Analysis of the AAVSO light curves of 21 dwarf novae

Abstract

The authors report the measurement of all observed outbursts of 21 dwarf novae during a three-year interval (JD2442300 - JD2443300), using the data records of the AAVSO. Relationships among the rise time, outburst length, decline time, quiescent interval, maximum V magnitude, and physical-system parameters such as orbital period and masses of the component stars were investigated. The results confirm some, but not all, of the correlations previously found for the best-studied system SS Cyg and other, less consistent, surveys. The autors use the long- and short-outburst separation characteristic of the SU UMa class to identify several prime suspects for this group.