Optical outbursts of the cataclysmic variable 1RXS J140429.5+172352

TL;DR

This nine-year observational study of the cataclysmic variable 1RXS J140429.5+172352 documents multiple dwarf nova-like outbursts, small hump structures, and suggests the system may be an Intermediate Polar based on photometric analysis.

Contribution

First long-term light curve analysis of 1RXS J140429.5+172352 revealing outburst patterns and potential classification as an Intermediate Polar.

Findings

Detected four dwarf nova-like outbursts with 3-5 day durations.

Observed small hump-like structures during outbursts with up to 0.5 mag amplitude.

No stable periodicity found in hump-like structures.

Abstract

We present the nine-year light curve of the cataclysmic variable 1RXS J140429.5+172352 from 2005 April to 2014 July. We identified four dwarf nova-like outbursts, which typically lasted 3 to 5 days, with an amplitude of 3.1 to 5.3 magnitudes. Time resolved photometry during two outbursts revealed small hump-like structures with peak-to-peak amplitude up to 0.5 mag. They occurred on timescales of 20 min to an hour, but did not exhibit a stable period. We suggest that the system might be an Intermediate Polar.