XMM-Newton and Optical Observations of Cataclysmic Variables from SDSS

TL;DR

This study combines XMM-Newton X-ray and optical observations to identify and characterize six cataclysmic variables from SDSS, confirming the nature and orbital periods of several systems despite high background noise.

Contribution

First multi-wavelength confirmation of the magnetic nature and orbital periods of several SDSS-selected cataclysmic variables, including an intermediate polar and polars.

Findings

SDSSJ233325.92+152222.1 confirmed as an intermediate polar with 21 min pulse.

SDSSJ142256.31-022108.1 confirmed as a polar with ~4 hr period.

Orbital periods of 3.18 hr and eclipsing features confirmed for two other systems.

Abstract

We report on XMM-Newton and optical results for 6 cataclysmic variables that were selected from Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectra because they showed strong HeII emission lines, indicative of being candidates for containing white dwarfs with strong magnetic fields. While high X-ray background rates prevented optimum results, we are able to confirm SDSSJ233325.92+152222.1 as an intermediate polar from its strong pulse signature at 21 min and its obscured hard X-ray spectrum. Ground-based circular polarization and photometric observations were also able to confirm SDSSJ142256.31-022108.1 as a polar with a period near 4 hr. Photometry of SDSSJ083751.00+383012.5 and SDSSJ093214.82+495054.7 solidifies the orbital period of the former as 3.18 hrs and confirms the latter as a high inclination system with deep eclipses.