HIGH-STATE OBSERVATIONS OF THE ECLIPSING AM HERCULIS OBJECT UZ FORNACIS

We present high-speed optical photometric observations of the eclipsin g AM Her object UZ For that were obtained during 1995 February and Oct ober at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. On both occasions , UZ For was in its high-luminosity state. In 1995 February, UZ had pe ak visual magnitude m(v) approximate to 15.9 +/- 0.1 mag, which is rou ghly 0.5-1 mag brighter than previous reports of its high-state bright ness level. In 1995 October, UZ For had peak magnitude m(v) approximat e to 16.75 +/- 0.25 mag, which is more similar to earlier reports of i ts high-state brightness level. The 1995 February light curves and ecl ipses are different in appearance from those for the lower luminosity states of UZ For reported in the literature. The eclipses are, however , similar to those of other AM Her systems, e.g., they are similar in shape to the eclipses of RE 2107-05 (HU Aqr) and to the ultraviolet ec lipses of UZ For. The significance of the last statement is that in bo th of these systems, the accretion stream contributes a significant fr action of the overall luminosity of the system. In the low-luminosity state of UZ For, the accretion hot spot and the white dwarf photospher e dominate the optical emission. Here, we conclude that in the high-lu minosity state, the accretion stream makes a significant contribution (and sometimes dominates) the optical emission from UZ For.