WZ Sagittae as a DQ Herculis star
Abstract
We argue that quiescent WZ Sge is a rapidly spinning magnetic rotator in which most of the matter transferred from the secondary is ejected from the system. Assuming that the observed 27.87-s oscillation period results from the spinning white dwarf, we propose that the other observed principal period of 28.96 s is a beat caused by reprocessing of the rotating white dwarf beam on plasma blobs in Keplerian rotation at the outer disc rim. The weaker, transient, 29.69-s period is identified as a beat with the Keplerian period of the magnetosphere. WZ Sge evolves through a cycle of spin-up and spin-down phases. During the spin-down phase it is a DQ Her star; during the spin-up phase it should be a ER UMa star.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- April 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02485.x
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/9901295
- Bibcode:
- 1999MNRAS.305..473L
- Keywords:
-
- STARS: INDIVIDUAL: WZ SGE;
- STARS: MAGNETIC FIELDS NOVAE;
- CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES;
- STARS: OSCILLATIONS;
- STARS: ROTATION;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 8 pages, 5 figures