2011/12/16 by Alexandra C. Bisol, Patrick Godon, E. M. Sion +1 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #astro-ph.SR
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/664464
Accepted for publication in the PASP (February 2012 issue)
arxiv created 2011/12/16 · openalex publication_date 2012/02/01 · arxiv updated 2015/06/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
We have selected three nova-like variables at the long period extreme of nova-like orbital periods: V363 Aur, RZ Gru and AC Cnc, all with IUE archival far ultraviolet spectra. All are UX UMa type nova-like variables and all have Porb > 7h. V363 Aur is a bona fide SW Sex star, and AC Cnc is a probable one, while RZ Gru has not proven to be a member of the SW Sex subclass. We have carried out the first synthetic spectral analysis of far ultraviolet spectra of the three systems using state-of-the-art models both of accretion disks and white dwarf photospheres. We find that the FUV spectral energy distribution of both V363 Aur and RZ Gru are in agreement with optically thick steady state accretion disk models in which the luminous disk accounts for 100% of the FUV light. We present accretion rates and model-derived distances for V363 Aur and RZ Gru. For AC Cnc, we find that a hot accreting white dwarf accounts for ∼ 60% of the FUV light with an accretion disk providing the rest. We compare our accretion rates and model-derived distances with estimates in the literature.