New eclipse timings and an upper limit to the rate of mass transfer in the novalike variable RW Tri

Abstract

New times of minima for the eclipses of the novalike cataclysmic variable RW Tri are measured. The timings are used to revise the eclipse ephemeris and to place a limit on the rate of change of the orbital period. From the limit on the orbital period, an upper limit is derived for the rate of mass transfer in the system. This limit is a factor of 2 less than the rates of mass transfer predicted by several recent calculations of the evolution of cataclysmic variables. The limit is consistent with models of dwarf nova eruptions. New times of eclipse minima for RW Tri are presented.