Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2011

Department

Physical & Earth Sciences

Abstract

We report on extensive photometry of DK Lac obtained during the interval 1990-2009, which includes a 2mag low state during 2001-2003. Much of the photometry consists of exposures obtained with a typical spacing of several days, but also includes 26 sequences of continuous photometry each lasting 2-7hr. We find no evidence for periodicities in our data. We do find that the random variations in the low state are approximately twice those in the high state, when expressed in magnitudes. The lack of orbital-timescale variations is attributed to the nearly face-on presentation of the disk. There is a 0.2mag decline in the high-state brightness of the system over 19years, which is consistent with the behavior of other old novae in the decades following outburst. High-state spectra are also presented and discussed. We find that the equivalent width of Hα falls by about double from 1991 to 2008. The photometric properties are discussed in the context of the hibernation scenario for the behavior of novae between outbursts, in which we conclude that low states in old novae are probably unrelated to their possible entrance into hibernation. © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

DOI

10.1088/0004-6256/141/4/122

Volume

141

Issue

4

Publication Title

Astronomical Journal

ISSN

0004-6256

Comments

© 2011 American Astronomical Society.

Maxwell, T., Jacobson, H., et al. 2011. "The 2001-2003 Low State of Nova Lacertae 1950 (DK LAC)." Astronomical Journal. 141(4). doi:10.1088/0004-6256/141/4/122

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