Roche tomography of cataclysmic variables -- III. Starspots on AE Aqr

We present a Roche tomography reconstruction of the secondary star in the cataclysmic variable AE Aqr. The tomogram reveals several surface inhomogeneities that are due to the presence of large, cool starspots. In addition to a number of lower-latitude spots, the maps also show the presence of a large high latitude spot similar to that seen in Doppler images of rapidly-rotating isolated stars, and a relative paucity of spots at a latitude of 40 degrees. In total, we estimate that some 18 per cent of the Northern hemisphere of AE Aqr is spotted. We have also applied the entropy landscape technique to determine accurate parameters for the binary system. We obtain optimal masses of M_1 = 0.74 solar masses, M_2 = 0.50 solar masses, a systemic velocity = -63 km/s and an orbital inclination of i = 66 degrees. Given that this is the first study to successfully image starspots on the secondary star in a cataclysmic variable, we discuss the role that further studies of this kind may play in our understanding of these binaries.