Spectroscopic search for new SW Sextantis stars in the 3-4 h orbital period range - I

Abstract

We report on time-resolved optical spectroscopy of 10 non-eclipsing nova-like cataclysmic variables in the orbital period range between 3 and 4 h. The main objective of this long-term programme is to search for the characteristic SW Sextantis behaviour and to eventually quantify the impact of the SW Sex phenomenon on nova-likes at the upper boundary of the orbital period gap. Of the 10 systems observed so far, HL Aqr, BO Cet, AH Men, V380 Oph, AH Pic and LN UMa are identified as new members of the SW Sex class. We present improved orbital period measurements for HL Aqr (P-orb = 3.254 +/- 0.001 h) and V380 Oph (P-orb = 3.69857 +/- 0.00002 h). BO Cet and V380 Oph exhibit emission-line flaring with periodicities of 20 and 47 min, respectively. The H alpha line of HL Aqr shows significant blueshifted absorption modulated at the orbital period. Similarly to the emission S-wave of the high-inclination SW Sex stars, this absorption S-wave has its maximum blue velocity at orbital phase similar to 0.5. We estimate an orbital inclination for HL Aqr in the range 19 degrees < i < 27 degrees, which is much lower than that of the emission-dominated, non-eclipsing SW Sex stars (i similar to 60 degrees-70 degrees). This gives rise to the interesting possibility of many low-inclination nova-likes actually being SW Sex stars, but with a very different spectroscopic appearance as they show significant absorption. The increasing blueshifted absorption with decreasing inclination points to the existence of a mass outflow with significant vertical motion. These six new additions to the SW Sex class increase the presence of non-eclipsing systems to about one-third of the whole SW Sex population, which therefore makes the requirement of eclipses as a defining criterion for SW Sex membership no longer valid. The statistics of the cataclysmic variable population in the vicinity of the upper period gap are also discussed.