Direct Evidence for Modulated Irradiation of Secondary Components in Dwarf Novae during Superoutbursts

TL;DR

This paper provides direct observational evidence that irradiation of secondary stars in dwarf novae during superoutbursts is modulated with superhump phase, supporting a model where irradiation influences mass transfer and energy dissipation.

Contribution

It presents the first direct detection of phase-modulated irradiation effects on secondary stars in dwarf novae during superoutbursts, supporting a new interpretation of superhumps.

Findings

Irradiation from the secondary component is detected in five dwarf novae.

Superhump light curves show irradiation modulation with superhump phase.

Supports the model of irradiation-controlled mass transfer affecting superhump behavior.

Abstract

Contribution from the irradiated secondary component is detected in the light curves of five dwarf novae observed during superoutbursts. Their superhump light curves show that irradiation is modulated with the superhump phase. This strengthens the new interpretation of superhumps (Smak 2009) as being due to irradiation controlled mass transfer rate resulting in modulated dissipation of the kinetic energy of the stream.