This system was detected as a soft X-ray source using the HEAO-1 satellite during 1977–78. The Einstein Observatory was then used in 1981 to more precisely position the source, which was designated E 2003+225.[1] In 1982, J. A. Nousek and associates observed the optical counterpart and found it varied in brightness with a period of 3.706 hours, displaying strong emission lines of hydrogen and helium. They identified it as a variable of the AM Herculis type.[10] The system shows a brightness variation of 0.7 magnitude during each orbit, plus a short-term flickering of 0.2 magnitudes.[1]
The accepted model for this class of variable is a binary system with a red dwarf secondary in a close orbit with a magnetic white dwarf. The red dwarf is overflowing its Roche lobe and matter is streaming onto the white dwarf.[11] The magnetic field of the white dwarf draws this material toward the magnetic poles, and the material is heated to a sufficient temperature to emit X-rays.[12] In 1985, a weak, extended radio source was detected at the location of this system, suggesting it may be a remnant of a past nova event.[13] X-ray observations in 1991 suggested there are separate regions of hard and soft X-ray emission, indicating matter is being accreted along two poles. The soft X-ray site is likely at the magnetic pole furthest from the secondary star.[12]
The strength of the magnetic field in the white dwarf is estimated at ~30 MG. Over long periods, the system has been shown to switch between states of high and low brightness.[8]K. Mukai and associates in 1986 suggested that the primary dip in the light curve is due to the geometry of the system in combination with a partial eclipse of the primary accretion region by the accretion column. The secondary dip may be caused by the limb of the white dwarf partially eclipsing the active accretion region. The rotation period of the white dwarf appears to be locked to the orbital period.[8]
References
^ abcNousek, J. A.; et al. (February 1984), "E 2003+225 : a 3h42m AM Herculis type binary system.", Astrophysical Journal, 277: 682–691, Bibcode:1984ApJ...277..682N, doi:10.1086/161739.
^Osborne, J. P.; et al. (August 1986), "A multi-wavelength study of the long-period AM Her system E2003+225 -I. The soft X-ray light curve and overall energy spectrum", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 221 (4): 823–838, Bibcode:1986MNRAS.221..823O, doi:10.1093/mnras/221.4.823.
^ abBeardmore, A. P.; et al. (April 1995), "ROSAT and GINGA observations of the magnetic cataclysmic variable QQ Vul: evidence for two-pole accretion", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 273 (3): 742–750, Bibcode:1995MNRAS.273..742B, doi:10.1093/mnras/273.3.742.
Staude, A.; et al. (December 2004), Vrielmann, Sonja; Cropper, Mark (eds.), "Tomography of AM Her and QQ Vul", Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables, IAU Colloquium 190, Proceedings of the Conference held 8-13 December, 2002 in Cape Town, South Africa, ASP Conference Proceedings, vol. 315, San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, p. 251, Bibcode:2004ASPC..315..251S.
Romero-Colmenero, E.; et al. (March 2003), "Multi-epoch spectroscopy, polarimetry and photometry of the polar UW Pic", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 339 (3): 685–694, Bibcode:2003MNRAS.339..685R, doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2003.06209.x.
Kafka, S.; Honeycutt, R. K. (March 2003), Sterken, C. (ed.), "QQ Vul: variable features in the orbital light curve", Interplay of Periodic, Cyclic and Stochastic Variability in Selected Areas of the H-R Diagram, ASP Conference Series 292, vol. 292, San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, p. 319, Bibcode:2003ASPC..292..319K.
Halevin, A. V.; et al. (January 2002), Gänsicke, B. T.; et al. (eds.), "Accretion instabilities with time-scales from seconds to years in magnetic cataclysmic variables", The Physics of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects, ASP Conference Proceedings, 261, San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 155, Bibcode:2002ASPC..261..155H, ISBN1-58381-101-X.
Catalan, M. S.; et al. (1996), Evans, A.; Wood, Janet H. (eds.), "QQ Vul Revisited", Cataclysmic variables and related objects. Astrophysics and Space Science Library; Proceedings of the 158th colloquium of the International Astronomical Union (IAU); held at Keele; United Kingdom; June 26-30; 1995, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol. 208, Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, p. 227, Bibcode:1996ASSL..208..227C, doi:10.1007/978-94-009-0325-8_69, ISBN978-94-010-6632-7.
Mukai, K.; et al. (April 1988), "An apparent visual companion of QQ Vul (E 2003+225)", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 194: 153–156, Bibcode:1988A&A...194..153M.
Osborne, Julian P.; et al. (April 1987), "A New Soft X-Ray Mode in the AM Herculis Object E2003+225", Astrophysical Journal Letters, 315: L123, Bibcode:1987ApJ...315L.123O, doi:10.1086/184873.
Andronov, I. L.; Fuhrmann, B. (January 1987), "On the Period of QQ Vulpeculae: New Minima from Old Plates", Information Bulletin on Variable Stars, 2976: 1, Bibcode:1987IBVS.2976....1A.
McCarthy, Patrick; et al. (December 1986), "Time-resolved Spectrophotometry of the AM Herculis System E2003+225", Astrophysical Journal, 311: 873, Bibcode:1986ApJ...311..873M, doi:10.1086/164825.
Mukai, K.; et al. (August 1986), "A multi-wavelength study of the long-period AM Her system E2003+225 -II. Changes in the accretion geometry.", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 221 (4): 839–856, Bibcode:1986MNRAS.221..839M, doi:10.1093/mnras/221.4.839.
McCarthy, P. J.; et al. (March 1985), "Time Resolved Spectrophotometry of the AM HER System E2003+225", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 17: 589, Bibcode:1985BAAS...17..589M.
Andronov, I. L.; Yavorskij, Yu. B. (October 1983), "Photometric study of AM Herculis-type star E 2003+225", Soviet Astronomy Letters, 9: 291–292, Bibcode:1983PAZh....9..556A.