Rapid Keck Spectroscopy of Cataclysmic Variables

Skidmore, W., Horne, K., Pearson, K., Gomer, R., O'Brien, K. and Oke, B. (2004) Rapid Keck Spectroscopy of Cataclysmic Variables. Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica (Serie de Conferencias), 20. pp. 155-157. (Compact Binaries in the Galaxy and Beyond, Proceedings of the conference held 17-22 November, 2003 in La Paz, Baja California Sur. Edited by G. Tovmassian and E. Sion. IAU Colloquium 194)

Abstract/Summary

We present an analysis of Rapid Keck Spectroscopy of the CVs AM Her (polar) and SS Cyg (dwarf nova). We decompose the spectra into constant and variable components and identify different types of variability in AM Her with different characteristic timescales. The variable flickering component of the accretion disc flux and the observational characteristics of a small flare in SS Cyg are isolated.