ASCA Observations of the Eclipsing IP XY Ari

Abstract

We describe the ASCA observation of the eclipsing intermediate polar (IP) XY Ari (=H0253+19). This system was first discussed by Patterson & Halpern (1990, ApJ, 361, 173) as a possible IP based upon the HEAO-1 data. This system is impossible to study in the optical or ultraviolet because of the 12 mag of optical extinction associated with the molecular cloud Lynds 1457=MBM 12. The system has an orbital period of 0.2526 day and a pulse period of 208 sec. Our preliminary analysis of the ASCA data shows that the eclipse is nearly total (the precision of the background subtraction sets the limit). The eclipse ingress and egress occur very quickly, although we have not yet derived accurate numbers. There are sufficient photons that we can perform crude phase-resolved spectroscopy. The resulting spectra, each covering about 1/4 of the orbit, show that the Fe Kα line is not constant as a function of phase. A sample spectrum is reproduced below. We expect to submit a paper describing the results to the ApJ before the end of 1996.