Soria, R.; Cropper, M. S.; Pakull, M. W.
We have studied the peculiar environment around a ULX in NGC 4559 (with L[x] ≈ 2×1040 erg s-1 and M[BH] ≳ 50M⊙). The X-ray source is located near the rim of a young (age < 30 Myr), large (diameter ≈ 700 pc) ring-like star forming complex possibly triggered by the impact of a dwarf satellite galaxy through the gas-rich oute…
Far-Ultraviolet Surveys of Globular Clusters: Searching for the Products of Stellar Collisions and Near Misses
Knigge, C.; Charles, P. A.; Long, K. S. +3 more
Far-ultraviolet (FUV) observations with the Hubble Space Telescope are an excellent way to find and study the hot, blue stellar populations in the cores of globular clusters. These populations include dynamically-formed blue stragglers and interacting binaries (such as cataclysmic variables, i.e. the products of stellar collisions and near misses.…
Disentangling X-ray Reprocessing Sites in EXO 0748-676
Charles, P. A.; Horne, K.; O'Brien, K. +5 more
We present first results from a coordinated multiwavelength study of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary EXO 0748-676. Fast UV, X-ray, and optical data were obtained including both spectral and timing information. We discuss how this study allows us to probe the temperature distribution within the binary and hence the geometry and efficiency of…
The central star of the planetary nebula LMC-N66: a massive accreting white dwarf?
Hamann, W. -R.; Peña, M.
The central star of the PN LMC-N66 showed an impressive outburst in 1993 - 1994, returning to its initial conditions about 8 years later. Its spectrum resembles that of a WN4.5 star, being the only confirmed central star of planetary nebulae showing such a spectral type. Recent analysis for the central star parameters, performed by Hamann et al. (…