Positive and Negative Superhumps

Affiliation
Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, Variable Star Section (RASNZ-VSS)
Wed, 02/26/2014 - 04:09

Study of Negative and Positive Superhumps in ER Ursae Majoris

This paper has just been released.

Please can someone direct me to a place that describes positive and negative superhumps in language that can be understood by a layman (if that is possible).

Thx

Stephen [HSP]

Affiliation
Magyar Csillagaszati Egyesulet, Valtozocsillag Szakcsoport (Hungary) (MCSE)
positive and negative superhumps

Positive superhump is the "classic" superhump: it's period is longer than the orbital period of the CV.
Negative superhump: it's period is shorter than the the orbital period of the CV.

Regarding the physical origin of these superhumps there are various theories. Some of them can be found here:

http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/661/2/1042
http://arxiv.org/abs/1305.5877
http://arxiv.org/abs/1212.1516
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013AcA....63..109S

Clear skies,

Robert

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Negative superhumps

"Cataclysmic Variable Stars" by Coel Hellier is the standard text on the subject.  Look at Chapter 6 for a short synopsis of superhumps. 

Marlin