Polarimetry and the Long-Awaited Superoutburst of BZ UMa

November 2009 • 2009PASP..121.1205P

Authors • Price, A. • Masiero, J. • Henden, A. A. • Vanmunster, T. • Boyd, D. • Dvorak, S. • Oksanen, A. • Shears, J. • Starkey, D. • Arminski, A. • Collins, D. • Durig, D. • Harris, B. • Koff, R. • Koppelman, M. • Krajci, T. • Reszelski, M. • Simonsen, M. • Arranz, T. • Tomlin, R. • Wells, D.

Abstract • BZ UMa is a cataclysmic variable star whose specific classification has eluded researchers since its discovery in 1968. It has outburst and spectral properties consistent with both U Gem class dwarf novae and intermediate polars. We present new photometric and polarimetric measurements of recent outbursts, including the first detected superoutburst of the system. Statistical analysis of these and archival data from outbursts over the past 40 years presents a case for BZ UMa as a nonmagnetic, U Gem class, SU UMa subclass dwarf nova.

Links

• SIMBAD http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbo.pl?bibcode=2009PASP..121.1205P
• PDF https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/648479/pdf
• PREPRINT http://arxiv.org/abs/0909.4024
• ELECTR https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/648479