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S. Kafka (CTIO), R.K. Honeycutt (Indiana University), S.B. Howell (WIYN Observatory & NOAO)
Three epochs of time-resolved near-IR spectroscopy of the magnetic cataclysmic variable (CV) AM Herculis were obtained during the 2003, 2004 and 2005 low states. Our study reveals that all of the observed spectral features (both emission and absorption) follow the motion of secondary star. Furthermore, the H\alpha emission line is triple-peaked, with the central conponent perhaps arizing from the illuminated inner hemisphere of the secondary star. The radial velocity curves and phase visibility of the blue and red satellite lines support that they originate in large, long-lived magnetically-confined loops (prominences) on the secondary star. These new observations in AM Her can provide a new method of exploring activity on the secondary star of such systems advancing our understanding on its effect on the mass transfer process and CV evolution.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.