Long-term five-colour photometry of the dwarf nova VW Hyi shows no evidence for a secular change of the flux during the quiescent interval between normal outbursts (3σ upper limits between 0.16 and 0.20 mag in the five passbands). However, the amplitudes in the orbital B-U and U-W colour curves change during quiescence. A delay in the progress of normal outbursts toward higher frequencies confirms the delay, seen with IUE, in the onset of a normal outburst toward higher frequencies. Just after outburst, the system is substantially bluer than later in quiescence.

The recurrence behaviour of normal- and super-outbursts in the SU Uma system VW Hyi is consistent with the idea that every superoutburst is triggered by a normal outburst. A simple description with a constant relaxation period of 170 days for the recurrence of superoutbursts, together with a randomly occurring trigger (the normal outbursts’) is presented.

We present the analysis of spectrograms obtained during quiescence and during an ordinary outburst of the SU UMa type dwarf nova WX Hyi (ESO 3.6m telescope, B&C spectrograph with Image Disector Scanner, 171 Åmm−1, range 4000–7000 Å, time resolution 6min.). The radial velocities of these spectra have been discussed by Schoembs and Vogt (1981) who also derived the orbital elements of WX Hyi. The phases φmax refer to these elements. All velocities discussed here are with respect to the white dwarf, not to the center of mass of the binary system.

In quiescent state we did not find significant radial velocity variations. The equivalent widths Wλ of the He I emission lines revealed periodic variations with an amplitude of ≈30%, maximal values of Wλ were observed at φmax = 0.0... 0.2. In contrast, the equivalent widths of the Balmer lines were not variable.

During outburst we found periodic radial velocity variations of the emission peak of Hα, Hβ and He I 5875 with an amplitude of ≈100 km s−l, φmax ≈ 0.5. Also the broad Balmer absorption lines revealed periodic radial velocity variations, with a similar amplitude (φmax = 0.3...0.5). The equivalent width of the Hα central emission peak varies with an amplitude of ≈30%, φmax ≈ 0.85. No variations of the equivalent width of the Balmer absorption lines were found.

The outburst observations suggest that the preceeding part of the disc is brighter than the following one (in orbital motion). This is probably due to heating of the preceeding part by collisions with circumbinary matter, which seems to have an enhanced density in outburst as compared to the quiescent state. The emission lines are formed in outer layers or in a halo around the disc. The equivalent width variations can be interpreted in terms of interactions between this halo and the optically thick part of the disc.

A more detailed discussion of the data is being published elsewhere.

Time resolved spectroscopy of the dwarf nova IP Pegasi in the range λλ 7670–8320Å shows absorption lines originating from the cool secondary. A radial velocity curve for this component has been derived by cross-correlation with a normal M star. The curve has semi-amplitude K2 = 288.3 ± 4 km s−1, and is slightly distorted. This distortion is equivalent to an orbit with an apparent eccentricity of 0.075 ± 0.024. The mass function of the primary is 0.394 ± 0.016M⊙. From this we derive constraints on the component masses of 0.62 < M1 < 1.14M⊙ and 0.17 < M2 < 0.71M⊙. The red star has a radius in the range 0.32 < R2 < 0.51R⊙ and is probably on the main sequence.

The calculation of a gas stream offers two modes of the stream. In any case the stream cannot be detected optically. The calculated line profiles caused by the disc are demonstrated.

Spectroscopic observations of two novae (Nova Vul 1984 No. 1 and No. 2) have been carried out at the Asiago Observatory from the moment of their discovery up to now. A short preliminary description of the spectral characteristics and evolution of these two novae is reported together with a brief comparison of their properties.

An analysis of data spanning 24 years shows that a secondary 20m periodicity is a persistent feature in photometric observations of TT Ari. This period decreases from 27m in 1961 to 17m in 1985. The 4d beat period of photometric and spectroscopic periods is also apparent in observations of 1966.

Photometry and first results of extensive CCD-spectroscopy of the UX UMa system RW Sex are presented. The period is found to be P = 0.24486 days and the semi-amplitude of the radial velocity is K1 = 101 km s−1. The mass of a Roche-lobe filling secondary is M2 = (0.54±0.09) Mo and, for M1 ≧ M2, the mass ratio is M1/M2 = 1.5±0.5. The accretion rate is about (2–3) 1017 g/s. The model for RW Sex by Greenstein and Oke is discussed and rejected.

Photometric observations of BD −7° 3007 in B and V filters are reported. Rapid flickering appears to be present at all phases, implying an unfavourable angle of inclination of orbit for seeing eclipse effects. A modulation of the light curve of period about an hour is present only on one night. The continuum energy distribution agrees with that of ß Com (GO V) in the longer wavelength region only.

The AM Her type system E1405−451 is known to show 1 - 3 second variability in its optical emission. Our observations show this variability to be due to quasi-periodic oscillations with a coherence time on the order of one minute. The observations also reveal variations in the color of the oscillating light source. These variations are difficult to explain with present cyclotron emission models.

We present here new results on the periodic modulations in the optical light curves of EX Hydrae observed during 1982–84. The period analysis has been done using synchronous summation and discrete Fourier transform methods. We report new periodicities at 34.7 min and 26.7 min apart from confirming the detection of 46.3 min modulation recently reported. We also include our data to derive the rate of decrease of the 67 min period.

We present the first observations of the AM Her type object EF Eri where both the polarization and the photometric data are recorded simultaneously in five color bands (UBVRI). The position angle rotates strongly (~30° ) vs. wavelength from U to 1, probably due to Faraday rotation or due to fact that the polarized radiation seen in the different wavelength bands comes from different parts of the accretion region. The phase dependence of the position angle requires field and accretion geometry more complicated than a simple centered dipole and a second emitting region producing weaker intermediate pulses in the infrared seems to be present. We derive the value of the inclination of the system i = 55° ± 5° , the colatitude of the active pole βl = 38° ± 5° i and the second emitting region β2 = 115° ± 5° , both of which are nearly at the same longitude facing the main accretion stream.

Observations of linear and circular polarization in five colour bands during a highly active state of VV Puppis in January 86 are reported. A strong linear polarization pulse with the maximum in the blue, PB ≈ 22%, is observed at the end of the bright phase when the active pole is at the limb and a weaker secondary pulse, PB ≈ 7%, is seen in the beginning of the bright phase, when the active pole reappears. Strong positive circular polarization is also observed in the blue and the ultraviolet, РU ≈ PB ≈ 18%, PV ≈ 10% during the bright phase. The circular polarization reverses the sign in the B and V bands during the faint phase and a negative polarization hump is seen when the active pole crosses the limb. The circular polarization in the V band reaches the value PV ≈ −10% at the hump, after which it remains near PV ≈ −5% during the faint phase. This is probably due to radiation coming from the second, less active pole and accretion thus takes place onto both poles. The wavelength dependences of the positive and negative parts of the circular polarization curve are different and no polarization reversal is seen in the U band. The position angle of the linear polarization is well determined during a large portion of the cycle, especially in the V band, thanks to the activity from both poles. A best fit to the position angle curve, taking into account also the duration of the positive circular polarization phase interval ΔΦ = 0.40 (in the V band), yields the values of orbital inclination i = 78° ± 2° and the colatitude of the active magnetic pole ß = 146° ± 2°. The relatively good fit to the position angle data indicates that the simple dipole model is nearly correct in the case of VV Puppis. Some wavelength dependence is, however, seen in the position angle curves, especially in the I band where the slope Δθ/ΔΦ at the main pulse is considerably smaller than in the other bands. The shape of the position angle curves changes also in the blue and the ultraviolet around the middle of the bright phase. This is probably due to optical thickness effects as the side of the accretion column which is toward the observer changes near this phase.

The preliminary results of the analysis of more than 1000 spectra of cataclysmic variables in the archive of the International Ultraviolet Explorer were presented at the meeting. To characterize the slope of the spectra I use F = log(f1460Å/f2880Å). For most spectra F lies between 0.2 and 0.7. No correlation of F with orbital period, inclination, system type or (for dwarf novae) length of the interoutburst interval are found, apart from somewhat lower values of F for DQ Her type systems. Out of 16 dwarf novae for which spectra both at outburst maximum and minimum are available 11 show no large difference in F between maximum and minimum, and in 5 F declines with the flux level. Out of 6 dwarf novae 5 show very red spectra during the rise to maximum, and 1 shows slopes during rise similar to those during decline.

In the ultraviolet resonance lines, due to a wind from the disc, no correlation is found between inclination and terminal velocity.

The X-ray observatory EXOSAT spent over 1000 hours observing cataclysmic variables. Some of the major results reviewed here are: soft X-ray light curve changes in AM Her objects, orbital effects in the X-ray light curves of intermediate polars and U Gem, regular behaviour in the inter-outburst X-ray flux of VW Hyi, and X-ray emission from the tenuous remnant of the recent recurrent nova RS Oph. The ability of EXOSAT to make long uninterupted observations at high sensitivity over a broad spectral range and to react quickly to cosmic events has yielded a dataset of a quality that will not be surpassed for many years.

EXOSAT observations of a large sample of non-magnetic cataclysmic variables have led to the detection of VW Hyi and OY Car as strong soft X-ray sources during superoutburst. The spectral characteristics of the X-ray emission of these SU Uma systems are compared. It is proposed that both systems have, besides a cool, optically thick boundary layer, an extended hot, optically thin corona.

In this paper we present recent results from a continuing investigation of cataclysmic variables in the 500 to 1700 A region with the Voyager ultraviolet spectrometers. Observations of outbursts show a substantial delay (~0.5 day) in the rise to maximum in the FUV (912–1200 Å) with respect to optical wavelengths. Both FUV and optical light decline simultaneously. Flux distributions show a significant flattening in the FUV and with the possible exception of CPD-48 1577 no EUV flux has been observed in any catalclysmic variable. CPD-48 1577 shows a marginal, 2 σ EUV flux.

We present the first results of a study which will attempt to analyze the combined Voyager and IUE observations of cataclysmic variables using steady-state accretion disk models. Initially we use flux ratio diagrams to determine if a combination of models will suffice or if new ingredients are necessary.

The 1985 outburst of the bright, recurrent nova RS Oph was almost simultaneously observed at X-ray, UV, optical, IR and radio frequencies at many epochs. The abundances in the ejected shell and the development of the bolometric luminosity as a function of time suggest that the cause of the outburst is a nuclear runaway on a massive white dwarf.

Prelimary results of an extended program of coordinated X-ray and optical observations of TT Ari are presented. The object was observed on August 21/22 1985 both in X-rays (EXOSAT) and optical range, about 100 days after the return to the active state. The first detailed simultaneous study of TT Ari in active state indicates the presence of strongly absorbing structure in the system.