Searching for superhump period of cataclysmic variable AY Psc

Abstract

The results obtained from unfiltered photometric CCD observations of AY Psc made during 17, 20 and 12 nights, respectively, in 2003, 2004 and 2005 are presented. A period of 0.21732 +/- 0.00001 d was detected in the data. This period is consistent with the previously proposed orbital period of P(orb) = 0.2173209 d ((Diaz and Steiner, 1990)). Since this period was present in the light curves taken in all three years, with no apparent change in its value or amplitude. it is interpreted as the orbital period of this binary system. In addition, quasi-periodicities of 0.2057 +/- 0.0001 d, 0.2063 +/- 0.0001 d, 0.2072 +/- 0.0001 d for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively, were also discovered. These periods were interpreted as negative superhump periods and it was seen that they changes from year to year. Therefore AY Psc is then classified as a negative superhump system. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.