EUVE J1429-38.0 - A NEW MAGNETIC CATACLYSMIC VARIABLE

The source EUVE J1429-38.0 was discovered serendipitously by the Extre me Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) satellite on 1993 March 5. Optical spec troscopy confirms a cataclysmic variable-type optical counterpart for the source, showing Balmer, He I, and Ca emission, as well as strong H e ir emission. The optical spectrum, the apparent high/low state behav ior, and possible weak cyclotron humps visible in the spectrum indicat e that this star is likely to be an AM Herculis system, but the possib ility of being a DQ Her, or an unlocked AM Her system, cannot be exclu ded. Analysis of the highly modulated EUVE photometry yields a period of 2 hr 22 minutes, which we conclude is the binary orbital period. In addition, a 57 minute period is also present. An orbital period of 2. 5 hr would make EUVE J1429-38.0 only the third known AM Her system wit hin the cataclysmic variable period gap, all three of which were disco vered through EUV observations.