Synchronization features of the magnetic nova V1500 Cyg

Abstract

An analysis of an eleven-year photometric study of the first magnetic nova V1500 Cyg from observations made at the Crimean Observatory is presented. The data indicate the existence of a beat period caused by rotational-orbital asynchronization as well as its increase with time. The current rotational period of the primary component — a magnetic white dwarf — was calculated for each year by using the current values of the beat period and a constant value for the orbital period. It is shown that rapid synchronization of the components has not occurred uniformly with time: the rate of increase of the rotational period of the white dwarf was$\dot P_{rot} = 1.8 \cdot 10^{ - 6}$ during 1977–1979 and$\dot P_{rot} = 2.7 \cdot 10^{ - 8}$ over the next ten years. This would lead to synchronization of the rotational and orbital periods over about 230 year if$\dot P_{rot}$ remains constant at 2.7 · 10⁻⁸.