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# The census of cataclysmic variables in the ROSAT Bright SurveyBased in part on observations performed at the Eurpean Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile, under programmes 60.B-0107 and 66.A-0664

## 1 Introduction

In the ROSAT Bright Survey (RBS) we have completely optically identified all high-galactic latitude sources detected in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey with mean count rate above 0.2 s-1 (Schwope et al. 2000). About one third of all sources are of galactic origin. Most of them are stars with active coronae. Minority populations among the galactic constituents are interacting binaries of different flavour (neutron star accretors, white dwarf accretors, magnetic and non-magnetic systems, super-soft sources SSSs). With a survey area of more than $`20000`$ square degrees and its flux limit of about $`2.5\times 10^{12}`$ erg cm-2 s-1 the RBS represents the deepest complete, soft X-ray selected, flux-limited sample of CVs (and other types of X-ray emitters) at high galactic latitude, important for population statistics and evolution scenarios of various kinds of X-ray emitters (see e.g. Miyaji et al. 2001 for the X-ray luminosity function of AGNs based on the RBS and other X-ray surveys).

Due to the soft spectral band of the PSPC detector, ROSAT identifications revealed a large number of new magnetic CVs, most of AM Herculis subtype (polars), and the SSSs as a new class of X-ray emitters. Polars are strongly magnetic CV where the magnetic field keeps both stars (in most cases) in synchronous rotation, inhibits the formation of an accretion disk and leads to intensive cyclotron radiation in the optical and X-ray radiation from the accretion hot spot on the white dwarf. Compared to pre-ROSAT times with less than 20 systems, the number of polars has increased to almost 70, most of them identified as counterparts of very soft RASS or WFC-sources (Pye et al. 1995, Thomas et al. 1998, Beuermann et al. 1999). The discovery of new systems and the determination of their basic parameters (orbital period, masses) is of importance for the evolution of this kind of binary. The number density of the CVs in general is still highly uncertain. Their observed minimum period is far from being compatible with current theoretical models and the presence or absence of the 2–3 hour period gap and the likely causes for its presence or absence are a matter of debate.

However the restriction to soft X-ray sources a priori excludes the vast majority of CVs to be detected: normal disk systems in quiescence which have intrinsically hard spectra. Population synthesis using standard CV evolution predicts a space density of $`10^5`$ pc-3 (de Kool 1992) to $`10^4`$ pc-3 (Politano 1996), with the consequence that about 10 to 100 undetected CVs should be hiding in the local vicinity (50 pc) of the Sun. Altough most of these sources have been evolved to short periods, and accrete only at low $`\dot{M}`$, they should still emit $`L_\mathrm{X}10^{30}`$ erg s-1 and therefore show up in any medium deep X-ray survey. The only pre-ROSAT medium deep X-ray search for CVs, the Einstein galactic plane survey (Hertz et al. 1990) detected 3 faint disk CVs and and one AM Herculis system in a 144 sqr degree field. The implied space density was $`(23)\times 10^5`$ pc-3 in agreement with the theoretical predictions, but a factor of 5 to 10 higher than estimates based other detection criteria (variability, spectra, color) (see e.g Patterson 1984).

DQ Herculis stars or intermediate polars are another class of CVs which are X-ray bright. They posses significant magnetic fields but the magnetic moment is too weak to synchronize both stars. Mass transfer may include an accretion disk and the systems have in general hard X-ray spectra. Most DQ Herculis stars have periods above 3 hours and it’s not clear whether they later evolve into AM Herculis stars or form a largely unrecognized population. Thus an unbiased sample of CVs is crucial to validate our current understanding of their evolution.

For several of the new CVs found in the RBS (Schwope et al. 2000) follow-up observations were initiated. In this paper we present the current status of the observations of these systems, including the results of photometric, polarimetric and spectroscopic observations. Results of our initial studies of RBS0206 and RBS1735, now called EQ Cet und CD Ind, respectively, were presented earlier (Schwope et al. 1997, 1999). The main properties of the objects under investigation in this paper are summarized in Table 1.

The paper is organized in the following way. We briefly describe our optical observations and then present the results and implications in sections devoted to individual objects, separating magnetic and non-magnetic systems. The paper is closed with a short discussion of all CVs in the RBS.

## 2 Observational summary of new interacting binaries found in the RBS

The spectra shown in this paper were obtained as part of the identification program of all RBS-sources (Schwope et al. 2000) using the 6m-telescope at Zelenchukskaya (equipped with the UAGS+CCD prime focus spectrograph), the ESO 3.6m-telescope equipped with EFOSC2, the Calar Alto 3.5m telescope with MOSCA, and the ESO 1.5m-telescope equipped with a Boller & Chivens spectrograph. Low-resolution grisms or gratings were used in all cases, which gave spectra covering the whole optical wavelength range with moderate to low resolution (8 – 20 Å FWHM). Follow-up spectroscopy, partly with higher resolution (4 Å FWHM) was obtained with the SAAO 1.9m telescope on several occasions in 1998 and 1999.

Follow-up photometry and polarimetry was performed with the ESO/Dutch 90cm telescope with CCD camera, the AIP 70cm telescope with CCD camera, and the SAAO 1.9m telescope with the UCT polarimeter. More detailed information about the observations is given in the sections on the individual targets.

Finding charts of the new CVs are reproduced in the Appendix. All charts have a size of $`5\times 5`$ arcmin, North at the top and East to the left. The CVs are marked by short dashes.

## 3 New magnetic cataclysmic variables

### 3.1 RBS0206 (= 1RXS J012851.9$``$233931)

The identification of RBS0206 as a magnetic cataclysmic variable of AM Herculis type was announced by Schwope et al. (1999). The identification was based on one low-resolution spectrum taken in a low accretion state and some occasional I-band photometry. The spectrum showed one pronounced cyclotron line at $``$8000 Å probably originating in a low temperature accretion plasma, $`kT2`$ keV, with a field strength of 45 MG, and Zeeman shifted photospheric Balmer absorption lines indicating a mean magnetic field strength of $``$36 MG. The photometry suggested a periodicity of about 90 or 146 min, respectively.

Follow-up photometry, polarimetry, and low-resolution spectroscopy was obtained using the SAAO 1.9m telescope equipped with the UCT polarimeter in September and December 2001, and with the ESO 3.6m telescope equipped with EFOSC2 in December 2000. Results of the new observations are shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

In December 2000 a total of 9 spectra were taken with individual integration times of 900 sec. The spectra cover the wavelength range 3700–9300 Å with a FWHM resolution of about 20 Å. The mean spectrum of the follow-up observations is reproduced in Fig. 1 in comparison with the discovery spectrum taken with the same instrumental setup at the same telescope. In December 2000 the source has returned to a high accretion state which is evident from the strong emission lines of Hydrogen, neutral and ionized Helium, the disappearance of the photospheric absorption lines and the blue continuum. The low-state spectrum indicated a system brightness of $`V18\stackrel{m}{.}9`$, in the high state of December 2000 the source varied between $`V=17\stackrel{m}{.}5`$ and $`18\stackrel{m}{.}0`$.

Despite the large differences between the low and high state spectra, there is one striking similarity, the pronounced cyclotron line at 8000 Å. This line is almost equally luminous in both accretion states which is indicative of a low-temperature accretion region persistently present irrespective of the mass accretion rate.

The photometric and polarimetric observations were used in order to derive the spin period of the white dwarf. Data were obtained in 5 nights between HJD 2452258 and 2452261 comprising about 1500 cycles of the binary. The light curves and circular polarization curves obtained in three of the nights are shown in Fig. 2. Filters and observation dates are indicated in the figure. Linear polarization observations were also obtained but revealed no clear detection of linearly polarized light.

Photometric variations by a factor of 2 are evident from the figure. There seems to be a kind of on-off pattern present in the light curves with a pronounced photometric minimum at phase 0.9 (in filter OG570), the photometric minimum and the length of the bright phase, however, are very unstable. The photometric variations did not yield reliable periods when period search algorithms were applied to these data.

The circular polarization signal displayed much smoother variation between $`10\%`$ and $`30\%`$ at any of the five occasions. The polarization curves were found to be much more stable than the light curves itself and were used for a period search with the analysis-of-variance method provided by the MIDAS data reduction package. A periodogram showed the most prominent peak at $`f=15.5147`$ cycles per day, corresponding to a period of $`92.815\pm 0.003`$ min. This is accepted as the spin period of the white dwarf and likely to be the orbital period of the binary. Phases in Fig. 2 were calculated using this period with the zero point chosen arbitrarily at the beginning of the photometric campaign. The accuracy of the polarimetric period is of sufficient accuracy to connect the $``$1500 cycles covered in 2001, but is insufficient to extend back to the earlier observations.

The high degree of the circular polarization is striking und underlines the magnetic nature of RBS0206. The non-vanishing circular polarization indicates that the accretion spot where the cyclotron radiation originates never rotates behind the limb of the white dwarf but is continously in view. The high degree of circular polarization at phase 0.8 – 0.9 on the other hand suggests that we are almost looking pole-on at this phase. Both geometrical constraints together indicate $`i\delta 40\mathrm{°}`$ ($`i`$: orbital inclination, $`\delta `$: latitude of the field line in the accretion spot with respect to the rotation axis).

The emission lines in the nine spectra obtained in December 2000 display radial velocity variations. When fitted with a sine curve, the H$`\alpha `$ lines give a radial velocity amplitude of 125 km s-1 and a period of $`96\pm 4`$ min. The latter value is compatible with the polarimetric period and thus suggestive of $`P_{\mathrm{spin}}=P_{\mathrm{orb}}`$. Maximum recessional velocity occurs at optical minimum. It is assumed, that the optical light curve is modulated mainly by the beaming properties of the cyclotron source. Optical minimum occurs, when the observer is looking pole-on. The phasing of the radial velocity curve then implies that the bulk of the line radiation originates from the magnetically channeled accretion stream.

#### 3.1.1 Cyclotron spectroscopy of RBS0206

The nine low-resolution spectra obtained in December 2000 were phase-folded using the 92.8 min spin period. This resulted in spectra at 6 independent phases. These are shown in Fig. 3a as $`F_\lambda `$ vs. $`\lambda `$. The two lowest spectra were obtained in the photometric minimum. They still show the strong cyclotron emission line at 8000 Å found also in the low accretion state. Apart from this line the minimum spectra do not show further pronounced cyclotron humps.

The four spectra obtained in the bright phase, however, show a complete system of cyclotron humps at wavelengths shorter than 8000 Å. These lines show a strong shift in wavelength as a function of phase, whereas the line at 8000 Å remains stationary. In the third spectrum from the top in Fig. 3a the humps are centered at 6700, 5800, 5000, 4400, and 4030 Å, respectively. This spectrum will be investigated in more detail below.

In order to underline the phase-dependent motion of the cyclotron lines we show the four bright phase spectra after subtraction of the average minimum spectrum in Fig. 3b ($`F_\nu `$ vs. $`\nu `$) and connect two of the cyclotron harmonics with a curved line. The shift of the harmonics is of order of half the separation between two humps. It would be quite natural to assume, that the additional cyclotron humps at short wavelengths are higher harmonics of the same source of radiation which emits the pronounced line at 8000 Å. This interpretation has severe difficulties, since the 8000 Å hump and those at shorter wavelengths cannot be explained with one common field strength. In addition, the 8000 Å hump remains stationary, whereas the other lines move with phase by several hundreds of Ångstroms (see Fig. 3b).

We were thus forced to assume that the bright phase spectrum of RBS0206 is fed by two independent sources of radiation. Modeling of these two sources was performed for the bright-phase in the following manner. We estimated the contribution of the accretion stream to the optical spectrum by assuming that the difference spectrum between optical minimum in the high state and the low-state discovery spectrum is solely due to emission from the stream. This spectrum is shown as the lower curve in the upper panel of Fig. 4. The upper curve is the average of the two high-state spectra which show the most pronounced and most redshifted cyclotron lines ($`2^{nd}`$ and $`3^{rd}`$ from top in Fig. 3). According to cyclotron theory this aspect corresponds to the maximum angle between the line of sight and the magnetic field in the emitting plasma. From polarimetry we estimated this angle to be of order $`\mathrm{\Theta }80\mathrm{°}`$ (see above). The difference between the two spectra in the upper panel of Fig. 4 is regarded as pure cyclotron radiation and shown in the lower panel of that figure.

We compare this spectrum with suitably scaled superpositions of homogeneous, isothermal cyclotron spectra. Since we are lacking sufficient phase resolution and phase coverage for a detailed comparison of the models with the observations, these shall be regarded as tentative only.

The model rising to the blue end of the spectrum was computed for $`kT=10`$ keV, $`\mathrm{\Theta }=80\mathrm{°}`$, $`B=32`$ MG. We refer to this model as spot(2) in Fig. 3 It is a superposition of three spectra with different plasma (density) parameters $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ and an optically thick Rayleigh-Jeans part. The value of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ varies between $`10^5`$ and $`10^8`$. This choice ensures that sufficient high harmonics remain optically thin in the individual spectra. A rather high temperature of 10 keV was chosen for this part of the spectrum, since only at temperatures as high as this, do harmonics move with aspect angle i.e. spin phase (see Schwope 1990 for a general discussion of the motion of cyclotron humps). The general slope of the spectrum as well as the position of the cyclotron humps shortward of 7300 Å are well described with this model. It fails to reproduce the pronounced hump at 8000 Å, both in position and intensity.

The dashed line in the lower panel of Fig. 4 is the same model as shown in the discovery paper by Schwope et al. (1999). It was computed for a temperature of 2 keV, $`\mathrm{\Theta }=50\mathrm{°}`$, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }=10^2`$, $`B=45`$ MG, and could well reproduce the shape and position of the hump at 8000 Å. Due to the very low value of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ it could also explain the non-detection of the next higher harmonic (the fourth), which was completely optically thin and just too weak to be detectable.

The presence of two accretion spots at the same time, one with 32 MG, the other with 45 MG, seems to be puzzling, as well as the extreme low density of the spot which emits the 8000 Å hump. We therefore explored whether the hump at 8000 Å could also be explained with plasma emission in a field of strength of about 32 MG. A single low-temperature spectrum, $`kT=2`$ keV, $`B=33.7`$ MG, indeed reveals a hump at the observed wavelength, the fourth harmonic of the cyclotron fundamental (indicated as this in Fig. 3b). Such a line, however, is much too narrow in order to explain the cyclotron line as a whole.

We therefore calculated a superposition of low-temperature, low-density, $`kT=2`$ keV, $`\mathrm{log}\mathrm{\Lambda }=1`$, cyclotron models for a range of field strengths between 32 and 35.5 MG. Such a model is shown as dotted line in the lower panel of Fig. 4 and it reproduces the 8000 Å hump very well. At the given low temperature, both models (33 and 45 MG) predict no considerable motion of the cyclotron humps as a function of phase. We conclude that we cannot distinguish between the alternative models with the present data. The high-field model is attractive for its simplicity, the low-field model is attractive for the field strength being close to the value used for modeling of the blue part of the spectrum.

Both scenarios are possible, two spots at more or less the same location (field strength) on the white dwarf or two spots with some separation, at least as far as the field strength is concerned. One region is rather dilute and persistently accreting during low and high accretion states, the other region whose density is in the normal range for polars, is accreting in the high state only. There is no firm clue on the accretion geometry apart from the likely combination $`i\delta 40\mathrm{°}`$, which means that both accretion spots are continously in view. In order to disentangle the accretion geometry one needs to locate the secondary star in the orbit. Since the companion is not seen directly, the only way to achieve this goes via the identification of an emission line of reprocessed origin from the surface of the secondary in a high accretion state. Further observations, both spectroscopically and polarimetrically, are highly demanded in order to unveil the secrets of this intriguing system.

### 3.2 RBS0324 (= 1RXS J023052.9$``$684203)

The identification spectra of #324, obtained with the ESO 1.5m telescope, showed the typical line features of a high-accretion rate AM Herculis binary (polar), broad, asymmetric emission lines of H, HeI and HeII. Follow-up photometric, polarimetric, and spectroscopic observations were performed with the SAAO 1.9m telescope at several occasions (August 1998 – December 2001), and the ESO/Dutch 90cm telescope (October 1998). These observations consistently revealed a period of 181.8 min, which we regard as the binary period of the system. The results of polarimetric observations obtained in December 2001 are shown in Fig. 5. These data show the high degree of variability of the source on timescales of minutes and hours. In its high state, the source varied between $`V=16^m`$ and 18m. Polarimetry immediately proves the tentative identification as a polar through the high degree of circular polarization, reaching $`20\%`$ at certain phases, modulated with the period of the binary.

For future use, e.g. the derivation of a long-term ephemeris, we list in Table 2 the times of the centroids of the bright phase as obtained by Gaussian fits to the light curves at the different occasions in 1998 and 2001.

The light curve and polarimetric variation can be naturally explained by strong cyclotron beaming of one accreting pole, which is continously in the observable hemisphere. At photometric maximum the angle between the observer and the magnetic field in the accretion spot is largest. At photometric minimum we are observing almost from above the spot. This should lead to a high degree of circular polarization at this phase. Indeed an increase of the degree of polarization is observed at beginning and end of the faint phase, in the center of the faint phase however the signal becomes depolarized. This is likely due to depolarization by background radiation (photospheric radiation from the stars and recombination radiation from the accretion stream) and possibly due to absorption in the intervening accretion stream. The pattern of photometric and polarimetric variability resembles to a large extent that of MR Ser (Liebert et al. 1982) and we propose a similar accretion geometry. The orbital inclination is about $`i40\mathrm{°}`$, the co-latitude of the magnetic field $`\delta `$ in the accretion spot must be almost the same. Such a geometry ensures a large variation of the projection angle of the magnetic field in the spot, which in turn causes pronounced polarization variations. It also ensures, that the $`i+\delta <90\mathrm{°}`$, so that no circular polarization sign reversal occurs.

Low-resolution spectra at orbital minimum and orbital maximum are shown in Fig. 6. The difference is regarded as cyclotron spectrum from the accretion spot(s). The difference spectrum is a smooth function of the wavelength with maximum at $``$5500 Å. Individual cyclotron harmonics cannot be resolved, so that no direct clue to the magnetic field strength can be derived. The shape of the cyclotron spectrum is very similar to that of EF Eri (Schwope 1991), which has a high temperature ($`kT20`$ keV), optically thick (plasma parameter $`\mathrm{\Lambda }10^8`$), low-field accretion plasma ($`B=13`$ MG). We can readily assume similar plasma parameters for RBS0324. Contrary to EF Eri, we cannot derive independent evidence for the low field in RBS0324 by Zeeman absorption lines, neither from the accretion halo nor from the white dwarf’s photosphere (Östreicher et al. 1990).

The spectra of Fig. 6 display TiO absorption bands from the secondary star in the near infrared. The low signal to noise ratio of the spectra prevents us from properly determining the spectral type. At the orbital period of #324, a Roche-lobe filling dwarf star secondary has a spectral type dM4 (see e.g. the fit by Gänsicke et al. (1995) to the secondary in AM Her at the same orbital period). We determined the contribution of the secondary to the spectral hump at 7520 Å to 20–25%, which implies a distance to RBS0324 of about $`d=250`$ pc.

The small number of 70 photons was detected during the RASS only. The RASS X-ray spectrum is very soft and compatible with one blackbody-like component only ($`kT30`$ eV). Such a fit is similar to the soft component of many AM Her stars (Beuermann & Schwope 1994) including the prototype (Paerels et al. 1994).

### 3.3 RBS0541 (= 1RXS J042555.8$``$194534)

The low-resolution discovery spectrum of RBS0541, taken at Zelenchukskaya, shows a smooth blue continuum and asymmetric emission lines of H, HeI, and HeII. There is no obvious sign of the secondary star in the spectrum. The below-slit magnitude of #541 at October 7, 1996, was $`V=16.7`$, similar to the brightness listed in the USNO-A2 catalogue. Attempts were made to obtain further spectra with the 1.9m telescope at SAAO on August 20 and 23, 1998, and January 22, 1999. These attempts failed due to the faintness of the system at these occasions, indicating a deep low state of the binary.

Time-resolved CCD-photometry with the ESO/Dutch 90cm telescope at La Silla was obtained in the nights Oct 28 – 31, 1998, through a $`V`$-filter. Source intensities were determined using the DoPhot package (Mateo & Schechter 1989) and intensities were reduced to the brightness of the $`14\stackrel{m}{.}77`$ comparison star USNO A2 U0675\_01566006 at RA = 4:26:00.41, DEC = –19:45:57.4. The source showed an overall brightness decline by $``$0.4 mag during those days. Apart from this, RBS0541 displayed pronounced periodic intensity variations with an amplitude of $``$0.8 mag between $`V17.2`$ and $``$18.0 (Fig. 8). A period search with the analysis of variance technique implemented in MIDAS yielded a likely period of 87.1 min with a possible alias period of 81.8 min. The folded, de-trended light curves for both possible periods are shown in Fig. 8. Times of optical minima in RBS0541 are 2451115.8014, 2451115.8608, 2451116.7691, 2451117.6761, and 2451118.6447.

The RASS X-ray spectrum contains 77 photons. It shows the typical shape of an X-ray spectrum of a polar with a hard bremsstrahlung-like tail and a soft blackbody component.

The system shows all the hallmarks of a polar system, an emission line spectrum with asymmetric emission lines, also from high ionization species, a two-component X-ray spectrum and changes between high and low states. The periodic modulation of the optical light curve is interpreted as orbital period. At a period of 82–87 min the spectral type of the secondary must be later than M6.

The shape of the light curve is similar to that of e.g. V834 Cen, indicating a similar accretion geometry with the main accretion spot being always in the visible hemisphere. The orbital minimum in such a geometry is caused by cyclotron beaming and stream occultation and occurs, when the observer looks almost perpendicular onto the accretion spot. The secondary minimum occurs due to a partial self-eclipse of the accretion spot behind the limb of the white dwarf. The likely orbital inclination is in the range 30°– 60°, the co-latitude of the accretion spot conversely in the range 60°– 30°.

### 3.4 RBS0696 (= 1RXS J082051.2$`+`$493433)

Source #696 was identified as cataclysmic variable also by Cao et al. (1999) within their identification programme of sources with high ratio between RASS X-ray and optical (DSS) flux. Our identification spectrum of the $`V=19\stackrel{m}{.}5`$ optical counterpart, a 15min exposure taken with the 3.5m telescope at Calar Alto, Spain, equipped with the MOSCA instrument on March 16, 1999, is reproduced in Fig. 9. It shows H, HeI, and HeII emission lines, respectively, which are superposed on a blue continuum. In the spectrum shown by Cao et al. mainly Balmer emission lines can be recognized. The emission lines in our spectrum have a larger equivalent width and the spectrum contains species with higher ionization potential. This is indicative of an accretion rate change. No obvious spectral signature from the secondary star could be found. With the spectral resolution given it is impossible to judge, whether the emission lines are asymmetric or have multiple components.

Photometric observations using the 1.23m telescope at Calar Alto were performed during five nights between January 13 at 23, 2002. Differential $`R`$band magnitudes were derived with respect to the comparison star U1350\_07362511 (USNO A2), which has $`R=15\stackrel{m}{.}3`$. Smooth, quasi-sinusoidal variations between $`R=18.019.4`$ became evident with a period $`(99.38\pm 0.03)`$ min. No other period was found and we regard $`P=99.38`$ min as the orbital period of the binary. The phase-folded data are shown in Fig. 10. It shows a large scatter by $``$0.5 mag at optical maximum and negligible scatter at optical minimum. This property is typical of polars and caused by irregular accretion at the hot spot. The bright phase was centered on HJD 2452287.7318, 2452289.4597, 2452289.5283, 2452289.5979, 2452290.4224, 2452297.6691, 2452297.7409, respectively.

The softness of the X-ray spectrum, the high ionization emission line spectrum, an the presence of only one period, the likely binary period, make the identification as magnetic CV of AM Herculis type very likely.

### 3.5 RBS1563 (= 1RXS J161008.0$`+`$035222)

RBS1563 was initially observed with the SAO 6m telescope at Zelenchukskaya, were the discovery spectrum was taken (Fig. 11). The spectrum shows the typical hallmarks of a magnetic CV, a blue continuum, broad asymmetric emision lines of H, HeI and HeII, and some indication of the secondary star in the near infrared spectral range. These properties are similar to those reported in the single spectrum shown by Jiang et al. (2000).

During the RASS a total of 207 photons were collected. X-ray variability by $``$100% is clearly present, reaching a peak count rate of about 1.4 cts/s. The resulting spectrum clearly contains two components, a soft blackbody-like component with $`kT30`$ eV, and a hard bremsstrahlung-like component (fixed at 20 keV for a spectral fit). Although prominent, the soft component was not as dominant as in other magnetic CVs, which lead to a moderate ROSAT hardness ratio.

Follow-up spectroscopy and photometry took place using the ESO/Danish 1.5m telescope and the AIP 70 cm telescope. The rather large observational body thus collected deserves a separate publication (Schwarz et al., in preparation), and we give a very brief summary here.

RBS1563 is a magnetic CV of AM Herculis type, displaying high and low accretion states. The orbital period is 187.7 min. In the high state, the optical light curve is roughly sinusoidal, which is suggestive of a one-pole accretion geometry and a moderate orbital inclination, $`i=30\mathrm{°}60\mathrm{°}`$.

## 4 New non-magnetic cataclysmic variables

### 4.1 RBS0372 (= 1RXS J025538.2$``$224655)

The discovery spectrum of RBS0372, obtained on October 7, 1996, with the SAO 6m-telescope is shown in Fig. 12. The derived below-slit magnitude was $`V=18\stackrel{m}{.}1`$. It shows pronounced H-Balmer and neutral HeI emission lines. Emission of HeII was weakly detected. There is no clear indication of the secondary star. Some spectra with higher resolution in the blue and the red spectral range were obtained with the SAAO 1.9m telescope. The mean blue spectrum taken on August 23, 1998, with effective exposure of 38 min is reproduced also in Fig. 12 (bottom panel). It shows the same emission lines as in the discovery spectrum but this time clearly resolved into a double-peaked profile. This is highly reminiscent of emission originating from an accretion disk with rather high inclination. The implied brightness was somewhat higher, $`V17\stackrel{m}{.}6`$, during the SAAO observations. Time-resolved CCD-photometry performed in January 1997 in white light with 10 sec time resolution shows pronounced modulation of the optical light curve by up to 0.5 mag. Those brightness variations happened on time scales of minutes, hours and nights, but without clear periodicity. The relatively hard X-ray spectrum, the double-peaked emission lines and the rather stochastic intensity variations led to our classification as a non-magnetic cataclysmic variable, most probably a dwarf-nova in quiescence.

### 4.2 RBS0490 (= 1RXS J035410.4$``$165244)

The ROSAT X-ray hardness ratio HR1 = +0.57 of RBS0490 is the highest among all CVs discussed here. A spectrum constructed from the 87 photons detected in the RASS can be fit with a 20 keV bremsstrahlung component. The identification spectrum of the $`V16^m`$ counterpart (Fig. 13, top), obtained October 10, 1997, at Zelenchukskaya, shows pronounced H-Balmer and HeI emission lines and weak HeII emission lines. It has a flat, blue continuum. The low-resolution spectrum of #490 is very similar to that of #372, although with a somewhat smaller Balmer decrement. Further spectra with moderate resolution were taken on August 23, 1998, at the Sutherland site of SAAO. The mean combined spectrum (four exposures) which has effective integration time of 46 min is reproduced also in Fig. 13 (bottom). The lines are resolved and double-peaked. The optical and X-ray spectra are typical for a dwarf-nova in quiescence with a moderate to high inclination.

### 4.3 RBS1411 = RHS40 (= 1RXS J143703.5$`+`$234236)

RBS1411 was identified already in the initial program aiming at the identification of a bright, hard subsample of the RASS, the ROSAT Hard Survey (RHS). It was listed as number #40 in the initial RHS-catalog (Fischer et al. 1998). It has a hard RASS X-ray spectrum with HR1 = 0.57, compatible with a single-component bremsstrahlung spectrum of $`kT10`$ keV. Further information on #1411 is sparse. On the DSS the counterpart has an optical brightness of $`V=19\stackrel{m}{.}1`$. It was similarly faint on April 29, 1995, when the identification spectrum was taken (Fig. 14). Our spectrum is similar to that shown by Jiang et al. (2000) which confirms our analysis. The spectrum has a blue, smooth continuum with emission lines of Hydrogen and neutral Helium superposed. The flux decrease towards the blue end of the spectrum is probably not real, but due to an imperfect instrumental response function. Due to the absence of high ionization species and the hard X-ray spectrum we classify this object as a non-magnetic CV, possibly a dwarf nova in quiescence (at the time of the optical observations). This is supported by the X-ray to optical flux ratio $`F_X/F_{\mathrm{opt}}=30`$ which is found to be unusually high ($`F_X(0.12.4\mathrm{keV})=2.5\times 10^{12}`$ erg cm-2 s-1, $`F_{\mathrm{opt}}=10^{0.4V5.44}=8.3\times 10^{14}`$ erg cm-2 s-1). This is the highest value among all non-magnetic CVs in the RBS, at the extreme end of the DN population and two orders of magnitude higher than the nova-like variables (for comparison see the synoptic paper by Beuermann &Thomas 1993, their Fig. 2).

### 4.4 RBS1955 (= 1RXS J230949.6$`+`$213523)

With $`V15\stackrel{m}{.}6`$, source #1955 is by far the brightest of the new interacting binaries at optical wavelengths. The identification spectrum taken with the ESO 1.5m telescope at La Silla is reproduced in Fig. 15. A spectrum similar to ours was reported also by Wei et al. (1999). They classified the system as CV without further specification. The continuum is dominated by emission from an M-type star. Strong emission lines of H-Balmer and HeI are superimposed.

In the RASS 101 X-ray photons were collected. X-ray variability is evident on a 2$`\sigma `$ level. Explanation of the RASS X-ray spectrum requires two radiation components, a soft blackbody-like component with $`kT_{\mathrm{bb}}=38`$ eV, and a hard bremsstrahlung-like component which we fixed at 20 keV.

Optical variability with an amplitude of $``$0.3 mag was detected in differential V-band photometry, performed with the 70cm telescope of the AIP at two occasions in 1998 (see Fig. 16 for an example). A sequence of three spectra taken in the night of discovery with a time resolution of 10 min does not show any variablity in the emission line pattern, neither in flux nor in position.

A spectral classification using the schemes by Kirkpatrick et al. (1999) and Martín et al. (1999) revealed a spectral type of M3.

On the basis of the optical spectrum with its strong M-type stellar component, we tentatively classified this object as symbiotic binary (Schwope et al. 2000). The possible short-timescale variability does not contradict this classification (see Sokoloski et al. 2001 for a comprehensive optical variability study of symbiotics). If this classification would be correct, RBS1955 would only the third symbiotic in the RBS, the others being AG Dra and St Ha32, which both display supersoft spectra. #1955 also has a soft component, but there is a hard component present in addition.

The classification as a symbiotic binary, however, is far from being unique. As U. Munari kindly pointed out to us, the complete absence of high ionization lines, the rather high HeI triplet to singlet ratio 5876/6678 and the rather flat Balmer decrement are not compatible with this tentative classification. The absence of a strong NaI D absorption at 5893 Å seems to exclude a dwarf classification for the M star (which would suggest a normal CV). On the other hand, there is CaH absorption at 6382 Å, which serves as discriminant between dwarfs and giants and is usually seen in dwarf stars only (Kirkpatrick et al. 1991, Torres-Dodgen & Weaver 1993). We therefore cannot exclude a nature as e.g. a dwarf nova in quiescence.

If the secondary should be a Roche-lobe filling dwarf star of spectral type M3, then the distance to RBS1955 would only be $``$30 pc.

Its brightness, unknown nature and the likely variability of the source make it a prime target for detailed follow-up, with monitoring observations in the optical in order to search for possible outbursts, but particular in the UV/X-ray range in order to search for a hot primary component.

SIMBAD lists RBS1955 as the emission line galaxy UCM 2307+2118 (Zamorano et al. 1996). The coordinates in the Zamorano paper for the galaxy and for RBS1955 are identical. The classification of RBS1955 as a CV is undoubted, we guess, that the object was misclassified in the earlier publication.

### 4.5 RBS1969 (= 1RXS J231532.3$``$304855)

Source #1969 received a very short exposure during the RASS, which allowed to collect 21 source photons only. The derived X-ray spectrum is compatible with a hard bremsstrahlung component. The discovery spectrum, a 15 min exposure shown in Fig. 17, was obtained on November 30, 1997, with the ESO 1.5m telescope. Further medium-resolution spectroscopy was obtained from SAAO on August 23, 1998. All spectra show emission lines of H-Balmer, HeI and weak HeII together with a Balmer continuum in emission. The emission lines are double-peaked, which is a typical feature of a highly-inclined accretion disk. The rather hard X-ray spectrum together with the double-peaked emission lines suggest, that RBS1969 is a dwarf nova observed in quiescence at the two epochs. Further photometry and spectroscopy are needed in order to determine the orbital period and to search for a possible eclipse of the disk and the white dwarf, which would make the object a prime target for detailed follow-up.

## 5 On the space density of non-magnetic CVs

In this section we make an attempt to update the space density of cataclysmic variables based on the RBS. We restrict ourselves to the non-magnetic systems. Although the magnetic systems are more numerous, the RBS catalogue lists 24 polars and 5 intermediate polars, they have in general very uncertain distances. Of the 24 polars, about 10 have known or estimated distances, further 4 have lower limits based on the non-detection of secondary star features, and further 10 have no distance estimate at all. A estimate of the space density therefore requires more thorough work on the distance determination of the individual systems, which is beyond the scope of this paper.

Following Patterson (1984) we estimate the absolute brightness $`M_V`$ of the accretion disk in the new non-magnetic CVs from the observed equivalent width, EW(H$`\beta `$), of the H$`\beta `$ line:

$$\text{EW(H}\beta )=0.3M_V^2+e^{0.55(M_V4)}.$$
(1)
Table 3 lists the relevant numbers for the new CVs. Although RBS0002 = EC 23593-6724 was not originally discovered by us a spectrum was taken in the RBS-program. This is used here to estimate EW(H$`\beta `$) and the distance.

Assuming that the optical emission is dominated by the disk we estimate the distance $`d`$ to the CV from the observed apparent and the derived absolute magnitudes. We ignore interstellar absorption which is justified by the rather small distances.

Fluxes in the X-ray band were derived from the measured RASS count rate using PIMMS and a 10 keV thermal bremsstrahlung model with moderate absorption of $`N_\mathrm{H}=5\times 10^{20}`$ cm-2. In order to minimize the effect of interstellar absorption, one should better use for flux conversion the count rate in the hard ROSAT band only, CRH $`=0.52.0`$ keV, However, the limiting count rate and limiting flux of our survey then would not be properly defined. For the analysis of the space density (see below and Table 4) we therefore stick to the count rates in the full ROSAT band. For better comparison with the Einstein-IPC we use the count rate in the hard band CRH. Conversion factors from count rates to fluxes in the ROSAT and Einstein-IPC bands ($`0.12.4`$, $`0.24.0`$ keV), are $`1.4\times 10^{11}`$ erg cm-2 s-1(PSPC CR cps)-1 and $`2.3\times 10^{11}`$ erg cm-2 s-1(PSPC CRH cps)-1, respectively.

For comparison with CVs discovered in the Einstein galactic plane survey (Hertz et al. 1990), we list in Table 3 the X-ray fluxes in the Einstein band. Optical fluxes are derived using $`\mathrm{log}F_{\mathrm{opt}}=0.4V5.44`$. The optical and X-ray data used for the flux calculation were not taken simultaneously, hence the flux ratios might be incorrect or misleading. Taken the data in Table 3 as face values, we can compare the new RBS-CVs with those found by Hertz et al. (1990) in the Einstein galactic plane survey (GPX, their Fig. 9). Similar to their new GPX CVs the new RBS-CVs have a large H$`\beta `$ equivalent widths and a high $`F_\mathrm{X}/F_{\mathrm{opt}}`$-ratio. Patterson & Raymond (1985) derived an empirical relation between the equivalent widths EW(H$`\beta `$) and the ratio $`F_\mathrm{X}/F_{\mathrm{opt}}`$, which predicts the value of $`F_\mathrm{X}/F_{\mathrm{opt}}`$ to within a factor of 3. The prediction due to their relation is listed in the second to last column of Table 3. It agrees reasonably well with the observed values of #372 and #1969, marginally with #490, and it disagrees with #0002 and #1411. Both systems were found to be much brighter at X-ray wavelengths (or fainter at optical wavelengths) than predicted by the empirical formula. The deviations might be related to an outburst at the time of the RASS or might hint to a somewhat peculiar nature of the sources. The luminosities in the IPC-band range from $`\mathrm{log}L_{(0.24.0)}=29.532.1`$, i.e. extending the normal range of CVs to fainter luminosities (compare with e.g. Patterson & Raymond 1985, their Fig. 5).

Similarly to Hertz et al. (1990) we estimate the space density of the non-magnetic CVs in the RBS by a $`1/V_{\mathrm{max}}`$ method. Since our CVs have high galactic latitude and some of them are at a distance in excess of the likely scale height of CVs, which we assume to be $`h=200`$ pc, we use the modified method by Tinney et al. (1993). Their method of calculation of a generic volume, $`V_{\mathrm{gen}}`$, accounts for an exponential density distribution $`\rho exp[(d\mathrm{sin}b)/h]`$ ($`d`$: distance, $`b`$: galactic latitude). $`V_{\mathrm{gen}}`$ is calculated by

$$V_{\mathrm{gen}}=\mathrm{\Omega }\frac{h^3}{\mathrm{sin}^3b}(2(\xi ^2+2\xi +2)e^\xi )$$
(2)
with $`\xi =d\mathrm{sin}b/h`$ and $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ the solid angle of the survey ($`2\pi `$ in our case). The maximum generic volume $`V_{\mathrm{gen}}`$ is computed using this formula with the maximum possible distance of the particular source which would allow its detection at the flux limit of the survey. One particular CV then contributes $`1/V_{\mathrm{gen}}`$ to the space density $`\rho _X`$, i.e. the space density is $`\rho _X=\frac{1}{V_{\mathrm{gen}}}`$. The corresponding numbers for $`V_{\mathrm{act}}`$ and $`V_{\mathrm{gen}}`$ are listed in Table 4. $`V_{\mathrm{act}}`$ is the volume covered by this particular source at the measured distance according to Eq. (2).

Using these, the space density of the X-ray selected, non-magnetic, high-galactic latitude CVs is $`\rho _X3.1\times 10^5`$ pc-3. RBS0713 (= EI UMa) is missing in the sum due to its unknown distance. The two new nearby, low-luminosity CVs #490 and #1955 have the highest weight in the sum, but both have a somewhat uncertain distance. Should their distance be much greater than the $``$30 pc derived here, the lower limit of the space density decreases. When omiting these two sources completely, the density becomes $`\rho _X=1.5\times 10^6`$ pc-3.

$`V_{\mathrm{act}}/V_{\mathrm{gen}}`$ has a uniform distribution between 0 and 1, the mean value is 0.56 for the 15 systems with measured or estimated distances, the uniformity is somewhat higher, if #490 and #1955 are omitted. The mean value then is 0.51.

Our limit of the space density is in good agreement with the recent estimate by Patterson (1998), who derives a density of $`10^5`$ pc-3. The reader is refered to his paper, where a thorough discussion of the possible selection effects in various surveys is given.

## 6 Discussion and conclusions

We have presented an observational summary of new cataclysmic variables identified in the RBS. Among the 11 new RBS-CVs are 6 polars, 4 dwarf nova candiates and one system with uncertain classification, which was tentatively identified as symbiotic binary but could also be a dwarf nova. Orbital periods could be determined for all polars, they range from 87.1 min to 187.7 min. One of the new polars was found to be asynchronous (RBS1735, Schwope et al. 1997), another displays a highly peculiar cyclotron spectrum (RBS0206, Schwope et al. 1999 and this work). Only RBS0206 has a measured field strength, the other systems do not show cyclotron or Zeeman lines.

Fig. 18, a X-ray colour-magnitude diagram, puts the new systems in the context of all CVs in the RBS. The RBS lists 46 CVs and 1 symbiotic. Note that these are systems at high-galactic latutide above $`|b|>30\mathrm{°}`$ only. Of the 45 CVs 29 are magnetic (polars and intermediate polars) and 16 non-magnetic (DN, nova-like). The Figure shows the known dichotomy between magnetic and non-magnetic systems which is explained in terms of the typical X-ray spectra of the various sub-classes (Beuermann & Thomas 1993). Polars often have X-ray spectra dominated by soft X-ray, blackbody-like emission. Three of the new polars (#206, #324, and #696) follow the normal pattern, while further three have rather hard X-ray spectra (#541, #1563, #1735). The reason for this non-conformity is not clear, #541 and #1563 appear to be quite normal polars with a one-pole accretion geometry. Only #1735 is unusual, since it belongs to the rare sub-class of slightly asynchronous polars, where the slightly different accretion mode might influence the release of gravitational energy.

The systems described here enlarge the population at the extremes of X-ray/optical flux plane. Beuermann & Thomas (1993) plotted all CVs known at that time in the RASS count-rate/V-magnitude plane with lines of constant $`F_X/F_{\mathrm{opt}}`$ indicated. The new magnetic RBS-CVs are located at the low end of the distribution, while the new non-magnetic systems are located at the X-ray luminous end of the distribution. RBS1411 seems to represent the extreme example, it lies in the domain which is otherwise populated only by the magnetic CVs.

The high $`F_\mathrm{X}/F_{\mathrm{opt}}`$ ratios of the DN (particularly #1411) might be explained by possible outbursts in these systems during the RASS observation. The spectra of the dwarf nova candidates show no broad absorption features of the primary star, and these systems are unlikely short period CVs of the WZ Sge subclass.

No new obvious IP candidate was found, which indicates that our census of these intrinsically bright systems is already complete at high galactic latitudes.

We have tentatively identified two new nearby, low-luminosity CVs (#490 and #1955). Whether there is a large population of these sources as predicted by Hertz et al. (1990) is difficult to answer conclusively but our sources might be the first representatives of this population.

We have discussed the observational properties of the new cataclysmic variables found in the RASS. We could determine orbital periods for all magnetic CVs, period information for the non-magnetic CVs is lacking. The prospects of finding the periods by photometry is good for #372, #490, and #1969, since the double-peaked emission lines indicate a moderate to high inclination. The two latter systems might show eclipses, the light curves already obtained for #372 do not show obvious signs of eclipses.

###### Acknowledgements.

We acknowledge helpful comments by Dr. U. Munari (Padova) and N. Lodieu (AIP) on the spectrum of RBS1955. We thank our referee, Dr. D. Christian, for his comments, which helped to improve the paper. This project was supported by the DLR through grant 50 OR 9706 8. The ROSAT project is supported by the Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie (BMBF/DLR) and the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft. We thank the ROSAT team for performing the All-Sky Survey and producing the RASS Bright Source Catalogue. This research has made use of the SIMBAD database operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France, and the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic database (NED) operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Identification of the RASS X-ray sources was greatly facilitated by use of the finding charts based upon the COSMOS scans of the ESO/SERC J plates performed at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh and APM catalogue based on scans of the red and blue POSS plates performed at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, UK. Based in part on photographic data of the National Geographic Society – Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (NGS-POSS) obtained using the Oschin Telescope on Palomar Mountain. The NGS-POSS was funded by a grant from the National Geographic Society to the California Institute of Technology. The plates were processed into the present compressed digital form with their permission. The Digitized Sky Survey was produced at the Space Telescope Science Institute under US Government grant NAG W-2166.


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# A Keplerian disk around the Herbig Ae star HD 34282

## 1 Introduction

Interferometric CO line observations of T Tauri stars in the Taurus-Auriga cloud clearly demonstrate that many low-mass Pre-Main-Sequence (PMS) stars are surrounded by large ($`R_{out}200800`$ AU) Keplerian disks (Koerner et al., 1993), (Dutrey et al., 1994). There is little comparable evidence for such disks around intermediate-mass PMS objects, the Herbig Ae stars. One example of a molecular disk around an A-type star is MWC480 (spectral type A4) which possesses a large CO disk (Mannings et al., 1997). Near-infrared observations reveal that Herbig Ae stars can be surrounded by large reflection nebulae as in the case of AB Auriga (Grady et al., 1999), while ISO data provide very strong evidence for disk geometries (e.g. AB Aur and HD 163296 (Bouwman et al., 2000)). However, to date, there is little known about the molecular content and dynamics of these systems.

In this context, the A0 star HD 34282 ($`\alpha =`$05:16:00.47, $`\delta =`$09:48:35.3, J2000.0) appears a very interesting object because i) the star has a strong IR excess (Sylvester et al., 1996; Malfait et al., 1998), ii) it is a nearby star, according to Hipparcos measurements D$`=160_{40}^{+60}`$pc, (van den Ancker et al., 1998) and iii) single-dish observations performed with the IRAM 30 m telescope (in November 1998) revealed a CO $`\mathrm{J}=21`$ double peak profile, strongly suggestive of a rotating disk, also observed by Greaves et al. (2000) in the CO $`\mathrm{J}=32`$ JCMT spectrum. Moreover, Malfait et al. (1998) reported optical variability of the order of 2.5 mag in the V band, which suggests that HD 34282 might be an UX Orionis-type star.

Interferometric observations of CO rotational lines remain the best tool to search for large cold Keplerian disks similar to those found around TTauri stars, while millimeter continuum emission provides complementary information on the dust. We used the IRAM interferometer (PdBI) 111Based on observations carried out with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain) to map the circumstellar material around HD 34282 simultaneously in $`{}_{}{}^{12}\mathrm{CO}`$ $`\mathrm{J}=21`$ at 1.3 mm and in continuum at 3.4 and 1.3 mm.

## 2 Observational data

The CO $`\mathrm{J}=21`$ and the continuum emissions from HD 34282 were mapped with the PdBI, using three configurations: 4D1, in August 1999, 4B1 and 4C2+N09 in October 1999. Due to the low elevation of the source, the resulting beam is strongly elliptical ($`2.31\mathrm{}\times 1.42\mathrm{}`$ at $`\mathrm{PA}=20\mathrm{°}`$). The spectral resolution was 0.10 km.s-1 per channel at the CO line frequency. We used full correlator power to look simultaneously for dust continuum emission at 1.3 and 3.4 mm. Data were reduced using the GILDAS package at IRAM Grenoble. At 1.3 mm, the seeing was about 0.3 ″. Dirty maps were deconvolved using the classical CLEAN algorithm. The integrated flux derived from the CO $`\mathrm{J}=21`$ spectrum observed at the IRAM 30m telescope (Pico Veleta, Spain) in November 1998 is 4.8 $`\pm `$ 0.4 Jy.km.s-1, while the interferometric map leads to an integrated flux of 4.2 $`\pm `$ 0.1 Jy.km.s-1. As the two fluxes are in good agreement, we are confident in the interferometric flux calibration, and we conclude that our interferometric observations do not miss much flux.

## 3 Data analysis

### 3.1 Millimeter SED

Following Beckwith et al. (1990), we write the dust absorption coefficient as $`\kappa _d(\nu )=0.1(\nu /10^{12}\mathrm{Hz})^\beta \mathrm{cm}^2.\mathrm{g}^1`$. As the spectral index derived from the fluxes reported in Table 1 is ($`\alpha =3.15\pm 0.20`$), we conclude that thermal dust emission from the circumstellar material around HD 34282 is optically thin at millimeter wavelengths. The corresponding dust opacity spectral index, $`\beta =1.15\pm 0.20`$, is significantly smaller than the spectral index of 2 (Beckwith et al., 1990) measured in the interstellar medium. The same behaviour is observed in T Tauri’s disks (Dutrey et al., 1996). This similarly suggests that grain growth is occuring in the disk.

### 3.2 Dust and CO PdBI data modeling

We present in this section an improvement of the method described in Guilloteau and Dutrey (1998). It is based on a $`\chi ^2`$ minimization in the $`uv`$ plane of a standard disk model, as we describe below. In the improved method, we combine the 12CO $`\mathrm{J}=21`$ line and the 1.3 mm continuum analysis in an iterative way. Assuming the 12CO $`\mathrm{J}=21`$ line is optically thick, and the continuum at 1.3 mm is mainly optically thin (see previous section), the method described below enables us to derive both temperature and density distributions with some “classical” assumptions: the dust and the gas have the same temperature, the gas to dust ratio is 100, the dust opacity at $`10^{12}`$ Hz is 0.1 cm2 g-1 and its spectral index $`\beta `$ is the one derived above.

The disk is assumed to be in local hydrostatic equilibrium, and the physical conditions in the disk are assumed to follow local thermodynamic equilibrium. The physical parameters are described as power laws with the following radial dependences: $`n(r)=n_{100}\times (r/100\mathrm{A}\mathrm{U})^\mathrm{s}`$ for H2 density, $`T(r)=T_{100}\times (r/100\mathrm{A}\mathrm{U})^\mathrm{q}`$ for kinetic temperature and $`v(r)=v_{100}\times (r/100\mathrm{A}\mathrm{U})^\mathrm{v}`$ for rotation velocity. The surface density, $`\mathrm{\Sigma }(r)=\mathrm{\Sigma }_{100}\times (r/100\mathrm{A}\mathrm{U})^\mathrm{p}`$, can be deduced from the scale height $`H(r)=H_{100}\times (r/100\mathrm{A}\mathrm{U})^{+\mathrm{h}}`$ and the density law $`n(r)`$ via $`n(r)=\mathrm{\Sigma }(r)/\sqrt{\pi }H(r)`$.

For optically thick 12CO $`\mathrm{J}=21`$ emission, we cannot measure the density distribution, but we are able to constrain the disk geometry (the outer radius $`R_{out}`$ and inclination $`i`$), the temperature profile and the turbulent velocity $`\mathrm{\Delta }v`$ in the disk. Assuming a distance $`D`$, we first perform $`\chi ^2`$ minimizations in the 2-dimensional parameter spaces (PA, Vlsr), (V100, $`v`$), (V$`{}_{100}{}^{}\mathrm{sin}i`$, $`i`$), ($`T_{100}`$, $`q`$) and ($`\mathrm{\Delta }v`$, $`R_{out}`$) and then in the 5-dimensional and 4-dimensional spaces ($`T_{100},q,R_{out},i`$ and $`V_{100}\mathrm{sin}i`$) and ($`T_{100},q,R_{out},\mathrm{\Delta }v`$), which correspond to the more coupled parameters. The most important results of the minimizations are presented in Fig.1. They will be discussed in next section.

A $`\chi ^2`$ minimization performed on the parameters ($`n_{100},T_{100}`$) shows that the line is optically thick ; above a threshold called $`n_{100}(\mathrm{CO})`$ in the following, the temperature becomes almost independent of the density. According to Fig.1-b, $`n_{100}(\mathrm{CO})`$ is close to the mimimum of the $`\chi ^2`$ map ($`n_{100}(\mathrm{CO})`$, $`T_{100}(\mathrm{CO})`$) (note that this H2 density assumes a standard CO abundance X$`(\mathrm{CO})`$ = X$`{}_{\mathrm{TMC1}}{}^{12}=7\times 10^5`$).

As the disk dust thermal emission is at least marginally resolved, we may obtain an independent estimate of the surface density (and the density, since the geometry is constrained) from the optically thin continuum map at 1.3mm. Optically thin dust emissivity is $`T_{100}\times \mathrm{\Sigma }_{100}\times r^{(p+q)}`$. Following the DM Tau disk analysis by Dartois et al. (in prep.) we have performed a minimization on the parameters ($`p+q`$, $`\mathrm{\Sigma }_{100}\times T_{100}`$, $`pq`$, $`\mathrm{\Sigma }_{100}/T_{100}`$). The results, given in Fig. 2, confirm that dust emission is optically thin (since $`p+q`$ and $`\mathrm{\Sigma }_{100}\times T_{100}`$ are relatively well constrained). Assuming the dust temperature law derived from $`{}_{}{}^{12}\mathrm{CO}`$ , we thus can derive $`p`$ and $`\mathrm{\Sigma }_{100}`$ (or $`s`$ and $`n_{100}`$).

Comparison of the H2 density lower limit, derived from the $`{}_{}{}^{12}\mathrm{CO}`$ with the H2 density derived from dust emission $`n_{100}(\mathrm{dust})`$, provides an lower limit to the CO abundance: $`X(\mathrm{CO})n_{100}(\mathrm{CO})/n_{100}(\mathrm{dust})\times \mathrm{X}_{\mathrm{TMC1}}^{12}10^6`$. Equivalently, it also corresponds to an upper limit to the depletion factor $`f({}_{}{}^{12}\mathrm{CO})`$ with respect to X$`{}_{\mathrm{TMC1}}{}^{}{}_{}{}^{12}`$: $`f({}_{}{}^{12}\mathrm{CO})n_{100}(\mathrm{dust})/n_{100}(\mathrm{CO})70`$

## 4 Discussion

### 4.1 Stellar Mass

We have checked that the rotation pattern is almost Keplerian, with an inferred value of the rotation exponent $`v=0.48\pm 0.03`$ as shown in Figure 1-d. (We will then assume $`v=0.5`$ in the final modelling).

Simon et al. (2000) have shown that, in such a case, the dynamical mass (derived from CO modeling) provides an accurate measurement of the mass of the central star which scales as the distance $`D`$. Assuming a distance $`D=160`$ pc, we derive a star mass $`M_{160}=0.87\pm 0.17`$ M.

### 4.2 Where is HD 34282 ?

This low mass value is unexpected for an A0 type star. In addition, the luminosity derived from the photometric measurements of van den Ancker et al. (1998) is $`L_{160}`$ = 4.7 L, for a distance of 160 pc. The implied location of HD 34282 in the H-R diagram places it at a totally different position to that of similar stars, such as AB Aur, and is incompatible with stellar evolution tracks (see Figure 3). The spectral type determination by Cannon and Mayall (1949) in the Henry Draper Catalog had been questioned by van den Ancker et al. (1998), but was subsequently confirmed by Gray and Corbally (1998), who found the HD 34282 spectral type to be A0.5. Both “anomalies” point toward a revision of the star distance.

As the luminosity, $`L`$, scales as $`D^2`$, and the dynamical mass $`M`$ as $`D`$, plotting HD 34282 in a “distance-independent” evolution diagram ($`L/M^2`$ vs spectral type) allows a direct comparison with theoretical evolution tracks (see Fig. 4). The error bars on the luminosity derived by van den Ancker et al. (1998) ($`\mathrm{log}L_{160}=0.68_{0.21}^{+0.27}`$) are dominated by the distance uncertainty. Assuming an arbitrary 10 % uncertainty on the luminosity, we derive the error bars for $`L/M^2`$ plotted in Fig. 4.

In this diagram, the star location corresponds to a stellar mass $`M_{}=2.1_{0.2}^{+0.4}M_{\mathrm{}}`$, in better agreement with its A0 spectral type. From the dynamical mass M160, we derive that actual distance of the star is $`D=160\times (M_{}/M_{160})=400_{100}^{+170}`$ pc. The distance derived from Hipparcos measurements on parallax ($`6.1\pm 1.6`$ mas, van den Ancker et al. (1998)) is more than $`2\sigma `$ from our distance determination. From reddening considerations, Sylvester et al. (1996) derived a distance of 547 pc, somewhat higher but still consistent with our determination. It should be noticed that considering its position, its distance, and its systemic velocity, HD 34282 is probably associated with Orion A (Green and Padman, 1993).

### 4.3 Distance revisited model

At a distance $`D`$ = 400 pc, the $`\chi ^2`$ analysis leads to the best parameters given in Table 2.

The disk outer radius $`R_{out}`$ is 835 AU, among the largest known disks (e.g. DM Tau, GG Tau).

It should be noticed that both the disk inclination angle of $`i=56^{}\pm 3^{}`$ ($`0^{}`$ means pole-on) and the measured photometric variability ($`\mathrm{\Delta }V2.5`$) of HD 34282 are compatible with the UX Ori model from Natta and Whitney (2000).

At 100 AU, the disk has $`T_{100}=46`$ K which is hotter than found for T Tauri stars such as DM Tau or GM Aur (Dutrey et al., 1998), which have similar radial variations of the temperature ($`q=0.52\pm 0.08`$). Assuming the revised luminosity of 29 $`\mathrm{L}_{}`$, the blackbody temperature at 100 AU would be around 50 K. The temperature law of the disk is therefore compatible with a flared disk heated by the central star, e.g. (Chiang and Goldreich, 1997).

Assuming $`T_{100}=46`$ K and $`q=0.52`$, we derive the surface density $`\mathrm{\Sigma }_{100}6.5\times 10^{23}`$cm-2 and $`p1.2`$ from the dust analysis (see Fig.2). With $`p1.2`$, the surface density law is relatively shallow, as found in the previous continuum analysis of TTauri disks by Dutrey et al. (1996).

The disk mass derived from modeling of the continuum emission is $`M_d=0.11_{0.05}^{+0.09}\mathrm{M}_{}`$ (for a gas-to-dust ratio of 100). Such a massive disk is in agreement with previous results which suggest that there is a tendency for intermediate-mass stars to have more massive disks (Natta et al., 2000).

## 5 Summary

The disk surrounding the A0 PMS star HD 34282 has been mapped by the IRAM array in 12CO $`\mathrm{J}=21`$ and in continuum at 3.4 and 1.3 mm. Standard disk modeling of the molecular emission, combined with dust thermal emission analysis and stellar distance-independent evolution tracks, allow us to conclude that :

* The CO disk, resolved by the interferometric observations, is in Keplerian rotation.
* The disk outer radius is large, with $`R_{out}=835\pm 20`$ AU.
* Its temperature law, derived from $`{}_{}{}^{12}\mathrm{CO}`$ $`\mathrm{J}=21`$ line is in agreement with a flared disk heated by the central star.
* The disk continuum emission is optically thin and has a spectral index $`\beta 1.1`$.
* With an inferred total mass of $`0.11_{0.05}^{+0.09}\mathrm{M}_{}`$, the disk is relatively massive.
* The stellar mass is $`2.1_{0.2}^{+0.4}\mathrm{M}_{}`$ (as expected for a A0.5 spectral type star) and the star distance is $`D=400_{100}^{+170}`$ pc, at a little bit more than $`2\sigma `$ from the Hipparcos measurements. The revised luminosity would rather be around $`L=29_{13}^{+30}`$L.

In conclusion, the HD 34282 disk does not appear significantly different from the TTauri disks, except that it is more massive and somewhat hotter, as expected for an intermediate mass-star.

###### Acknowledgements.

We warmly thank Dr. Mike Jura, who initiated this work during a visit of Anne Dutrey at UCLA, for his careful reading of the manuscript. Dimitri Pourbaix is acknowledged for providing us with many useful comments about Hipparcos analysis. Stéphane Guilloteau and Frédéric Gueth are thanked for fruitful discussions. This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France. We also would like to acknowledge the IRAM Plateau de Bure staff for providing the observations which were performed in service observing.