2005/06/03 by S. P. Littlefair, V. S. Dhillon, E. L. Martı́n +1 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20052780
4 pages, to appear as research note in A&A
arxiv created 2005/06/03 · openalex publication_date 2005/06/21 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
We present the K-band spectrum of the cataclysmic variable RXJ 0502.8+1624 (Tau 4). The spectrum shows a broad, smooth hump, with no absorption lines from the secondary star visible. This result indicates that the infrared light of this system is dominated by cyclotron emission, and, in combination with the optical spectrum and X-ray properties, suggests that Tau 4 is a polar-type cataclysmic variable (CV). The system was chosen for study because the broadband JHK colours of Tau 4 are consistent with an L-type dwarf, suggesting that this system might harbour an elusive sub-stellar secondary star. The result presented here, along with the recent discovery of cyclotron emission in the cataclysmic variable EF Eri, suggests that care must be taken when using the broadband JHK colours of CVs when targeting searches for sub-stellar secondary stars.