Superoutbursts and Positive Superhumps are Detected During the Standstill in AT Cnc

Qi-Bin Sun, Sheng-Bang Qian, Li-Ying Zhu, Qin-Mei Li Fu-Xing Li, Min-Yu Li, Ping Li

Published 2024-12-23Version 1

The disk instability model suggests that the disk remains in a hot state during standstill. The thermal-tidal instability model posits that superoutbursts require a mass ratio of ( q = M2/M2 < 0.25-0.33). However, this paper presents evidence of superoutbursts and positive superhumps (PSHs) during a standstill of AT Cnc (q > 0.33 ), based on both space- and ground-based photometric data from sky surveys. Notably, the PSHs evolve gradually prior to the onset of a superoutburst, suggesting that an eccentric, prograde-precessing disk forms first, with the superoutburst occurring as the radius of the accretion disk continues to expand. These observations indicate that, during the standstill, the disk radius in AT Cnc not only surpasses the tidal truncation radius and the 3:1 resonance radius, but is still undergoing expansion.Our analysis further reveals that superoutbursts are triggered by oscillations, which appear to be a characteristic feature of special dwarf nova outbursts. Additionally, we observe that special outbursts develop from normal outbursts, implying that certain stages of the disk may not reach a fully hot state during the standstill. Furthermore, the PSH amplitude was found to be correlated with special outbursts, revealing that the localized thermal instability had a significant impact on the evolution of the eccentric disk. These findings provide the first detailed observational evidence of superoutbursts and PSHs occurring during standstill, offering important new insights into the classification of dwarf novae and the underlying mechanisms of outbursts.