QU Vulpeculae: an Eclipsing Neon Nova in the Period Gap
Abstract
Time-resolved photometric and spectroscopic observations of the neon nova QU Vul are presented. Our spectroscopic data show that the radiation from QU Vul is still dominated by emission from the shell that was ejected a decade ago. Our photometric data establish that QU Vul undergoes eclipses that are ~0.5 mag deep in V, and recur with a period of 2.68 hr, placing QU Vul near the middle of the 2--3 hr gap in the orbital period distribution of cataclysmic variables. The addition of QU Vul raises the number of novae in the period gap to three, equal to the number of AM Her binaries in the gap. The orbital period distributions of novae and AM Her systems are discussed within the context of the evolution of cataclysmic variables.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- July 1995
- DOI:
- 10.1086/309587
- Bibcode:
- 1995ApJ...448L..33S
- Keywords:
-
- STARS: BINARIES: ECLIPSING;
- STARS: NOVAE;
- CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES;
- STARS: INDIVIDUAL CONSTELLATION NAME: QU VULPECULAE