Short and long time-scale variability in magnetic cataclysmic variables: Long-term monitoring of polars

Abstract

We present long-term observations of the magnetic cataclysmic variables AM Her, AN UMa, AR UMa, DP Leo and V1309 Ori. Analyses of both short- and long-period light variations are presented. For the first time, as far as we know, long-period variations of AN UMa and AR UMa have been studied and multiple frequencies obtained. Fourier analysis indicates 170-, 218- and 180-d variations for AM Her, AN UMa and AR UMa, respectively. These periodicities may be due to modulation of the mass-transfer rate resulting from magnetic cycles in the secondary stars. In addition, we collect the physical parameters of polars from the literature and estimate their mass-transfer rates and orbital period variation and give a rough estimation of the donor magnetic fields.