Extensive photometry of the intermediate polar V2069 Cyg (RX J2123.7+4217)

Abstract

To obtain the spin period of the white dwarf in the intermediate polar V2069 Cyg with high precision, we fulfilled extensive photometry. Observations were performed within 32 nights, which have a total duration of 119 hours and cover 15 months. We found the spin period of the white dwarf, which is equal to 743.40650±0.00048s. Using our precise spin period, we derived the oscillation ephemeris with a long validity of 36 years. This ephemeris and the precise spin period can be used for future investigations of spin period changes of the white dwarf in V2069 Cyg. In addition, for the first time we detected the sideband oscillation with a period of 764.5125±0.0049s. The spin and sideband oscillations revealed unstable amplitudes both in a time-scale of days and in a time-scale of years. On average, the semi-amplitude of the spin oscillation varied from 17 mmag in 2014 to 25 mmag in 2015. The semi-amplitude of the sideband oscillation varied from 12 mmag in 2014 to an undetectable level of less than 7 mmag in 2015. In a time-scale of years, the optical spin pulse profile revealed essential changes from an asymmetric double-peaked shape in 2014 to a quasi-sinusoidal shape in 2015. Such drastic changes of the optical spin pulse profile seem untypical of most intermediate polars and, therefore, are of great interest. The pulse profile of the sideband oscillation was quasi-sinusoidal. Moreover, we note that V2069 Cyg possesses strong flickering with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.4–0.6 mag. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media B.V.