AE Aquarii: The first white dwarf in the family of spin-powered pulsars

TL;DR

This paper presents evidence that the white dwarf in AE Aquarii functions as a spin-powered pulsar, supported by magnetic field estimates, X-ray emission analysis, and evolutionary considerations.

Contribution

It is the first to suggest that AE Aquarii's white dwarf operates as a spin-powered pulsar, linking magnetic properties and emission features.

Findings

Magnetic dipole moment estimated at ~1.5E+34 G cm^3

Consistent with observed circular polarization and X-ray emission

Supports the pulsar mechanism hypothesis for the white dwarf

Abstract

Simulation of Doppler H-alpha tomogram of the nova-like star AE Aquarii suggests that the dipole magnetic moment of the white dwarf is close to 1.5E+34 G cm^3. This is consistent with the lower limit to the magnetic field strength of the white dwarf derived from observations of circularly polarized optical emission of the system. The rapid braking of the white dwarf and the nature of pulsing hard X-ray emission recently detected with SUZAKU space telescope under these conditions can be explained in terms of spin-powered pulsar mechanism. A question about the origin of strongly magnetized white dwarf in the system remains, however, open. Possible evolutionary tracks of AE Aquarii are briefly discussed.