2004/05/13 by C. Hellier, Coel Hellier, Koji Mukai +1 · 1 citation
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Accretion (finance) #Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation #Astronomy #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Cataclysmic variable star #Cyclotron #Doppler effect #Emission spectrum #Line (geometry) #Magnetic field #Physics #Polar #Spectral line #Stars #White dwarf #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.07995.x
published as Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 352 (2004) 1037 · To appear in MNRAS; 5 pages
arxiv created 2004/05/13 · openalex publication_date 2004/07/30 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present a compilation of spectra of the iron Kα region in magnetic cataclysmic variables, using data from the Chandra High-Energy Transmission Grating (HETG). The H-like, He-like and fluorescent components are clearly resolved, and there are hints of the structure within each component. The different shape of the He-like component in AM Her might be related to greater cyclotron cooling in this star. A surprising absence of Doppler shifts in the H- and He-like components implies that the X-ray emission is predominantly from the denser, lower velocity base of the accretion columns. This absence will allow Astro-E2 to resolve the structure in each component, leading to temperature diagnostics. We do not confirm the report that the H- and He-like components of AO Psc are Compton-broadened; however, we do detect a Compton-downshifted shoulder to the fluorescent line of GK Per. Further, a Doppler-shifted wing of this line arises in the high-velocity, pre-shock flow.