2007/08/20 by D. W. Hoard, Steve B. Howell, Carolyn S. Brinkworth +2 · 21 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Circumbinary planet #Infrared #Intermediate polar #Orbital period #Polar #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph #Spectral energy distribution #Spectrograph #White dwarf #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/522694
published in The Astrophysical Journal 671(1), 734-740 (IOP Publishing) · To be published in The Astrophysical Journal
arxiv created 2007/08/20 · openalex publication_date 2007/12/10 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present the first mid-infrared (5.5-14.5 μm) spectrum of a highly magnetic cataclysmic variable, EF Eridani, obtained with the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope . The spectrum displays a relatively flat, featureless continuum. A spectral energy distribution model consisting of a 9500 K white dwarf, an L5 secondary star, cyclotron emission corresponding to a B ≈ 13 MG white dwarf magnetic field, and an optically thin circumbinary dust disk is in reasonable agreement with the extant Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), Infrared Array Camera (IRAC), and IRS observations of EF Eri. Cyclotron emission is ruled out as a dominant contributor to the infrared flux density at wavelengths ≳3 μm. The spectral energy distribution longward of ~5 μm is dominated by dust emission. Even longer wavelength observations would test the model's prediction of a continuing gradual decline in the circumbinary disk-dominated region of the spectral energy distribution.