Chandra, NuSTAR, and Optical Observations of the Cataclysmic Variables IGR J17528-2022 and IGR J20063+3641

Abstract

Abstract We report on Chandra, NuSTAR, and MDM observations of two International Gamma-ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) sources, namely IGR J17528−2022 and IGR J20063+3641. IGR J17528−2022 is an unidentified INTEGRAL source, while IGR J20063+3641 was recently identified as a magnetic cataclysmic variable (mCV) by Halpern et al. The Chandra observation of IGR J17528−2022 has allowed us to locate the optical counterpart to the source and to obtain its optical spectrum, which shows a strong Hα emission line. The optical spectrum and flickering observed in the optical time-series photometry in combination with the X-ray spectrum, which is well fit by an absorbed partially covered thermal bremsstrahlung model, suggest that this source is a strong mCV candidate. The X-ray observations of IGR J20063+3641 reveal a clear modulation with a period of 172.46 ± 0.01 s, which we attribute to the white dwarf spin period. Additional MDM spectroscopy of the source has also allowed for a clear determination of the orbital period at 0.731 ± 0.015 days. The X-ray spectrum of this source is also well fit by an absorbed partially covered thermal bremsstrahlung model. The X-ray spectrum, spin periodicity, and orbital periodicity allow this source to be further classified as an intermediate polar.