M. C. P. Bours
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View article: Spectroscopic and photometric periods of six ultracompact accreting binaries
Spectroscopic and photometric periods of six ultracompact accreting binaries Open
Ultracompact accreting binary systems each consist of a stellar remnant accreting helium-enriched material from a compact donor star. Such binaries include two related sub-classes, AM CVn-type binaries and helium cataclysmic variables, in …
View article: The Palomar Transient Factory Sky2Night programme
The Palomar Transient Factory Sky2Night programme Open
We present results of the Sky2Night project: a systematic, unbiased search for fast optical transients with the Palomar Transient Factory. We have observed 407deg2 in R-band for eight nights at a cadence of 2 h. During the entire duration …
View article: Testing the white dwarf mass–radius relationship with eclipsing binaries
Testing the white dwarf mass–radius relationship with eclipsing binaries Open
We present high-precision, model-independent, mass and radius measurements for 16 white dwarfs in detached eclipsing binaries and combine these with previously published data to test the theoretical white dwarf mass–radius relationship. We…
View article: Once in a blue moon: detection of ‘bluing' during debris transits in the white dwarf WD 1145+017
Once in a blue moon: detection of ‘bluing' during debris transits in the white dwarf WD 1145+017 Open
The first transiting planetesimal orbiting a white dwarf was recently\ndetected in K2 data of WD1145+017 and has been followed up intensively. The\nmultiple, long, and variable transits suggest the transiting objects are dust\nclouds, prob…
View article: Using large spectroscopic surveys to test the double degenerate model for Type Ia supernovae
Using large spectroscopic surveys to test the double degenerate model for Type Ia supernovae Open
An observational constraint on the contribution of double degenerates to Type Ia supernovae requires multiple radial velocity measurements of ideally thousands of white dwarfs. This is because only a small fraction of the double degenerate…
View article: SDSS J105754.25+275947.5: a period-bounce eclipsing cataclysmic variable with the lowest-mass donor yet measured
SDSS J105754.25+275947.5: a period-bounce eclipsing cataclysmic variable with the lowest-mass donor yet measured Open
We present high-speed, multicolour photometry of the faint, eclipsing cataclysmic variable (CV) SDSS J105754.25+275947.5. The light from this system is dominated by the white dwarf. Nonetheless, averaging many eclipses reveals additional f…
View article: Hunting for eclipses: high-speed observations of cataclysmic variables
Hunting for eclipses: high-speed observations of cataclysmic variables Open
We present new time-resolved photometry of 74 cataclysmic variables (CVs), 47\nof which are eclipsing. 13 of these eclipsing systems are newly discovered. For\nall 47 eclipsing systems we show high cadence (1-20 seconds) light curves\nobta…
View article: Using Gaussian processes to model light curves in the presence of flickering: the eclipsing cataclysmic variable ASASSN-14ag
Using Gaussian processes to model light curves in the presence of flickering: the eclipsing cataclysmic variable ASASSN-14ag Open
The majority of cataclysmic variable (CV) stars contain a stochastic noise\ncomponent in their light curves, commonly referred to as flickering. This can\nsignificantly affect the morphology of CV eclipses and increases the difficulty\nin …
View article: Long-term eclipse timing of white dwarf binaries: an observational hint of a magnetic mechanism at work
Long-term eclipse timing of white dwarf binaries: an observational hint of a magnetic mechanism at work Open
We present a long-term programme for timing the eclipses of white dwarfs in\nclose binaries to measure apparent and/or real variations in their orbital\nperiods. Our programme includes 67 close binaries, both detached and\nsemi-detached an…