ROSAT OBSERVATIONS OF RX J1712.6-2414 - A DISCLESS INTERMEDIATE POLAR

We present ROSAT observations of the newly discovered polarized interm ediate polar, RXJ1712.6 - 2414. Whereas the polarimetry establishes th e white dwarf spin period to be 927 s, we show that the X-ray variatio ns occur at the 1003-s synodic (i.e., beat) period. This period is als o sometimes seen in both the optical photometry and the radial velocit ies. New filtered polarimetry of RX J1712.6 - 2414 establishes a stron g wavelength dependence in the circular polarization variations. We ar gue that these new observations support the contention that RX J1712.6 - 2414 is a discless accreting system, and the first clear case among st the asynchronous intermediate polars.