# DW Cancri in x-rays

## TL;DR

This study confirms DW Cnc as an intermediate polar through X-ray observations, revealing its periodicities and spectral characteristics, including a multi-temperature plasma with a shock temperature around 31 keV.

## Contribution

First X-ray analysis confirming DW Cnc as an intermediate polar and characterizing its spectral and timing properties.

## Key findings

- Confirmed 38-minute white dwarf spin period
- Detected 75-minute period consistent with orbital/spin-orbit beat
- Spectral analysis shows a multi-temperature plasma with a maximum temperature of ~31 keV

## Abstract

We report on the $XMM$-Newton observation of DW Cnc, a candidate intermediate polar candidate whose historical optical light curve shows the existence of periods at $\simeq 38$, $\simeq 86$ and $\simeq 69$ minutes which were interpreted as the white dwarf spin, the orbital and the spin-orbit beat periodicities. By studying the $0.3-10$ keV light curves, we confirm the existence of a period at $\simeq 38$ minutes and find in the OM light curve a signature for a period at $75\pm 21$ minutes which is consistent with both the orbital and spin-orbit beat. { These findings allow us to unveil without any doubt, the nature of DW Cnc as an accreting intermediate polar. The EPIC and RGS source spectra were analyzed and a best fit model, consisting of a multi-temperature plasma, was found. The maximum temperature found when fitting the data is $kT_{max}\simeq 31$ keV which can be interpreted as an upper limit to the temperature of the shock.