Swift Deep Galactic Plane Survey classification of Swift J170800-402551.8 as a candidate intermediate polar cataclysmic variable

Here, we present the results of our multiwavelength campaign aimed at classifying Swift J170800-402551.8 as part of the Swift Deep Galactic Plane Survey (DGPS). We utilized Target of Opportunity (ToO) observations with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, Chandra X-ray Observatory, Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton), Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), and the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), as well as multiwavelength archival observations from Gaia, VST Photometric HaSurvey, and VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea. The source displays a periodicity of 784 s in our XMM-Newton observation. The X-ray spectrum (XMM-Newton and NuSTAR) can be described by thermal bremsstrahlung radiation with a temperature of kT approximate to 30 keV. The phase-folded X-ray light curve displays a double-peaked, energy-dependent pulse profile. We used Chandra to precisely localize the source, allowing us to identify and study the multiwavelength counterpart. Spectroscopy with SALT identified a Balmer H aline, and potential He I lines, from the optical counterpart. The faintness of the counterpart (r approximate to 21 AB mag) favours a low-mass donor star. Based on these criteria, we classify Swift J170800-402551.8 as a candidate intermediate polar cataclysmic variable, where the spin period of the white dwarf is 784 s.

Automated summary

In this paper, we present the results of a multiwavelength campaign aimed at classifying Swift J170800-402551.8. By utilizing various observatories and archival data, we identified the periodicity and X-ray spectrum of the source, as well as studied its multiwavelength counterpart. Based on our findings, we classify Swift J170800-402551.8 as a candidate intermediate polar cataclysmic variable with a spin period of 784 seconds.