Analysis of a Kepler Light Curve of the Novalike Cataclysmic Variable KIC 8751494

Abstract

Abstract We analyzed a Kepler light curve of KIC 8751494, a recently recognized novalike cataclysmic variable in the Kepler field. We detected a stable periodicity of 0.114379(1) d, which we identified as being the binary’s orbital period. The stronger photometric period at around 0.12245 d, which had been detected from a ground-based observation, was found to be variable, and we identified this period as the positive-superhump period. This superhump period showed short-term (10–20 d) strong variations in period most unexpectedly when the object entered a slightly faint state. The fractional superhump excess varied by as much large as $\sim$ 30%. The variation of the period very well traced the variation of the brightness of the system. The time-scale of this variation of superhump periods was too slow to be interpreted as a variation caused by a change of the disk radius due to thermal disk instability. We interpreted the cause of the period variation as a varying pressure effect on the period of positive superhumps. This finding suggests that the pressure effect, in at least novalike systems, plays a very important (up to $\sim$ 30% in the precession rate) role in producing the period of positive superhumps. We also described a possible detection of negative superhumps with a varying period of 0.1071–0.1081 d in the Q14 run of the Kepler data, and found that the variation of frequency of negative superhumps followed that of positive superhumps. The relation between the fractional superhump excesses of negative and positive superhumps can be understood if the angular frequency of positive superhumps is decreased by a pressure effect. We also found that the phase of the variation in the velocity of the emission lines reported in the earlier study is compatible with the SW Sex-type classification. Further, we introduced a new two-dimentional period analysis using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso), and showed superior advantages of this method.