The Variable X-ray Emission of the Cataclysmic Variable V1460 Her with a Rapidly Rotating White Dwarf

TL;DR

This study reports a significant decrease in X-ray flux from the cataclysmic variable V1460 Her, indicating a very low accretion state and providing insights into its magnetic and accretion properties.

Contribution

First detailed X-ray flux measurement of V1460 Her in a low accretion state, revealing its extremely low luminosity and accretion rate compared to previous observations.

Findings

X-ray flux decreased by a factor of ~7 over 8 years

V1460 Her is among the lowest-luminosity magnetic CVs

The low flux indicates a very low accretion rate

Abstract

Using a recent Chandra ACIS observation of the eclipsing cataclysmic variable (CV) V1460 Her (2MASS J16211735+4412541) with a fast-rotating ($P_{\rm spin} = 38.9$~s) white dwarf, we estimated a flux $F_{0.5-7 {\rm keV}}^{\rm abs} = (1.9\pm 0.5)\times 10^{-14}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, a factor of $\sim7$ lower than found from previous Swift XRT observations $\approx8$ years ago, when the CV was quiescent. The drop in the flux suggests a corresponding drop in the accretion rate, and the resulting intrinsic luminosity $L_{0.5-7 {\rm keV}} \sim 1.6\times 10^{29}$ erg s$^{-1}$ places V1460 Her among the lowest-luminosity magnetic CVs known, in a state of very low accretion.