The source BY Cam is unique among all highly magnetized cataclysmic variables (polars) in showing a significant asynchronism between rotation and orbitalperiods and very peculiar C and N emission line ratios in the UV, suggestingabnormal CNO abundances. Recent FUSE observations in the far UV have now alsorevealed the weakness of the resonance OVI line. The origin of this verypeculiar line spectrum is unknown. BY Cam may indeed represent a key systemfor our understanding of CNO enrichment and nova phenomenon onto magnetizedwhite dwarfs. We propose to observe the source with XMM to derive for the first time a detailed X-ray line spectrum with RGS reaching the importantmetallic lines and to follow its variability with EPIC.\\
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2003-08-30T05:15:43Z/2003-10-13T21:58:59Z
Version
PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Jean-Marc Bonnet-Bidaud, 2004, 'The metallic abundances in the polar BY Cam', PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-rpgqdfn
