ASASSN-15cm: an SU UMa star with an orbital period of 5.0 hours

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery and detailed analysis of ASASSN-15cm, a dwarf nova with an orbital period of 5.0 hours, exhibiting superoutbursts and unique characteristics among SU UMa stars, including an evolved secondary and the longest known orbital period.

Contribution

The study provides refined orbital and superhump periods, models the system's inclination, and identifies ASASSN-15cm as a notable SU UMa star with an evolved secondary and the longest orbital period among similar systems.

Findings

Refined orbital period of 0.2084652 days

Supercycle length of approximately 849 days

Presence of an evolved secondary with a spectral type around K2.5

Abstract

ASASSN-15cm had been identified as a dwarf nova with an orbital period of 5.0 hours and a hot, luminous secondary of of a spectral type around K2.5 in the previous study. Using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) data, the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) forced photometry and the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) Sky Patrol data, I found that this object underwent a superoutburst in 2019. I obtained a refined orbital period of 0.2084652(3) d and a superhump period of 0.2196(1) d, which gave a mass ratio q=0.22. Modeling of quiescent ellipsoidal variations yielded an inclination of i=55 deg, consistent with the lack of eclipses during outbursts. The object adds another example of SU UMa stars above or in the period gap containing a secondary with an evolved core, and has the longest orbital period among the established ones. ASASSN-15cm showed relatively regular superoutbursts with a supercycle of 849(18) d between 2015 and 2022, and the next superoutburst is expected to occur in the early half of 2024. Coordinated detailed observations during the next superoutburst are expected to better clarify the nature of this object.