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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 April 2016
We report spectroscopic and photometric observations of the new DQ Hercuis system 1H0542-407, recently discovered by us to be the optical counterpart of a HEAO-1 X-ray source. Medium resolution spectroscopy using the AAT in the region λ3930 to λ4960 conducted over consecutive nights shows radial velocity variations at periods of ∼ 1910 s, consistent with the white dwarf rotation period, and 5.7 h, in agreement with the orbital period derived from our EXOSAT observations. The K semi-amplitude velocities are ∼ 50 and 20 km s-1 respectively, leading to a mass function f(M) = 3.3 ± 0.6 × 10-3M⊙ and an orbital inclination close to 20°. The emission line profiles are characterized by simple Gaussians whose FWHM vary at the rotation period. A time series analysis of high resolution photometry conducted on the ANU 2.3 metre telescope reveals the presence of several periodicities, including the orbital sidebands. The dominant sideband (Vr − Vo) arises from X-rays reprocessed in a region corotating at the orbital frequency. A model is developed for 1H0542-407 which indicates that the accretion disk is disrupted at ∼5Rwd by the primary’s magnetic field. The short period velocity variations arise within the magnetosphere. A white dwarf magnetic field strength of < ∼ 3 MG is implied.