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The high-energy radiative output, from the X-ray to the ultraviolet, of exoplanet host stars drives photochemical reactions and mass loss in the upper regions of planetary atmospheres. In order to place constraints on the atmospheric properties of the three closest terrestrial exoplanets transiting M dwarfs, we observe the high-energy spectra of the host stars LTT1445A and GJ486 in the X-ray with XMM-Newton and Chandra and in the ultraviolet with HST/COS and STIS. We combine these observations with estimates of extreme ultraviolet flux, reconstructions of the Ly-a lines, and stellar models at optical and infrared wavelengths to produce panchromatic spectra from 1A--20um for each star. While LTT1445Ab, LTT1445Ac, and GJ486b do not possess primordial hydrogen-dominated atmospheres, we calculate that they are able to retain pure CO2 atmospheres if starting with 10, 15, and 50% of Earth's total CO2 budget, respectively, in the presence of their host stars' stellar wind. We use age-activity relationships to place lower limits of 2.2 and 6.6 Gyr on the ages of the host stars LTT1445A and GJ486. Despite both LTT1445A and GJ486 appearing inactive at optical wavelengths, we detect flares at ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths for both stars. In particular, GJ486 exhibits two flares with absolute energies of 10^29.5 and 10^30.1 erg (equivalent durations of 4357+/-96 and 19724+/-169 s) occurring three hours apart, captured with HST/COS G130M. Based on the timing of the observations, we suggest that these high-energy flares are related and indicative of heightened flaring activity that lasts for a period of days, but our interpretations are limited by sparse time-sampling. Consistent high-energy monitoring is needed to determine the duration and extent of high-energy activity on individual M dwarfs, as well as the population as a whole., Comment: 21 pages, published in A&A

M dwarf stars are excellent candidates around which to search for exoplanets, including temperate, Earth-sized planets. To evaluate the photochemistry of the planetary atmosphere, it is essential to characterize the UV spectral energy distribution of the planet's host star. This wavelength regime is important because molecules in the planetary atmosphere such as oxygen and ozone have highly wavelength dependent absorption cross sections that peak in the UV (900-3200 $\r{A}$). We seek to provide a broadly applicable method of estimating the UV emission of an M dwarf, without direct UV data, by identifying a relationship between non-contemporaneous optical and UV observations. Our work uses the largest sample of M dwarf star far- and near-UV observations yet assembled. We evaluate three commonly-observed optical chromospheric activity indices -- H$\alpha$ equivalent widths and log$_{10}$ L$_{H\alpha}$/L$_{bol}$, and the Mount Wilson Ca II H&K S and R$'_{HK}$ indices -- using optical spectra from the HARPS, UVES, and HIRES archives and new HIRES spectra. Archival and new Hubble Space Telescope COS and STIS spectra are used to measure line fluxes for the brightest chromospheric and transition region emission lines between 1200-2800 $\r{A}$. Our results show a correlation between UV emission line luminosity normalized to the stellar bolometric luminosity and Ca II R$'_{HK}$ with standard deviations of 0.31-0.61 dex (factors of $\sim$2-4) about the best-fit lines. We also find correlations between normalized UV line luminosity and H$\alpha$ log$_{10}$ L$_{H\alpha}$/L$_{bol}$ and the S index. These relationships allow one to estimate the average UV emission from M0 to M9 dwarfs when UV data are not available., Comment: 34 pages, 12 figures, 5 tables (one machine readable table available online). Accepted to AAS Journals

We present a serendipitous multiwavelength campaign of optical photometry simultaneous with Integral X-ray monitoring of the 2015 outburst of the black hole V404 Cyg. Large amplitude optical variability is generally correlated with X-rays, with lags of order a minute or less compatible with binary light travel timescales or jet ejections. Rapid optical flaring on time-scales of seconds or less is incompatible with binary light-travel timescales and has instead been associated with synchrotron emission from a jet. Both this rapid jet response and the lagged and smeared one can be present simultaneously. The optical brightness is not uniquely determined by the X-ray brightness, but the X-ray/optical relationship is bounded by a lower-envelope such that at any given optical brightness there is a maximum X-ray brightness seen.} This lower-envelope traces out a Fopt proportional to Fx^0.54 relation which can be approximately extrapolated back to quiescence. Rapid optical variability is only seen near this envelope, and these periods correspond to the hardest hard X-ray colours. This correlation between hard X-ray colour and optical variability (and anti-correlation with optical brightness) is a novel finding of this campaign, and apparently a facet of the outburst behaviour in V404 Cyg. It is likely that these correlations are driven by changes in the central accretion rate and geometry., Comment: Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 21 pages

As part of the Mega MUSCLES Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Treasury program, we obtained time-series ultraviolet spectroscopy of the M2.5V star, GJ~674. During the FUV monitoring observations, the target exhibited several small flares and one large flare (E_FUV = 10^{30.75} ergs) that persisted over the entirety of a HST orbit and had an equivalent duration >30,000 sec, comparable to the highest relative amplitude event previously recorded in the FUV. The flare spectrum exhibited enhanced line emission from chromospheric, transition region, and coronal transitions and a blue FUV continuum with an unprecedented color temperature of T_c ~ 40,000+/-10,000 K. In this paper, we compare the flare FUV continuum emission with parameterizations of radiative hydrodynamic model atmospheres of M star flares. We find that the observed flare continuum can be reproduced using flare models but only with the ad hoc addition of hot, dense emitting component. This observation demonstrates that flares with hot FUV continuum temperatures and significant EUV/FUV energy deposition will continue to be of importance to exoplanet atmospheric chemistry and heating even as the host M dwarfs age beyond their most active evolutionary phases., Comment: ApJL, in press

An important tool for the development of the next generation of extremely large telescopes (ELTs) is a robust Systems Engineering (SE) methodology. GMACS is a first-generation multi-object spectrograph that will work at visible wavelengths on the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). In this paper, we discuss the application of SE to the design of next-generation instruments for ground-based astronomy and present the ongoing development of SE products for the GMACS spectrograph, currently in its Conceptual Design phase. SE provides the means to assist in the management of complex projects, and in the case of GMACS, to ensure its operational success, maximizing the scientific potential of GMT., Comment: To appear in Proc. SPIE 10705 (Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII, SPIEastro18)

SS~433 is an X-ray binary and the source of sub-relativistic, precessing, baryonic jets. We present high-resolution spectrograms of SS 433 in the infrared H and K bands. The spectrum is dominated by hydrogen and helium emission lines. The precession phase of the emission lines from the jet continues to be described by a constant period, P_jet= 162.375 d. The limit on any secularly changing period is $|\dot P| \lesssim 10^{-5}$. The He I 2.0587 micron line has complex and variable P Cygni absorption features produced by an inhomogeneous wind with a maximum outflow velocity near 900 km/s. The He II emission lines in the spectrum also arise in this wind. The higher members of the hydrogen Brackett lines show a double-peaked profile with symmetric wings extending more than +/-1500 km/s from the line center. The lines display radial velocity variations in phase with the radial velocity variation expected of the compact star, and they show a distortion during disk eclipse that we interpret as a rotational distortion. We fit the line profiles with a model in which the emission comes from the surface of a symmetric, Keplerian accretion disk around the compact object. The outer edge of the disk has velocities that vary from 110 to 190 km/s. These comparatively low velocities place an important constraint on the mass of the compact star: Its mass must be less than 2.2 M_solar and is probably less than 1.6 M_solar., Comment: ApJ, accepted

The `fundamental plane of black hole accretion' (FP), a relation between the radio luminosities ($L_R$), X-ray luminosities ($L_X$), and masses ($M_{BH}$) of hard/quiescent state black hole binaries and low-luminosity active galactic nuclei, suggests some aspects of black hole accretion may be scale invariant. However, key questions still exist concerning the relationship between the inflow/outflow behaviour in the `classic' hard state and quiescence, which may impact this scaling. We show that the broadband spectra of A0620-00 and~\sgra~(the least luminous stellar mass/supermassive black holes on the FP) can be modelled simultaneously with a physically-motivated outflow-dominated model where the jet power and all distances are scaled by the black hole mass. We find we can explain the data of both A0620-00 and~\sgra~(in its non-thermal flaring state) in the context of two outflow-model scenarios: (1) a synchrotron-self-Compton dominated state in which the jet plasma reaches highly sub-equipartition conditions (for the magnetic field with respect to that of the radiating particles), and (2) a synchrotron dominated state in the fast-cooling regime in which particle acceleration occurs within the inner few gravitational radii of the black hole and plasma is close to equipartition. We show that it may be possible to further discriminate between models (1) and (2) through future monitoring of its submm/IR/X-ray emission, in particular via time lags between the variable emission in these bands., Comment: 19 pages (including appendix), 6 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present a new method to model a HST/COS spectrum, aimed to analyze intrinsic UV absorption from the outflow of Mrk 290, a Seyfert I galaxy. We use newly updated XSTAR to generate photoionization models for the intrinsic absorption from the AGN outflow, the line emission from the AGN broad and narrow line regions, and the local absorption from high velocity clouds and Galactic interstellar medium. The combination of these physical models accurately fit the COS spectrum. Three intrinsic absorbers outflowing with velocities ~500 km/s are identified, two of which are found directly from two velocity components of the N V and C IV doublets, while the third is required by the extra absorption in the Lyman alpha. Their outflow velocities, ionization states and column densities are consistent with the lowest and moderately ionization warm absorbers (WAs) in the X-ray domain found by Chandra observations, suggesting an one-to-one correspondence between the absorbing gas in the UV and X-ray bands. The small turbulent velocities of the WAs (v_turb~<100 km/s) support our previous argument from the X-ray study that the absorbers originate from the inner side of the torus due to thermal evaporation. Given the covering fractions of ~65% for the three WAs, we deduce that the lengths and the thicknesses of the WAs are comparable, which indicates that the geometry of WAs are more likely clouds rather than flat and thin layers. In addition, the modeling of the broad line emission suggests a higher covering fraction of clouds when they are very closer to the black hole., Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures; Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) the COS Science Team has conducted a high signal-to-noise survey of 14 bright QSOs. In a previous paper (Savage et al. 2014) these far-UV spectra were used to discover 14 "warm" ($T > 10^5$ K) absorbers using a combination of broad Ly\alpha\ and O VI absorptions. A reanalysis of a few of this new class of absorbers using slightly relaxed fitting criteria finds as many as 20 warm absorbers could be present in this sample. A shallow, wide spectroscopic galaxy redshift survey has been conducted around these sight lines to investigate the warm absorber environment, which is found to be spiral-rich galaxy groups or cluster outskirts with radial velocity dispersions of \sigma\ = 250-750 km/s. While 2\sigma\ evidence is presented favoring the hypothesis that these absorptions are associated with the galaxy groups and not with the individual, nearest galaxies, this evidence has considerable systematic uncertainties and is based on a small sample size so it is not entirely conclusive. If the associations are with galaxy groups, the observed frequency of warm absorbers (dN/dz = 3.5-5 per unit redshift) requires them to be very large (~1 Mpc in radius at high covering factor). Most likely these warm absorbers are interface gas clouds whose presence implies the existence of a hotter ($T \sim 10^{6.5}$ K), diffuse and probably very massive ($>10^{11}~M_{\odot}$) intra-group medium which has yet to be detected directly., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ

We present contemporaneous X-ray, ultraviolet, optical and near-infrared observations of the black hole binary system, Swift J1753.5-0127, acquired in 2012 October. The UV observations, obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope, are the first UV spectra of this system. The dereddened UV spectrum is characterized by a smooth, blue continuum and broad emission lines of CIV and HeII. The system was stable in the UV to <10% during our observations. We estimated the interstellar reddening by fitting the 2175 A absorption feature and fit the interstellar absorption profile of Ly$\alpha$ to directly measure the neutral hydrogen column density along the line of sight. By comparing the UV continuum flux to steady-state thin accretion disk models, we determined upper limits on the distance to the system as a function of black hole mass. The continuum is well fit with disk models dominated by viscous heating rather than irradiation. The broadband spectral energy distribution shows the system has declined at all wavelengths since previous broadband observations in 2005 and 2007. If we assume that the UV emission is dominated by the accretion disk the inner radius of the disk must be truncated at radii above the ISCO to be consistent with the X-ray flux, requiring significant mass loss from outflows and/or energy loss via advection into the black hole to maintain energy balance., Comment: To appear in the ApJ

We observed the extreme close-in hot Jupiter system WASP-12 with HST. Near-UV transits up to three times deeper than the optical transit of WASP-12b reveal extensive diffuse gas, extending well beyond the Roche lobe. The distribution of absorbing gas varies between visits. The deepest NUV transits are at wavelength ranges with strong photospheric absorption, implying the absorbing gas may have temperature and composition similar to the stellar photosphere. Our spectra reveal significantly enhanced absorption (greater than 3 \sigma below the median) at ~200 wavelengths on each of two HST visits; 65 of these wavelengths are consistent between the two visits, using a strict criterion for velocity matching which excludes matches with velocity shifts exceeding ~20 km/s. Excess transit depths are robustly detected throughout the inner wings of the MgII resonance lines independently on both HST visits. We detected absorption in FeII 2586A, the heaviest species yet detected in an exoplanet transit. The MgII line cores have zero flux, emission cores exhibited by every other observed star of similar age and spectral type are conspicuously absent. WASP-12 probably produces normal MgII profiles, but the inner portions of these strong resonance lines are likely affected by extrinsic absorption. The required Mg+ column is an order of magnitude greater than expected from the ISM, though we cannot completely dismiss that possibility. A more plausible source of absorption is gas lost by WASP-12b. We show that planetary mass loss can produce the required column. Our Visit 2 NUV light curves show evidence for a stellar flare. We show that some of the possible transit detections in resonance lines of rare elements may be due instead to non-resonant transitions in common species. We present optical observations and update the transit ephemeris., Comment: 79 pages, 23 figures, published in ApJ "replaced" version is identical except for corrected punctuation in the arXiv abstract

We present contemporaneous, broadband, near-infrared spectroscopy (0.9-2.45 micron) and H-band photometry of the black hole X-ray binary, XTE J1118+480. We determined the fractional dilution of the NIR ellipsoidal light curves of the donor star from other emission sources in the system by comparing the absorption features in the spectrum with field stars of known spectral type. We constrained the donor star spectral type to K7 V - M1 V and determined that the donor star contributed 54+/-27% of the H-band flux at the epoch of our observations. This result underscores the conclusion that the donor star cannot be assumed to be the only NIR emission source in quiescent X-ray binaries. The H-band light curve shows a double-humped asymmetric modulation with extra flux at orbital phase 0.75. The light curve was fit with a donor star model light curve, taking into account a constant second flux component based on the dilution analysis. We also fit models that included emission from the donor star, a constant component from the accretion disk, and a phase-variable component from the bright spot where the mass accretion stream impacts the disk. These simple models with reasonable estimates for the component physical parameters can fully account for the observed light curve, including the extra emission at phase 0.75. From our fits, we constrained the binary inclination to 68 <= i <= 79 deg. This leads to a black hole mass of 6.9 <= M_BH <= 8.2 solar masses. Long-term variations in the NIR light curve shape in XTE J1118+480 are similar to those seen in other X-ray binaries and demonstrate the presence of continued activity and variability in these systems even when in full quiescence., Comment: Accepted for publication in the AJ

During its lifetime, the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) was used to observe 99 cataclysmic variables in 211 separate observations. Here, we present a survey of the moderate resolution (R\simeq10,000), far-ultraviolet (905 - 1188 {\deg}A), time-averaged FUSE spectra of cataclysmic variables (CVs). The FUSE spectra are morphologically diverse. They show contributions from the accretion disk, the disk chromosphere, disk outflows, and the white dwarf, but the relative contribution of each component varies widely as a function of CV subtype, orbital period and evolutionary state, inclination, mass accretion rate, and magnetic field strength of the white dwarf. The data reveal information about the structure, temperature, density and mass flow rates of the disk and disk winds, the temperature of the white dwarf and the effects of ongoing accretion on its structure, and the long-term response of the systems to disk outbursts. The complete atlas of time-averaged FUSE spectra of CVs are available at the Multimission Archive at Space Telescope Science Institute as a High Level Science Product., Comment: ApJS, in press. The extra panels in the figure sets for Figures 1 and 2 are included at the end of the manuscript

[Abridged.] We present multiwavelength observations of the black hole binary system, A0620-00. Using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope, we have obtained the first FUV spectrum of A0620-00. The observed spectrum is flat in the FUV and very faint (with continuum fluxes \simeq 1e - 17 ergs/cm^2/s/A). We compiled the dereddened, broadband spectral energy distribution of A0620-00 and compared it to previous SEDs as well as theoretical models. The SEDs show that the source varies at all wavelengths for which we have multiple samples. Contrary to previous observations, the optical-UV spectrum does not continue to drop to shorter wavelengths, but instead shows a recovery and an increasingly blue spectrum in the FUV. We created an optical-UV spectrum of A0620-00 with the donor star contribution removed. The non-stellar spectrum peaks at \simeq3000 {\deg}A. The peak can be fit with a T=10,000 K blackbody with a small emitting area, probably originating in the hot spot where the accretion stream impacts the outer disk. However, one or more components in addition to the blackbody are needed to fit the FUV upturn and the red optical fluxes in the optical-UV spectrum. By comparing the mass accretion rate determined from the hot spot luminosity to the mean accretion rate inferred from the outburst history, we find that the latter is an order of magnitude smaller than the former, indicating that \sim90% of the accreted mass must be lost from the system if the predictions of the disk instability model and the estimated interoutburst interval are correct. The mass accretion rate at the hot spot is 10^5 the accretion rate at the black hole inferred from the X-ray luminosity. To reconcile these requires that outflows carry away virtually all of the accreted mass, a very low rate of mass transfer from the outer cold disk into the inner hot region, and/or radiatively inefficient accretion., Comment: ApJ, accepted

The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) was installed in the Hubble Space Telescope in May, 2009 as part of Servicing Mission 4 to provide high sensitivity, medium and low resolution spectroscopy at far- and near-ultraviolet wavelengths (FUV, NUV). COS is the most sensitive FUV/NUV spectrograph flown to date, spanning the wavelength range from 900{\AA} to 3200{\AA} with peak effective area approaching 3000 cm^2. This paper describes instrument design, the results of the Servicing Mission Orbital Verification (SMOV), and the ongoing performance monitoring program., Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Astrophysics and Space Science

The knowledge of accurate stellar parameters is paramount in several fields of stellar astrophysics, particularly in the study of extrasolar planets, where often the star is the only visible component and therefore used to infer the planet's fundamental parameters. Another important aspect of the analysis of planetary systems is the stellar activity and the possible star-planet interaction. Here we present a self-consistent abundance analysis of the planet hosting star WASP-12 and a high-precision search for a structured stellar magnetic field on the basis of spectropolarimetric observations obtained with the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter. Our results show that the star does not have a structured magnetic field, and that the obtained fundamental parameters are in good agreement with what was previously published. In addition we derive improved constraints on the stellar age (1.0-2.65 Gyr), mass (1.23-1.49 M/M0), and distance (295-465 pc). WASP-12 is an ideal object to look for pollution signatures in the stellar atmosphere. We analyse the WASP-12 abundances as a function of the condensation temperature and compare them with those published by several other authors on planet hosting and non-planet hosting stars. We find hints of atmospheric pollution in WASP-12's photosphere, but are unable to reach firm conclusions with our present data. We conclude that a differential analysis based on WASP-12 twins will probably clarify if an atmospheric pollution is present, the nature of this pollution and its implications in the planet formation and evolution. We attempt also the direct detection of the circumstellar disk through infrared excess, but without success., Comment: 49 pages, 11 figures, Accepted for publication on ApJ

We present near-UV transmission spectroscopy of the highly irradiated transiting exoplanet WASP-12b, obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. The spectra cover three distinct wavelength ranges: NUVA (2539-2580 {\AA}), NUVB (2655-2696 {\AA}), and NUVC (2770-2811 {\AA}). Three independent methods all reveal enhanced transit depths attributable to absorption by resonance lines of metals in the exosphere of WASP-12b. Light curves of total counts in the NUVA and NUVC wavelength ranges show a detection at a 2.5{\sigma} level. We detect extra absorption in the Mg II {\lambda}{\lambda}2800 resonance line cores at the 2.8{\sigma} level. The NUVA, NUVB, and NUVC light curves imply effective radii of 2.69+/-0.24 RJ, 2.18+/-0.18 RJ, and 2.66+/-0.22 RJ respectively, suggesting the planet is surrounded by an absorbing cloud which overfills the Roche lobe. We detect enhanced transit depths at the wavelengths of resonance lines of neutral sodium, tin, and manganese, and at singly ionized ytterbium, scandium, manganese, aluminum, vanadium, and magnesium. We also find the statistically expected number of anomalous transit depths at wavelengths not associated with any known resonance line. Our data are limited by photon noise, but taken as a whole the results are strong evidence for an extended absorbing exosphere surrounding the planet. The NUVA data exhibit an early ingress, contrary to model expectations; we speculate this could be due to the presence of a disk of previously stripped material., Comment: Published on ApJL

We present broadband NIR spectra of A0620-00 obtained with SpeX on the IRTF. The spectrum is characterized by a blue continuum on which are superimposed broad emission lines of HI and HeII and a host of narrower absorption lines of neutral metals and molecules. Spectral type standard star spectra scaled to the dereddened spectrum of A0620-00 in K exceed the A0620-00 spectrum in J and H for all stars of spectral type K7V or earlier, demonstrating that the donor star, unless later than K7V, cannot be the sole NIR flux source in A0620-00. In addition, the atomic absorption lines in the K3V spectrum are too weak with respect to those of A0620-00 even at 100% donor star contribution, restricting the spectral type of the donor star in A0620-00 to later than K3V. Comparison of the A0620-00 spectrum to scaled K star spectra indicates that the CO absorption features are significantly weaker in A0620-00 than in field dwarf stars. Fits of scaled model spectra of a Roche lobe-filling donor star to the spectrum of A0620-00 show that the best match to the CO absorption lines is obtained when the C abundance is reduced to [C/H] = -1.5. The donor star contribution in the H waveband is determined to be 82+-2%. Combined with previous published results from Froning & Robinson (2001) and Marsh et al. (1994), this gives a precise mass for the black hole in A0620-00 of M_BH = 9.7+-0.6 M_solar., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

Outflows in the form of fast winds from the accretion disk appear in nearly all high accretion rate cataclysmic variables (CVs), both novalikes (NLs) and dwarf novae in outburst (DN). The primary signatures of CV winds are broad, blueshifted absorption features and P Cygni profiles that appear in the ionized metal lines of lower inclination systems and the broad emission lines that appear in eclipsing systems. Much progress has been made in our understanding of the structure and behavior of CV outflows based on data obtained with X-ray, EUV, and UV telescopes and the kinematical models developed to fit the observations. Our current picture of CV outflows is that they are bipolar, rotating winds driven off the accretion disk primarily by radiative line driving from disk, boundary layer, and white dwarf radiation. Other mechanical forces may play a role in the formation of CV winds. The winds are highly turbulent and show complex vertical and azimuthal structure. Future work will focus on determining the physical, thermal and ionization structure of the winds and probing the mechanisms that govern wind formation and behavior., Comment: 11 pages, to appear in The astrophysics of cataclysmic variables and related objects, ASP Conf. Ser., eds. J.M. Hameury and J.P. Lasota

FUSE observations have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the physical properties and behavior of active binary systems, including cataclysmic variables (CVs) and X-ray binaries (XRBs). FUSE data have allowed observers to study: accretion disks, magnetically-channeled accretion flow, and white dwarf accretors, and how these respond to accretion fluctuations and disk outbursts; the role of binary evolution in determining system properties; the vertical and azimuthal structure in disks and disk winds; and what the variations in active binary properties reveal about accretion physics in compact systems. Results of FUSE observations of active binaries are reviewed here., Comment: 10 pages, to appear in Astrophysics in the Far Ultraviolet: Five Years of Discovery With FUSE, ASP Conf Series, eds. G. Sonneborn, W. Moos & B.-G. Andersson

We present time series UV and optical (1150 -- 8000 A) spectrophotometry of the novalike (NL) cataclysmic variable V348 Pup through and after eclipse. Outside of eclipse, the spectrum is characterized by a blue continuum, strong line emission, and a broad dip from 2000 -- 3000 A. The continuum eclipse depth is roughly the same over the entire wavelength range covered and there are no signatures of the WD eclipse in the light curves. Model steady-state accretion disk spectra provide a poor fit to the shape of the UV-optical spectrum outside of eclipse. All of these properties are consistent with a disk that is self-shielding, hiding the inner disk and the white dwarf. In eclipse, the emission lines and the broad dip are occulted less than the continuum, indicating vertical extension in these components. The dip is consistent with the presence of a vertical ``Fe II'' absorbing curtain in the system. Archival UV-optical spectra of the lower-inclination NL UX UMa show a bluer continuum and weaker line emission than in V348 Pup and no broad dip. There is strong flickering in V348 Pup. The flickering spectrum shows that the flickering occurs only in the continuum. We did not detect any periodicities associated with the rapid variability. The properties of V348 Pup are consistent with its previous identification as a member of the SW Sex sub-class of NLs., Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, prepared using emulateapj.sty. To appear in the Astronomical Journal

We present far-ultraviolet (905 -- 1182 A), time-series spectroscopy of the eclipsing, novalike cataclysmic variable, UX UMa, acquired with FUSE. The time-averaged spectrum is complex and is dominated by overlapping spectral features. The most prominent features are emission lines of CIII, NIII}, NIV, and OVI. They are broad (FWHM >= 1800 km/s) and double-peaked with a central absorption at zero velocity. During eclipse, the spectrum is simpler: the emission lines remain bright, but the absorption components of the lines and the weaker features between the emission lines disappear entirely, leaving a flat continuum. This behavior is also evident in GHRS (1149 -- 1660 A) spectra that we retrieved from the HST archive. The FUV spectra show flickering on time scales of several minutes. The flickering is seen primarily in the continuum and/or the weaker lines rather than in the prominent emission lines. The orbital light curve has a dip in the FUV flux between orbital phases 0.45 -- 0.65, similar to a pre-eclipse dip detected in HST observations. The EWs of the line absorption features decrease during the dip. We have detected a systematic wavelength shift of spectral features on the orbital period, but with a phase lag of ~ 20 degrees, a phenomenon that has been reported at optical wavelengths. We discuss the implications of our results in the context of models of an accretion disk with a chromosphere between the disk and the extended wind. Finally, we note that the observed FUV flux is too low to be consistent with the temperature and radius of the WD derived by Baptista et al. (1995), suggesting that their remaining binary parameters, including a mass ratio of 1, ought to be viewed with skepticism., Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures; prepared using emulateapj5.sty. To appear in the Astrophysical Journal

Far ultraviolet (FUV) observations are excellent probes of the inner accretion disk, disk outflows, and the mass-accumulating white dwarf in cataclysmic variables. Here we study the contrasting behavior of two canonical dwarf novae in outburst by presenting FUSE FUV (904 -- 1187 A) spectroscopy of U Gem and SS Cyg. We observed each system four times during a single outburst. The outburst peak and early decline spectra of SS Cyg are well fit by models of a steady-state accretion disk and a biconical wind. A broad, blueshifted OVI wind-formed absorption line is the only strong spectral feature. In late outburst decline, OVI and CIII lines are seen as broad emission features and the continuum has flattened. In U Gem, the continua of the optical outburst plateau spectra are plausibly fit by accretion disk model spectra. The spectra also show numerous narrow, low-velocity absorption lines that do not originate in the inner accretion disk. We discuss the line spectra in the context of partial absorption of the FUV continuum by low-velocity, vertically-extended material located at large disk radii. The late outburst decline spectrum of U Gem is dominated by the white dwarf. WD model fits confirm the sub-solar C and super-solar N abundances found in earlier studies., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures. To appear in "The Physics of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects", ASP Conf. Ser., eds. B.T. Gaensicke, K. Beuermann, K. Reinsch Replaced 10/03/2001 to correct typos

We have obtained FUV (904 -- 1187 \AA) spectra of U Gem in outburst with FUSE. Three of the observations were acquired during the plateau phase of the outburst, while the fourth was obtained during late outburst decline. The plateau spectra have continuum shapes and fluxes that are approximated by steady-state accretion disk model spectra with $\dot{m} \simeq$ 7e-09 M_sun/yr. The spectra also show numerous absorption lines of H I, He II, and two- to five-times ionized transitions of C, N, O, P, S and Si. There are no emission features in the spectra, with the possible exception of a weak feature on the red wing of the O VI doublet. The absorption lines are narrow (FWHM ~ 500 km/s), too narrow to arise from the disk photosphere, and at low velocities (<= 700 km/s). The S VI and O VI doublets are optically thick. The absorption lines in the plateau spectra show orbital variability: in spectra obtained at orbital phases 0.53 -- 0.79, low-ionization absorption lines appear and the central depths of the pre-existing lines increase. The increase in line absorption occurs at the same orbital phases as previously observed EUV and X-ray light curve dips. If the absorbing material is in (near-) Keplerian rotation around the disk, it must be located at large disk radii. The final observation occurred when U Gem was about two magnitudes from optical quiescence. The spectra are dominated by emission from an $\simeq$43,000 K, metal-enriched white dwarf (WD). The inferred radius of the WD is 4.95e+08 cm, close to that observed in quiescence. Allowing for a hot heated region on the surface of the WD improves the fit to the spectrum at short (< 960 \AA) wavelengths., Comment: 29 pages, 13 figures, prepared using emulateapj5.sty. To appear in the Astrophysical Journal

We measured the near-infrared orbital light curve of the black hole binary A0620-00 in 1995 and 1996. The light curves show an asymmetric, double-humped modulation with extra emission in the peak at orbital phase 0.75. There were no significant changes in the shape of the light curve over the one-year observation period. There were no sharp dips in the light curves nor reversals of the asymmetry between the two peaks as seen in earlier observations. The light curves are well fit by models incorporating ellipsoidal variations from the mass-losing K-type star plus a beamed bright spot on the accretion disk around the compact star. The long-term stability of the light curve shape rules out superhumps and star spots as sources of asymmetry when we observed A0620-00. The ellipsoidal variations yield a lower limit i >= 38 deg on the orbital inclination. The light curves show no eclipse features, which places an upper limit i <= 75 deg. This range of inclinations constrains the mass of the compact object to 3.3 < M_1 < 13.6 Msun. The light curves do not further constrain the orbital inclination because the contribution of the accretion disk to the observed flux is unknown. We argue that a previous attempt to measure the near-infrared flux from the accretion disk using the dilution of the 12CO(2,0) bandhead in the spectrum of the K star is not reliable because the band strength depends strongly on surface gravity., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. 17 pages, 4 figures. Prepared using AASTEX V. 5.0

We present near-infrared, H-band (1.45-1.85 microns) observations of the eclipsing dwarf nova, IP Peg, in quiescence. The light curves are composed of ellipsoidal variations from the late-type secondary star and emission from the accretion disk and the bright spot. The light curves have two eclipses: a primary eclipse of the accretion disk and the bright spot by the companion star, and a secondary eclipse of the companion star by the disk. The ellipsoidal variations of the secondary star were modeled and subtracted from the data. The resulting light curve shows a pronounced double-hump variation. The double-hump profile resembles those seen in the light curves of WZ Sge and AL Com and likely originates in the accretion disk. The primary eclipse was modeled using maximum entropy disk mapping techniques. The accretion disk has a flat intensity distribution and a cool brightness temperature (Tbr=3000 K) in the near-infrared. Superimposed on the face of the disk is the bright spot (Tbr=10,000 K); the position of the bright spot is different from the observed range of visible bright spot positions. The near-infrared accretion disk flux is dominated by optically thin emission. The secondary eclipse indicates the presence of some occulting medium in the disk, but the eclipse depth is too shallow to be caused by a fully opaque accretion disk., Comment: Corrected minor typos, 7/99. Paper in press, will appear in September 20, 1999 issue of the ApJ. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal; 14 pages, 12 figures; Latex macro emulateapj.sty

We present V(RI)sub data for thirteen Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud ans fifty-five in each wavelength band. The median uncertainty in the photometry iy Moffett, Gieren & Barnes (1998) which contained 1000 measures ($\pm 0.01$ mag) in each wavelength band on 22 variables with periods in the range 8--133 days., Comment: LaTeX file (9 pages), LaTeX table (1 page), 2 figures of 3 panels eacs PASP (July)