Ellipsoidal modulation and multi-wavelength activity in the pre-cataclysmic binary RX J1553.0+4457
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| author | Wu, S. -Y. Gritsevich, M. Lao, Q. -H. Castro-Tirado, A. J. Li, Z. Hu, Y. -D. Pérez-García, I. Sánchez-Ramírez, R. Castro-Segura, N. Fernández-García, E. J. Caballero-García, M. D. Guziy, S. Olivares, I. Sakowska, J. D. García-Segura, G. Hiriart, D. Lee, W. H. Meintjes, P. J. van Heerden, H. J. Martín-Carrillo, A. Hanlon, L. Maury, A. Hernández-García, L. Carrasco-García, I. M. Castillo-Carrión, S. Castellón, A. Pandey, S. B. del Pulgar, C. J. Pérez Reina, A. J. Bai, J. -M. Fan, Y. -F. Wang, C. -J. Xin, Y. -X. Xiong, D. -R. Zhao, X. -H. Mao, J. Lun, B. -L. Ye, K. Cui, C. -Z. Valeev, A. F. Zhang, B. -B. Sun, T. -R. |
| author_facet | Wu, S. -Y. Gritsevich, M. Lao, Q. -H. Castro-Tirado, A. J. Li, Z. Hu, Y. -D. Pérez-García, I. Sánchez-Ramírez, R. Castro-Segura, N. Fernández-García, E. J. Caballero-García, M. D. Guziy, S. Olivares, I. Sakowska, J. D. García-Segura, G. Hiriart, D. Lee, W. H. Meintjes, P. J. van Heerden, H. J. Martín-Carrillo, A. Hanlon, L. Maury, A. Hernández-García, L. Carrasco-García, I. M. Castillo-Carrión, S. Castellón, A. Pandey, S. B. del Pulgar, C. J. Pérez Reina, A. J. Bai, J. -M. Fan, Y. -F. Wang, C. -J. Xin, Y. -X. Xiong, D. -R. Zhao, X. -H. Mao, J. Lun, B. -L. Ye, K. Cui, C. -Z. Valeev, A. F. Zhang, B. -B. Sun, T. -R. |
| contents | RX J1553.0+4457 (TMTS J15530469+4457458) is a detached post-common-envelope binary containing a cool white dwarf and an active late-type companion. We present a multi-wavelength study combining BOOTES multi-band photometry, six sectors of public TESS full-frame imaging, Einstein Probe/FXT X-ray observations, CAFOS optical spectroscopy, and archival ultraviolet-to-mid-infrared photometry. The BOOTES data reveal two short optical flares separated by about 3 h, with amplitudes of roughly 1-1.5 mag and faster decay at shorter wavelengths. The combined TESS light curve shows a stable signal at P = 0.083782 d, consistent with the first harmonic of the known spectroscopic orbital period, and its folded morphology indicates ellipsoidal modulation from a tidally distorted late-type companion rather than an irradiation-dominated waveform. TESS flare energetics lie in the active M-dwarf regime. The Einstein Probe/FXT spectra show a factor of about 4 decline in the 0.3-10 keV flux, mainly associated with decreasing emission measures. The broadband SED is reproduced by a cool white dwarf plus a late-type M dwarf, with no clear hot-continuum or mid-infrared excess. RX J1553.0+4457 is therefore best interpreted as a detached pre-cataclysmic binary whose rapid optical variability is dominated by magnetic activity and whose orbital modulation is ellipsoidal, although a weak wind-fed or intermittent accretion contribution remains possible. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_02796 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Ellipsoidal modulation and multi-wavelength activity in the pre-cataclysmic binary RX J1553.0+4457 Wu, S. -Y. Gritsevich, M. Lao, Q. -H. Castro-Tirado, A. J. Li, Z. Hu, Y. -D. Pérez-García, I. Sánchez-Ramírez, R. Castro-Segura, N. Fernández-García, E. J. Caballero-García, M. D. Guziy, S. Olivares, I. Sakowska, J. D. García-Segura, G. Hiriart, D. Lee, W. H. Meintjes, P. J. van Heerden, H. J. Martín-Carrillo, A. Hanlon, L. Maury, A. Hernández-García, L. Carrasco-García, I. M. Castillo-Carrión, S. Castellón, A. Pandey, S. B. del Pulgar, C. J. Pérez Reina, A. J. Bai, J. -M. Fan, Y. -F. Wang, C. -J. Xin, Y. -X. Xiong, D. -R. Zhao, X. -H. Mao, J. Lun, B. -L. Ye, K. Cui, C. -Z. Valeev, A. F. Zhang, B. -B. Sun, T. -R. Solar and Stellar Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena RX J1553.0+4457 (TMTS J15530469+4457458) is a detached post-common-envelope binary containing a cool white dwarf and an active late-type companion. We present a multi-wavelength study combining BOOTES multi-band photometry, six sectors of public TESS full-frame imaging, Einstein Probe/FXT X-ray observations, CAFOS optical spectroscopy, and archival ultraviolet-to-mid-infrared photometry. The BOOTES data reveal two short optical flares separated by about 3 h, with amplitudes of roughly 1-1.5 mag and faster decay at shorter wavelengths. The combined TESS light curve shows a stable signal at P = 0.083782 d, consistent with the first harmonic of the known spectroscopic orbital period, and its folded morphology indicates ellipsoidal modulation from a tidally distorted late-type companion rather than an irradiation-dominated waveform. TESS flare energetics lie in the active M-dwarf regime. The Einstein Probe/FXT spectra show a factor of about 4 decline in the 0.3-10 keV flux, mainly associated with decreasing emission measures. The broadband SED is reproduced by a cool white dwarf plus a late-type M dwarf, with no clear hot-continuum or mid-infrared excess. RX J1553.0+4457 is therefore best interpreted as a detached pre-cataclysmic binary whose rapid optical variability is dominated by magnetic activity and whose orbital modulation is ellipsoidal, although a weak wind-fed or intermittent accretion contribution remains possible. |
| title | Ellipsoidal modulation and multi-wavelength activity in the pre-cataclysmic binary RX J1553.0+4457 |
| topic | Solar and Stellar Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.02796 |