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Models for optical and infrared polarization from CW1103+254

  • Magnetic Cataclysmic Systems
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Abstract

Multiband observations of the AM Herculis-type binary CW1103+254 show significant circular polarization (∼13%) in the J band. Recently, a model with high temperature (kT∼20 keV) and small dimensionless plasma parameter (∧∼104) was suggested for the emitting region. However, it gives negligible polarization in the J band. In this paper, a method, in which the J band polarization and the peak frequency ν⋆ of the spectrum are taken into account, is used to determine T and ∧. For the viewing angle θ=80° and the magnetic field B=30MG, we find that kT=5.0 keV and ∧=106. The temperature of the emitting region is close to the value (kT=8.7 keV) derived for the region emitting cyclotron lines in VV Puppis. If these radiations arise from the post-shock regions, then these temperatures are significantly lower than those predicted by standard accretion models or the shock structure is inhomogenous and more complex than previously assumed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

    G. Chanmugam & K. Wu

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  1. G. Chanmugam
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  2. K. Wu
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Chanmugam, G., Wu, K. Models for optical and infrared polarization from CW1103+254. Astrophys Space Sci 131, 657–663 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00668153

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00668153

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