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We present photometric and spectral observations of the symbiotic star ZZ CMi. We detect intranight variability - flickering and smooth variations in U band. The amplitude of the flickering is about 0.10-0.20 mag in U band. In the B band the variability is lower, with amplitude less than 0.03 mag. We also detect variability in the H-alpha and H-beta emission lines, and find an indication for outflow with velocity of about 120-150 km/s. The results indicate that ZZ CMi is an accretion powered symbiotic containing an M4-M6 III cool component with an white dwarf resembling recurrent novae and jet-ejecting symbiotic stars. [The data are available on www.astro.bas.bg/~rz/ZZCMi/ZZCMi.tar.gz], Comment: accepted in Astronomische Nachrichten / Astronomical Notes

We present spectroscopic observations of the Be/X-ray binary X Per obtained during the period December 2017 - January 2020 (MJD~58095 - MJD~58865). In December 2017 the $H\alpha$, $H\beta$, and HeI 6678 emission lines were symmetric with violet-to-red peak ratio $V/R \approx 1$. During the first part of the period (December 2017 - August 2018) the V/R-ratio decreased to 0.5 and the asymmetry developed simultaneously in all three lines. In September 2018, a third component with velocity $\approx 250$~km~s$^{-1}$ appeared on the red side of the HeI line profile. Later this component emerged in $H\beta$, accompanied by the appearance of a red shoulder in $H\alpha$. Assuming that it is due to an eccentric wave in the circumstellar disc, we find that the eccentric wave appeared first in the innermost part of the disc, it spreads out with outflowing velocity $v_{wave} \approx 1.1 \pm 0.2 $~km~s$^{-1}$, and the eccentricity of the eccentric wave is $e_{wave} \approx 0.29 \pm 0.07$. A detailed understanding of the origin of such eccentricities would have applications to a wide range of systems from planetary rings to AGNs., Comment: MNRAS (accepted)

We performed high-resolution optical spectroscopy and X-ray observations of the recently identified Mira-type symbiotic star EF Aql. Based on high-resolution optical spectroscopy obtained with SALT, we determine the temperature ($\sim $55 000 K) and the luminosity ($\sim$ 5.3 $L_\odot$) of the hot component in the system. The heliocentric radial velocities of the emission lines in the spectra reveal possible stratification of the chemical elements. We also estimate the mass-loss rate of the Mira donor star. Our Swift observation did not detect EF Aql in X-rays. The upper limit of the X-ray observations is 10$^{-12}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, which means that EF Aql is consistent with the faintest X-ray systems detected so far. Otherwise we detected it with the UVOT instrument with an average UVM2 magnitude of 14.05. During the exposure, EF Aql became approximately 0.2 UVM2 magnitudes fainter. The periodogram analysis of the V-band data reveals an improved period of 320.4$\pm$0.3 d caused by the pulsations of the Mira-type donor star. The spectra are available upon request from the authors., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present observations (with NAO Rozhen and AS Vidojevica telescopes) of the AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) type binary star CR Bootis (CR Boo) in the UBV bands. The data were obtained in two nights in July 2019, when the V band brightness was in the range of 16.1-17.0 mag. In both nights, a variability for a period of $25 (\pm 1)$ min and amplitude of about 0.2 magnitudes was visible. These brightness variations are most likely indications of "humps". During our observational time, they appear for a period similar to the CR Boo orbital period. A possible reason of their origin is the phase rotation of the bright spot, placed in the contact point of the infalling matter and the outer disc edge. We estimated some of the parameters of the binary system, on the base of the observational data., 8 pages, 2 figures

Using TESS photometry and Rozhen spectra of the Be/gamma-ray binaries MWC 148 and MWC 656, we estimate the projected rotational velocity ($ {v} \sin i$), the rotational period (P$_{\rm rot}$), radius (R$_{\rm 1}$), and inclination ($i$) of the mass donor. For MWC 148 we derive P$_{\rm rot} = 1.10 \pm 0.03$~d, R$_{\rm 1}= 9.2 \pm 0.5$~R$_\odot$, $i = 40^\circ \pm 2^\circ$, and $ {v} \sin i =272 \pm 5$~km~s$^{-1}$. For MWC 656 we obtain P$_{\rm rot} = 1.12 \pm 0.03$~d, R$_{\rm 1}= 8.8 \pm 0.5$~R$_\odot$, $i = 52^\circ \pm 3^\circ$, and $ {v} \sin i =313 \pm 3$~km~s$^{-1}$. For MWC 656 we also find that the rotation of the mass donor is coplanar with the orbital plane., Comment: 6 pages, Accepted by Astronomische Nachrichten / Astronomical Notes

We analyse optical photometric data of short term variability (flickering) of the accreting white dwarf in the jet-ejecting symbiotic star MWC560. The observations are obtained in 17 nights during the period November 2011 - October 2019. The colour-magnitude diagram shows that the hot component of the system becomes redder as it gets brighter. For the flickering source we find that it has colour 0.14 < B-V < 0.40, temperature in the range 6300 < T_fl < 11000 K, and radius 1.2 < R_fl < 18 Rsun. We find a strong correlation (correlation coefficient 0.76, significance < 0.001) between B band magnitude and the average radius of the flickering source - as the brightness of the system increases the size of the flickering source also increases. The estimated temperature is similar to that of the bright spot of cataclysmic variables. In 2019 the flickering is missing, and the B-V colour of the hot component becomes bluer., 9 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomical Notes. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1807.01555

St 2-22 is a relatively poorly studied S-type symbiotic system that belongs to a small group of jet-producing systems as a result of disc accretion onto a white dwarf fed by its red giant companion. The goal of this paper is to analyse the nature and derive the basic parameters of St 2-22, and to follow the jet evolution. Photometric monitoring for over 16 yrs and high-quality spectroscopic data enabled us to shed new light on its nature. The high-resolution SALT spectra and $V I_C$ photometry obtained during and between the last two outbursts have been used to search for periodic changes, to derive spectroscopic orbits of both system components, and to study the outburst and jet evolution. We present the orbital and stellar parameters of the system components. The orbital period is $P_{orb} = 918 \pm6^d$. The double-line spectroscopic orbits indicate the mass ratio $q = M_{g} M_{h}^{-1} = 3.50 \pm0.53$, and the components masses $M_{g} \sin^3{i} \sim 2.35$ M$_{sun}$ and $M_{h} \sin^3{i} \sim 0.67$ M$_{sun}$. The orbit shows significant eccentricity, $e = 0.16 \pm0.07$. The orbital inclination is close to 70 degrees. During outbursts, accelerating and decelerating jets are observed with changes in their radial velocity component in a range from $\sim 1500$ up to nearly $1800$ km s$^{-1}$. St 2-22 turned out to be a classical symbiotic system very similar to the precursor of the group - Z And., Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

We present a spectral study of the single magnetically active K giant OP And in the period 1979 -- 2018, monitoring the variability of the activity indicator line H${\alpha}$. Original data obtained in the period 2015 -- 2018 with the echelle spectrograph ESpeRo at the 2m telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory Rozhen in Bulgaria, previously unpublished original data obtained in the period 1997 -- 2007 and on one night in 2013 with the Coude spectrograph at the same telescope, as well as data from the literature are presented in this study. The variability of the H${\alpha}$ line reveals that the activity level of OP And is higher in the period 1993 -- 2000, while during the period 2008 -- 2010 it is lower, possibly close to a minimum. Also, our data for the period 2015 -- 2018 show that the activity level is increasing again. Spectral observations of the activity indicators CaII H&K lines and CaII IR triplet are sparse during the studied period. We use such ones when possible to confirm the detection of some flare events. The structure of H${\alpha}$ changes with the activity level: when the activity is higher, we observe a blue-shifted component of this line, interpreted as an expanding area above the photosphere, but during a lower activity period it is almost absent. Our results are in a good agreement with the idea that the magnetic field controls the mass outflow in this giant. More years of observations are necessary to determine the eventual activity cycle of OP And.

We performed 48.6 hours (in 28 nights) of simultaneous B and V band observations of the flickering variability of the recurrent nova RS Oph in quiescence. During the time of our observations the brightness of the system varied between 13.2 > B > 11.1 and the colour in the range 0.86 < B-V < 1.33 . We find that RS~Oph becomes more blue, as it becomes brighter, however the hot component becomes more red as it becomes brighter (assuming that the red giant is non-variable). During all the runs RS Oph exhibits flickering with amplitude 0.16 - 0.59 mag in B band. For the flickering source we find that it has colour -0.14 < B-V < 0.40, temperature in the range 7200 < T_fl < 18900, and average radius 1.1 < R_fl < 6.7 R_sun. We do not find a correlation between the temperature of the flickering and the brightness. However, we do find a strong correlation (correlation coefficient 0.81, significance 1.1x10^{-7} ) between B band magnitude and the average radius of the flickering source - as the brightness of the system increases the size of the flickering source also increases. The estimated temperature is similar to that of the bright spot of cataclysmic variables. The persistent presence of flickering indicates that the white dwarf is actively accreting material for the next outburst., 10 pages, accepted in MNRAS

Institute of Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 72 Tsarigradsko shose,BG-1784, Sofia, BulgariaReceived 2 September 2014, accepted 2014 Dec 04Published online 2015 Mar 01Key words Stars: binaries – novae, cataclysmic variables – binaries: symbiotic – stars: individual: T CrB, RS OphWe performed simultaneous observations in 3 bands (UBV)of the flickering variability of the recurrent novae RS Ophand T CrB at quiescence. Using new and published data, we compare the colours of the flickering in cataclysmic variablesand symbiotic recurrent novae. We find a difference between t he colours of the flickering source in these two types ofaccreting white dwarfs. The detected difference is highly significant with p−value≈2×10

We summarize the results of our study of the cataclysmic variable AE Aqr on the basis of simultaneous UBV RI observations. For the flares, we estimated the average risetime of about 300 sec, and colours (U−B)0~1.1 and (B−V )0~0.1. We also calculated temperatures, sizes, masses and expansion velocities of a few individual fireballs. In a single night (16.08.2012), we detected ~ 8 min quasi-periodic modulation.

Our aim is to investigate the tidal interaction in High-mass X-ray Binaries and Symbiotic stars in order to determine in which objects the rotation of the mass donors is synchronized or pseudosynchronized with the orbital motion of the compact companion. We find that the Be/X-ray binaries are not synchronized and the orbital periods of the systems are greater than the rotational periods of the mass donors. The giant and supergiant High-mass X-ray binaries and symbiotic stars are close to synchronization. We compare the rotation of mass donors in symbiotics with the projected rotational velocities of field giants and find that the M giants in S-type symbiotics rotate on average 1.5 times faster than the field M giants. We find that the projected rotational velocity of the red giant in symbiotic star MWC 560 is v sin i = 8.2 +/- 1.5 km/s, and estimate its rotational period to be Prot = 144 - 306 days. Using the theoretical predictions of tidal interaction and pseudosynchronization, we estimate the orbital eccentricity e = 0.68 - 0.82., Proceedings of the conference "The Golden Age of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects II", Palermo, 9-14 September 2013. To be published in Acta Polytechnica. 4 pages, 1 figure

We present new radial velocities of the high-mass X-ray binary star 4U 2206+54 based on optical spectra obtained with the Coude spectrograph at the 2 m RCC telescope of the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgaria in the period November 2011–July 2013. The radial velocity curve of the He I δ6678 A line is modeled with an orbital period Porb = 9.568 d and an eccentricity of e = 0.3. These new measurements of the radial velocity resolve the disagreements of the orbital period discussions. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

We report optical CCD photometry of the recently identified symbiotic star EF Aql. Our observations in Johnson V and B bands clearly show the presence of stochastic light variations with an amplitude of about 0.2 mag on a time scale of minutes. The observations point toward a white dwarf (WD) as the hot component in the system. It is the 11-th object among more than 200 symbiotic stars known with detected optical flickering. Estimates of the mass accretion rate onto the WD and the mass loss rate in the wind of the Mira secondary star lead to the conclusion that less than 1 per cent of the wind is captured by the WD. Eight further candidates for the detection of flickering in similar systems are suggested., Comment: 5 pages, submitted to AN

We present spectroscopic observations of the Be/X-ray binary X Per obtained during the period 1999 - 2018. Using new and published data, we found that during "disc-rise" the expansion velocity of the circumstellar disc is 0.4 - 0.7 km/s. Our results suggest that the disc radius in recent decades show evidence of resonant truncation of the disc by resonances 10:1, 3:1, and 2:1, while the maximum disc size is larger than the Roche lobe of the primary and smaller than the closest approach of the neutron star. We find correlation between equivalent width of H-alpha emission line ($W\alpha$) and the X-ray flux, which is visible when $15 \: \AA \: < W\alpha \le 40 \: \AA$. The correlation is probably due to wind Roche lobe overflow., Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

We report optical spectroscopic observations of the Be/gamma-ray binaries LSI+61303, MWC 148 and MWC 656. The peak separation and equivalent widths of prominent emission lines (H-alpha, H-beta, H-gamma, HeI, and FeII) are measured. We estimated the circumstellar disc size, compared it with separation between the components, and discussed the disc truncation. We find that in LSI+61303 the compact object comes into contact with the outer parts of the circumstellar disc at periastron, in MWC 148 the compact object goes deeply into the disc during the periastron passage, and in MWC 656 the black hole is accreting from the outer parts of the circumstellar disc along the entire orbit. The interstellar extinction was estimated using interstellar lines. The rotation of the mass donors appears to be similar to the rotation of the mass donors in Be/X-ray binaries. We suggest that X-ray/optical periodicity of about 1 day deserves to be searched for., 9 pages, accepted in A&A

Optical spectroscopy study of the recent AG Peg outburst observed during the second half of 2015 is presented. Considerable variations of the intensity and the shape of the spectral features as well as the changes of the hot component parameters, caused by the outburst, are discussed and certain similarities between the outburst of AG Peg and the outburst of a classical symbiotic stars are shown. It seems that after the end of the symbiotic nova phase, AG Peg became a member of the classical symbiotic stars group., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted by MNRAS

We have measured the projected rotational velocities (vsini) in a number of symbiotic stars and M giants using high resolution spectroscopic observations. On the basis of our measurements and data from the literature, we compare the rotation of mass-donors in symbiotics with vsini of field giants and find that: (1) the K giants in S-type symbiotics rotate at vsini>4.5 km/s, which is 2-4 times faster than the field K giants; (2) the M giants in S-type symbiotics rotate on average 1.5 times faster than the field M giants. Statistical tests show that these differences are highly significant: p-value < 0.001 in the spectral type bins K2III-K5III, M0III-M6III, and M2III-M5III; (3) our new observations of D'-type symbiotics also confirm that they are fast rotators. As a result of the rapid rotation, the cool giants in symbiotics should have 3-30 times larger mass loss rates. Our results suggest also that bipolar ejections in symbiotics seem to happen in objects where the mass donors rotate faster than the orbital period. All spectra used in our series of papers can be obtained upon request from the authors., MNRAS (accepted), 7 pages, 5 figures

We have measured the projected rotational velocities (v sin i) of the mass donors for 29 S-type symbiotic stars using high resolution spectroscopic observations and the cross-correlation function (CCF) method. The results of the CCF have been controlled with synthetic spectra. The typical rotational velocity of the K and M giants in S-type symbiotics appeared to be 4.5 99%) only for the recurrent nova RS Oph. For 22 S-type symbiotics we give clues as to what their orbital periods could be.

We report observations of the flickering variability of the symbiotic recurrent nova RS~Oph at quiescence in five bands ($UBVRI$). We find evidence of a correlation between the peak-to-peak flickering amplitude ($\Delta F$) and the average flux of the hot component ($F_{\rm av}$). The correlation is highly significant, with a correlation coefficient of 0.85 and a $p$-value of~$\sim 10^{-20}$. Combining the data from all wavebands, we find a dependence of the type $\Delta F \propto F^k_{\rm av}$, with power-law index $k = 1.02 \pm 0.04$ for the $UBVRI$ flickering of RS~Oph. Thus, the relationship between the amplitude of variability and the average flux of the hot component is consistent with linearity. The rms amplitude of flickering is on average 8 per cent ($\pm2$ per cent) of $F_{\rm av}$. The detected correlation is similar to that found in accreting black holes/neutron stars and cataclysmic variables. The possible reasons are briefly discussed. The data are available upon request from the authors., Comment: accepted: MNRAS 450, 3958-3965 (2015)

We analyze optical photometric data of short term variability (flickering) of accreting white dwarfs in cataclysmic variables (KR Aur, MV Lyr, V794 Aql, TT Ari, V425 Cas), recurrent novae (RS Oph and T CrB) and jet-ejecting symbiotic stars (CH Cyg and MWC 560). We find that the amplitude-flux relationship is visible over four orders of magnitude, in the range of fluxes from $10^{29}$ to $10^{33}$ erg s$^{-1}$ \AA$^{-1}$, as a "statistically perfect" correlation with correlation coefficient 0.96 and p-value $ \sim 10^{-28}$. In the above range, the amplitude of variability for any of our 9 objects is proportional to the flux level with (almost) one and the same factor of proportionality for all 9 accreting white dwarfs with $\Delta F = 0.36 (\pm 0.05) F_{av}$, $\sigma_{rms} = 0.086(\pm 0.011) F_{av}$, and $\sigma_{rms} / \Delta F = 0.24 \pm 0.02$. Over all, our results indicate that the viscosity in the accretion discs is practically the same for all 9 objects in our sample, in the mass accretion rate range $2 \times 10^{-11} - 2\times10^{-7}$ $M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$., Comment: 5 pages, MNRAS 457 L10-L13 (2016)

We have measured the rotational velocities (v.sini) of the mass donors in a number of D'--type symbiotic stars, using the cross-correlation function method. Four from five D' symbiotic stars with known v.sini, appeared to be very fast rotators compared with the catalogues of v.sini for the corresponding spectral types. At least three of these stars rotate at a substantial fraction (>=0.5) of the critical velocity. This means that at least in D'-type symbiotics the cool components rotate faster than isolated giants. If these binary stars are synchronized, their orbital periods should be relatively short (4-60 days). We also briefly discuss the possible origin of the rapid rotation and its connection with mass loss and dust formation.

We report that the H_alpha emission line of RS Oph was strongly variable during our 2004 observations on a time scale of 1 month. The line consisted of both a double peaked central narrow component (FWHM ~ 220 km/s) and a strongly variable broad one (FWHM ~ 2000 km/s). The base of the H_alpha line was very broad with FWZI 4600 km/s on all spectra from 1986 to 2004. The variability of the broad component extends from -2000 to +2000 km/s. Most probably this is due to either blobs ejected from the white dwarf (with a typical blob mass estimated to be ~10^{-10} M_solar or a variable accretion disk wind. We also detected variability of the HeII4686 line on a time scale shorter than 1 day. The possible origin is discussed., accepted in MNRAS (letters)

We report our search for variability in the H-alpha emission line of the recurrent novae T CrB with time resolution 10-15 minutes. This is comparable with the time scale of the photometric flickering observed in this object. This is the first time that observations of the short time scale variation in emission lines have been made in this object. On two nights (990106 and 990107) we detected statistically significant variability (at 0.99 confidence level) in the line profile of H-alpha. This variability is confined in the central part of the emission line (\pm 100 km/s) although FWZI(H-alpha) is ~800 km/s. The variability in the line profile is accompanied with variability of the total equivalent width, EW(H-alpha), \pm 8% for 990106, and \pm 6% for 990107 (calculated from the mean value of EW). Assuming Keplerian motion, the variability is generated at a distance ~20-30 R_Solar from the white dwarf, which is approximately the radius of the ring the stream of gas forms as it flows away from L_1. On three other nights we are only able to put upper limits on the variability, \Delta EW(H-alpha) \pm 2% for 980415, \pm 4% for 980802, and \pm 3% for 980803.

We present composite UV spectra for low redshift Type 1 AGN binned to exploit the information content of the Eigenvector 1 (E1) parameter space. Composite spectra allow a decomposition of the CIV1549 line profile - one of the strongest high-ionization lines. The simplest CIV decomposition into narrow (NLR), broad (BLR) and very broad (VBLR) components suggests that different components have an analog in Hb with two major exceptions. VBLR emission is seen only in population B (FWHM(Hb)>4000 km/s) sources. A blue shifted/asymmetric BLR component is seen only in pop. A (FWHM(Hb)

We report optical and radio observations of GT 2318+620, a previously proposed variable radio source at low galactic latitude. With the information available more than a decade ago, this object was considered to be a low-mass X-ray binary with radio jets. However, the galactic nature of GT 2318+620 was never confirmed. The new data presented here provide substantial evidence to rule out a galactic origin and point towards identification as an active extragalactic source.

We report optical CCD observations of the microquasar LS 5039. Its photometric behaviour is studied over differ- ent orbital periods with a time separation of three years. We do not detect evidences of an ellipsoidal modulation above the ±0.01 mag level, thus confirming the previous results reported by Clark et al. (2001). The light curve of LS 5039 has also been explored with a time resolution of 30 s but the source also appears to be stable on such shorter time scales. Possible scenarios consistent with the non-detection of optical variability are considered.

We analyze H-alpha observations of the recurrent nova T CrB obtained during the last decade. For the first time the H-alpha emission profile is analyzed after subtraction of the red giant contribution. Based on our new radial velocity measurements of the H-alpha emission line we estimate the component masses of T CrB. It is found that the hot component is most likely a massive white dwarf. We estimate the inclination and the component masses to be i~67 deg, Mwd = 1.37 +/-0.13 Msun and Msec=1.12 +/-0.23 Msun, respectively. The radial velocity of the central dip in the H-alpha profile changes nearly in phase with that of the red giant's absorption lines. This suggests that the dip is most likely produced by absorption in the giant's wind. Our observations cover an interval when the H-alpha and the U-band flux vary by a factor of ~6, while the variability in B and V is much smaller. Based on our observations, and archival ultraviolet and optical data we show that the optical, ultraviolet and H-alpha fluxes strongly correlate. We argue that the presence of an accretion disc can account for most of the observed properties of T CrB., Comment: 8 pages, 6 EPS figures, to appear in A&A

[Abridged] We compute the virial mass of the central black hole (M) and the luminosity-to-mass (L/M) ratio of ~ 300 low-z quasars and luminous Seyfert 1 nuclei. We analyze: (1) whether radio-quiet and radio-loud objects show systematic differences in terms of M and L/M; (2) the influence of M and L/M on the shape of the H-beta broad component line profile; (3) the significance of the so-called "blue outliers" i.e., sources showing a significant blueshift of the [OIII] 4959, 5007 lines with respect to the narrow component of H-beta which is used as an estimator of the quasar reference frame. We show that M and L/M distributions for RQ and RL sources are likely different for samples matched in luminosity and redshift. Line profile comparisons for median spectra computed over narrow ranges of M and L/M indicate that a Lorentz function provides a better fit for higher L/M sources and a double Gaussian for lower L/M values. A second (redshifted) Gaussian component at low L/M appears as a red asymmetry frequently observed in radio-loud and radio-quiet sources with broader (FWHM > 4000 km/s) H-beta broad component profiles. This component becomes stronger in larger mass and lower L/M sources. No specific influence of radio loudness on the H-beta broad component profile is detected, although equivalent widths of H-beta broad component and especially of [OIII] 4959,5007 are larger for radio-loud sources. We identify five more "blue outlier" sources. Since these sources are, on average, one magnitude brighter than other AGNs with similar mass, they are accreting at an Eddington ratio that is 2-3 times higher. We hint at evolutionary effects that explain some of these results and reinforce the "Eigenvector 1" correlations., Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present a spectral atlas of the Hβ region for 215 type 1 AGNs (luminous Seyfert 1/radio galaxy nuclei and low-z quasars) up to z ≈ 0.8. Line profiles and measures were derived from the database of intermediate resolution spectra (R 1000) with average continuum level S/N ratio ≈30. Parameters including rest frame equivalent width and FWHM are provided for the Fe IIopt blend at λ4570, Hβ, He II λ4686, and the [O III] λλ4959, 5007 emission lines. We extract clean broad component Hβ profiles and provide wavelength measurements at 0, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 0.9 peak intensity levels in order to permit a quantitative definition of the Hβ broad component for statistical studies. We also discuss sources of uncertainty, selection effects, and biases in our sample. The data are especially important for tests of the eigenvector 1 parameter space occupation and correlation. We show that the I Zw 1 template Fe IIopt spectrum reproduces well the observed Fe IIopt emission for a wide range of line width and strength. A detailed analysis of the data within the eigenvector 1 context is deferred to a companion paper.

We investigate the radial velocity difference between the [O III] λλ4959, 5007 and Hβ lines for a sample of ≈200 low-redshift active galactic nuclei. We identify seven objects showing an [O III] λ5007 blueshift relative to Hβ with an amplitude larger than 250 km s-1 ("blue outliers"). These line shifts are found in sources where the broad high-ionization lines (e.g., C IV λ1549) also show a large systematic blueshift. Such blueshifts occur only in the population A region of the Eigenvector 1 parameter domain (that also contains narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies). We suggest that [O III] λλ4959, 5007 blueshifts are also associated with the high-ionization outflow originating in these highly accreting sources. This is a direct kinematic linkage between narrow- and broad-line-emitting gas.

We point out an analogy between two accreting white dwarfs with jets (CH Cyg and MWC 560) and powerful quasars. In spite of the enormous difference in the mass of the central object (a factor about 10^7), the emission lines are strikingly similar to those of I Zw1 (the prototype "Narrow Line Seyfert 1" nucleus whose spectrum is widely used as an FeII template for almost all quasars). The spectral similarity give us the unique possibility to consider the optical Eigenvector-1 diagram using objects less massive by a factor of millions. Our results reinforce the interpretation of the "Eigenvector-1 correlations" found for low redshift quasars as driven mainly by the source luminosity to central compact object mass ratio(L/M). The accreting white dwarfs CH Cyg and MWC 560, their jets and emission lines, may well represent the low energy, non relativistic end of the accretion phenomena, which encompass the most powerful quasars and the microquasars. The remarkable similarities suggest that they may be legitimately considered "nano-quasars"., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted by the Astrophysical Journal (Letters)

We report our attempts to detect and confirm a narrow moving component in the Hα emission line of LS I+61°303. The existence of this spectral feature was already suspected in the past. As a result, we find that this component does exist and that its radial velocity varies in agreement with the radio period of the system. We interpret it tentatively as due to a denser region, or bulge, orbiting near the outer edge of the Hα emitting disk.

We report 138 spectral observations of the H-alpha emission line of the radio- and gamma-ray-emitting Be/X-ray binary LSI+61303 obtained during the period of September 1998 -- January 2013. From measuring various H-alpha parameters, we found that the orbital modulation of the H-alpha is best visible in the equivalent width ratio EW(B)/EW(R), the equivalent width of the blue hump, and in the radial velocity of the central dip. The periodogram analysis confirmed that the H-alpha emission is modulated with the orbital and superorbital periods. For the past 20 years the radius of the circumstellar disk is similar to the Roche lobe size at the periastron. It is probably truncated by a 6:1 resonance. The orbital maximum of the equivalent width of H-alpha emission peaks after the periastron and coincides on average with the X-ray and gamma-ray maxima. All the spectra are available upon request from the authors and through the CDS., Comment: 11 pages, accepted for publication in A&A

We report observations of the flickering variability of the recurrent nova RS Oph at quiescence on the basis of simultaneous observations in 5 bands (UBVRI). RS Oph has flickering source with (U-B)_0=-0.62 \pm 0.07, (B-V)_0=0.15 \pm 0.10, (V-R)_0=0.25 \pm 0.05. We find for the flickering source a temperature T_fl = 9500 \pm 500 K, and luminosity L_fl = 50 - 150 L_sun (using a distance of d=1.6kpc). We also find that on a (U-B) vs (B-V) diagram the flickering of the symbiotic stars differs from that of the cataclysmic variables. The possible source of the flickering is discussed. The data are available upon request from the authors and on the web www.astro.bas.bg/~rz/RSOph.UBVRI.2010.MNRAS.tar.gz., 7 pages, MNRAS (accepted)

Results of high- and low-resolution spectral and UBV photometric observations of MWC 560 during 1990 January-October are presented. Strong variations in the star brightness compared with previously published observations are discussed. The presence of flickering activity from the U-band monitoring observations is also noted. The most remarkable features in the spectra obtained during 1990 January-April are the strong violet-shifted Balmer absorption components with velocities of up to ∼ -6000 km/s visible up to about H 20 -H 21

We present projected rotational velocity measurements of the red giant in the symbiotic star MWC 560 (V694 Mon), using the high-resolution spectroscopic observations with the FEROS spectrograph. We find that the projected rotational velocity of the red giant is vsini = 8.2 +/- 1.5 km/s, and estimate its rotational period to be P_rot = 144-306 days. Using the theoretical predictions of tidal interaction and pseudosynchronization, we estimate the orbital eccentricity e=0.68-0.82. We briefly discuss the connection of our results with the photometric variability of the object., AN, accepted

Our aim is to investigate tidal interaction in High-Mass X-ray Binary stars in order to determine in which objects the rotation of the mass donors is synchronized or pseudosynchronized with the orbital motion of the compact companion. We calculate the pseudosynchronization period (P_ps) and compare it with the rotational period of the mass donors (P_rot). We find that (1) the Be/X-ray binaries are not synchronized, the mass donors rotate faster than the orbital period and the ratio P_ps/P_rot is 2-300; (2) the giant and supergiant systems are close to synchronization and for them the ratio P_ps/P_rot is 0.3-2., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, Accepted for publication in Astronomical Notes (AN)

We report on an unprecedented infrared time series of spectra of V1187 Sco, a very fast ONeMg nova. The observations covered a 56 day period (2004 August 6-September 30) starting 2 days after the nova's peak brightness. Time evolution of the spectra revealed changing line strengths and profiles on timescales of less than a day to weeks as the nova evolved from early postmaximum to early coronal phases. When our ground-based optical and Spitzer Space Telescope data were combined, the wavelength coverage of 0.38-36 μm allowed an accurate spectral energy distribution to be derived when it was about 6 weeks after outburst. Developing double structure in the He I lines showed them changing from narrow to broad in only a few days. Using the O I lines in combination with the optical spectra, we derived a reddening of E(B - V) = 1.56 ± 0.08 and a distance of 4.9 ± 0.5 kpc. Modeling of the ejected material strongly suggested that it was geometrically thick with ΔR/R = 0.8-0.9 (more of a wind than a shell) and a low filling factor of order a few percent. The line shapes were consistent with a cylindrical jet, bipolar, or spherical Hubble flow expansion with a maximum speed of about -3000 km s-1. The central peak appeared to be more associated with the spherical component, while the two peaks (especially in Hβ) suggested a ring with either a lower velocity component or with its axis inclined to the line of sight.

We explore the similarities between accreting white dwarfs (CH Cyg and MWC 560) and the much more energetic jet sources - quasars and microquasars. To-date we have identified several common attributes: (1) they exhibit collimated outflows (jets); (2) the jets are precessing; (3) these two symbiotic stars exhibit quasar-like emission line spectra; (4) there is a disk-jet connection like that observed in microquasars. Additionally they may have a similar energy source (extraction of rotational energy from the accreting object). Study of the low energy analogues could have important implications for our understanding of their higher energy cousins., 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in proceedings of Interacting Binaries: Accretion, Evolution and Outcomes, 4-10 July 2004, Cefalu, Sicily, Italy, eds. Antonelli et al

The Liverpool Telescope is a 2.0 metre robotic telescope that is operating unattended at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos, Spain. This paper gives an overview of the design and implementation of the telescope and its instrumentation and presents a snapshot of the current performance during the commissioning process. Science observations are under way, and we give brief highlights from a number of programmes that have been enabled by the robotic nature of the telescope.

We present high S/N spectra of the H-beta region in 17 intermediate redshift (0.85 le z le 2.5) quasars. The spectra represent first results of our campaign to test the redshift/luminosity robustness of the so-called Eigenvector 1 (E1) parameter space as developed for low redshift AGN in Sulentic et al. (2000). The new quasars span the luminosity range -26 ge M_B ge -29 while most of our low redshift sample (n=215) involve sources in the range -19 ge M_B ge -26. The high redshift sources show E1 parameter values and domain occupation that are similar to our low redshift sample supporting earlier findings that E1 parameters are uncorrelated with source luminosity. Elementary accretion theory can account for a systematic increase of the minimum observed H-beta profile width with source luminosity. Narrow line Seyfert 1 sources with M_B = -28 show FWHM(H-beta) as much as 2000 km/s broader than those with M_B = -22. A possible change in the higher redshift/luminosity sources involves systematically weaker [OIII]4959,5007 narrow line emission., Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures, accepted by A&A; added references and minor corrections

We present electro-photometric UBV and high-speed U-band flickering observations of the recurrent nova T CrB during a period when its U brightness varies by more than 2 mag. The V band is dominated by the ellipsoidal variability of the red giant, however, the variability of the hot component also causes 0.15 mag variations in V. We define a set of parameters which characterise the flickering. The Fourier spectra of all 27 nights are similar to each other. The power spectral density of the variations has a power law component (f^{-1.46} on average). We do not detect a dependence of the Fourier spectra and autocorrelation function on the brightness of the object. Having subtracted the contribution of the red giant, we show that the flickering amplitude correlates with the average flux of the accreting component. A comparison with CH Cyg and MWC 560 indicates that the flickering of T CrB is more stable (at least during the time of our observations), than that in the jet-ejecting symbiotic stars. The data are available in electronic form from the authors., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Here we show striking similarities between the emission lines of two accreting white dwarfs with jets (CH Cyg and MWC 560) and the active galactic nuclei (AGN), in spite of the mass difference (a typical black hole in Seyfert galaxies has a mass ∼ 106 – 109 M ⊙ and the accreting white dwarfs ∼ 1 M ⊙). Practically almost every emission line visible in the spectrum of the quasar I Zw 1 (widely used as template for AGN spectra) has corresponding features in the spectra of CH Cyg and MWC 560. An obvious similarity is visible also between the UV spectra.

T Coronae Borealis is a well known interacting binary with orbital period of 227 d. This object fits into three classes of interacting binaries — cataclysmic variables, symbiotic stars as well as recurrent novae. T CrB can be therefore an important clue toward our understanding of the physical processes in interacting binaries [1].

[LaTeX removed] Recent work has shown that it is possible to systematize quasar spectral diversity in a parameter space called ``Eigenvector 1'' (E1). We present median AGN spectra for fixed regions of the E1 (optical) parameter space (FWHM(H-beta) vs. equivalent width ratio RFE=W(FeII4570)/W(H-beta). Comparison of the median spectra for different regions show considerable differences. We suggest that an E1-driven approach to median/average spectra emphasizes significant differences between AGN, and offers more insights into AGN physics and dynamics than a single population median/average derived from a large and heterogeneous sample of sources. We find that the H-beta broad component line profile changes in shape along the E1 sequence both in average centroid shift and asymmetry. While objects with FWHM(H-beta)< 4000 km/s are well fitted by a Lorentz function, AGN with FWHM(H-beta)> 4000 km/s are well fitted if two broad line components are used: a broad (the "classical" broad line component) and a very broad/redshifted component., 1 table + 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJL