DW UMa and the Irradiation Modulated Mass Transfer Model for Superhumps

TL;DR

This paper analyzes light curves of DW UMa to measure superhump and irradiation amplitudes, confirming the irradiation modulated mass transfer model for superhumps through observed correlations.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence supporting the irradiation modulated mass transfer model by analyzing amplitude correlations in DW UMa's light curves.

Findings

Superhump amplitudes correlate with irradiation amplitudes.

Confirmation of the irradiation modulated mass transfer model.

Empirical validation using observational data.

Abstract

The light curves of the permanent superhumper DW UMa are analyzed in order to determine the amplitudes of its superhumps, $A_{SH}$, and the amplitudes of the periodic light variations with the beat period -- the {\it irradiation amplitudes}, $A_{irr}$. The resulting values of $A_{SH}$ and $A_{irr}$, together with other values from the literature, turn out to be correlated thereby confirming the irradiation modulated mass transfer model for superhumps.