Photometry of the intermediate polar TV Columbae.

Thirty-seven hours of high-speed photometry of TV Col, spread over a three-week baseline, are analyzed for periodicities. The previously known 5.2 hr, 5.5 hr and 4.0 day periods are confirmed; mean light curves at those periods are presented. There is no sign in our optical observations of the 1911 s X-ray period reported by Schrijver et al. (1985). An extension of the freely precessing disk model of Bonnet-Bidaud et al. (1985) is proposed to explain the occurrence of the multiple periods. It is suggested that the disk is maintained in a tilted position with respect to the orbital plane by being fed by material controlled by the magnetic field of the secondary. A surface field of about 200 G appears to be adequate to supply such guided material.