1998AJ....115.1634D

We present an analysis of spectroscopic observations of a newly discovered cataclysmic variable, HS 0551+7241. In 1995, the star's brightness dropped by ΔB ∼ 2.5 mag and HS 0551+7241 entered a low state lasting for ∼2 yr. The Hα, Hβ, and He II λ4686 emission-line radial velocity curves show evidence of short ∼50 minute fluctuations superposed on longer, ∼4 hr, variations. We find similar modulations in the line fluxes and the line equivalent widths. The continuum magnitude light curves suggest that HS 0551+7241 may be an eclipsing system. If the 4 hour period is related to the orbital period, then the mass function is ∼0.138 M_☉. Relatively strong He II λ4686 emission and short fluctuations may suggest that the binary is an intermediate polar. In that case, the ∼50 minute variations would correspond to an Alfvén radius of ∼3x10¹⁰ cm.