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X-ray Variability of the Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable V1432 Aql and the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 6814V1432 Aquilae (=RX J1940.2-1025) is the X-ray bright, eclipsing magnetic cataclysmic variable approximately 37 (sup) away from the Seyfert galaxy, NGC 6814. Due to a 0.3% difference between the orbital (12116.3 s) and the spin (12150 s) periods: the accretion geometry changes over the approximately 50 day beat period. Here we report the results of an RXTE campaign to observe the eclipse 25 times, as well as of archival observations with ASCA and BeppoSAX. Having confirmed that the eclipse is indeed caused by the secondary, we use the eclipse timings and profiles to map the accretion geometry as a function of the beat phase. We find that the accretion region is compact, and that it moves relative to the center of white dwarf on the beat period. The amplitude of this movement suggest a low-mass white dwarf, in contrast to the high mass previously estimated from its X-ray spectrum. The size of the X-ray emission region appears to be larger than in other eclipsing magnetic CVs. We also report on the RXTE data as well as the long-term behavior of NGC 6814, indicating flux variability by a factor of at least 10 on time scales of years.
Document ID
20030025357
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Mukai, K.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hellier, C.
(Keele Univ. United Kingdom)
Madejski, G.
(Stanford Linear Accelerator Center Menlo Park, CA, United States)
Patterson, J.
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY, United States)
Skillman, D. R.
(Center for Backyard Astrophysics (East) Laurel, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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