MeerKAT observations of novalike cataclysmic variables

dc.contributor.advisorPretorius, M L
dc.contributor.advisorWoudt, Patrick
dc.contributor.authorHewitt, Danté Michael
dc.date.accessioned2021-01-28T12:17:52Z
dc.date.available2021-01-28T12:17:52Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.date.updated2021-01-28T10:36:17Z
dc.description.abstractI have conducted a systematic survey of eleven nearby novalike cataclysmic variables in the radio band, using the MeerKAT radio interferometer. Radio emission is detected from four out of the eleven systems: IM Eri, RW Sex, V3885 Sgr and V603 Aql. While RW Sex, V3885 Sgr and V603 Aql had been previously detected, this is the first reported radio detection of IM Eri. These observations have doubled the sample of non-magnetic cataclysmic varaibles with sensitive radio data. I observe that at these radio detection limits, a specific optical luminosity & 2.2 × 1018 erg s−1 Hz−1 (corresponding to MV . 6.0) is required to produce a radio detection. I also find that the X-ray and radio luminosities of the detected novalikes are on an extension of the LX ∝ L ∼0.7 R power law originally proposed for non-pulsating neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries. No other correlations are found between the radio emission and emission in other wavebands or any other system parameters for the existing sample of radio-detected novalikes. In-band (0.9–1.7 GHz) radio spectral indices are measured, and are found to be consistent with reports from earlier work. I construct broad spectral energy distributions for this sample from published multi-wavelength data, and use them to place constraints on the mass transfer rates of these eleven systems. Finally, I also present the results of time-resolved optical spectroscopy of two little-studied systems in the sample: V5662 Sgr and LSIV -08 3. I obtain orbital periods for these two systems that are consistent with previous measurements in the literature.
dc.identifier.apacitationHewitt, D. M. (2020). <i>MeerKAT observations of novalike cataclysmic variables</i>. (). ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Astronomy. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32726en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHewitt, Danté Michael. <i>"MeerKAT observations of novalike cataclysmic variables."</i> ., ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Astronomy, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32726en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHewitt, D.M. 2020. MeerKAT observations of novalike cataclysmic variables. . ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Astronomy. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32726en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Master Thesis AU - Hewitt, Danté Michael AB - I have conducted a systematic survey of eleven nearby novalike cataclysmic variables in the radio band, using the MeerKAT radio interferometer. Radio emission is detected from four out of the eleven systems: IM Eri, RW Sex, V3885 Sgr and V603 Aql. While RW Sex, V3885 Sgr and V603 Aql had been previously detected, this is the first reported radio detection of IM Eri. These observations have doubled the sample of non-magnetic cataclysmic varaibles with sensitive radio data. I observe that at these radio detection limits, a specific optical luminosity &amp; 2.2 × 1018 erg s−1 Hz−1 (corresponding to MV . 6.0) is required to produce a radio detection. I also find that the X-ray and radio luminosities of the detected novalikes are on an extension of the LX ∝ L ∼0.7 R power law originally proposed for non-pulsating neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries. No other correlations are found between the radio emission and emission in other wavebands or any other system parameters for the existing sample of radio-detected novalikes. In-band (0.9–1.7 GHz) radio spectral indices are measured, and are found to be consistent with reports from earlier work. I construct broad spectral energy distributions for this sample from published multi-wavelength data, and use them to place constraints on the mass transfer rates of these eleven systems. Finally, I also present the results of time-resolved optical spectroscopy of two little-studied systems in the sample: V5662 Sgr and LSIV -08 3. I obtain orbital periods for these two systems that are consistent with previous measurements in the literature. DA - 2020 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Astronomy LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2020 T1 - MeerKAT observations of novalike cataclysmic variables TI - MeerKAT observations of novalike cataclysmic variables UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32726 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/32726
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHewitt DM. MeerKAT observations of novalike cataclysmic variables. []. ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Astronomy, 2020 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32726en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Astronomy
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.subjectAstronomy
dc.titleMeerKAT observations of novalike cataclysmic variables
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMSc
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