[vsnet-alert 5452] RZ Leo superhumps: early superhumps?

[Taichi Kato <tkato>]

RZ Leo superhumps: early superhumps?

Dear Colleagues,

    We must remind that the best superhump period (P=0.0762 d) is
extraordinally close to the photometric period (0.0756 +/- 0.0012 d,
Mennieckent et al., 1999, Astron. Astrophys. 352, 239).  The values
may even regarded to "agree" within their errors.
    The observed hump profile is also peculiar in contrast to "usual"
superhumps in SU UMa stars.  The humps show a complex structure, similar
to "early superhumps" observed in other WZ Sge-type stars (AL Com, EG Cnc,
HV Vir).
    These findings may indicate that we are observing the very early stage
of an WZ Sge-type dwarf nova, which commonly show complex "superhumps"
whose period is close to the orbital period (see the VSNET AL Com page
and paper for reference).

    This feature may quickly decay, as in other WZ Sge-type stars, or
develop into more distinct superhumps within several days.  Intensive
observations at this extremely rarely met stage are of utmost importance.

    The observed hump profile is available at the VSNET RZ Leo page:

    http://vsnet.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/vsnet/DNe/rzleo.html

    Let's join this Christmas and New Millenium world-wide campaign!

Regards,
R. Ishioka, M. Uemura, H. Iwamatsu, T. Kato, K. Matsumoto
at Kyoto University
On behalf of the VSNET Collaboration team

VSNET Home Page

Return to Daisaku Nogami

---

vsnet-adm@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp