TESS observations of the asynchronous polar CD Ind: mapping the changing accretion geometry
: Pasi Hakala, Gavin Ramsay, Stephen B. Potter, Andrew Beardmore, David A. H. Buckley, Graham Wynn
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS
: 2019
: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
: MON NOT R ASTRON SOC
: 486
: 2
: 2549
: 2556
: 8
: 0035-8711
: 1365-2966
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz992(external)
: https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/486/2/2549/5432374(external)
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/41456805(external)
We present the results of near continuous TESS optical observations of the asynchronous polar CD Ind (RX J2115-5840). The 27.9 d long light curve, with 2 min resolution, reveals remarkable changes in the magnetic accretion geometry of the system over the 7.3 d beat period. We have modelled the changes in the optical spin period pulse shape using a cyclotron emission mapping technique. The resulting cyclotron emission maps of the magnetic white dwarf reveal how the accretion geometry changes from single- to two-pole accretion and back over the beat cycle. Finally, we present the results from particle-based numerical magnetic accretion simulations, which agree with our interpretation of the changing accretion scenario.
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