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[40.08] Investigation of the Accretion Disk Structure in the Near-Infrared for Three Eclipsing Cataclysmic Variables: AY Psc, UU Aqr, and PX And

M.E. Huber (Univ. of Wyoming and PSI), S.B. Howell (PSI)

We present near-infrared photometry of three eclipsing, non-magnetic, nova-like cataclysmic variables. The near-infrared spectral region provides an important probe of the cooler components in the system, specifically the outer regions of the accretion disk and the secondary star. Features seen in the light curves are the primary eclipse as the accretion disk is obscured by the secondary star, ellipsoidal modulations from the Roche lobe filling secondary star, a possible eclipse at phase 0.5 from the secondary star being partially obscured by the outer accretion disk, and other phase dependent features. To investigate and model the observed emission, a {\it{3D Eclipse Mapping}} program is used which utilizes three dimensional grid map structures for the accretion disk and secondary star in order to reconstruct the flux in the observed light curve. Using standard maximum entropy disk mapping techniques, an optimized solution is found for the intensity distribution within each of the grids. A discussion on the resulting models for the light curves is made, including conclusions on the radial brightness and temperature distribution found in the accretion disk as compared to other studies at shorter wavelengths and that expected for steady-state accretion in a standard \alpha model disk.