Nova V1425 Aquilae 1995: the early appearance of accretion processes in an intermediate polar candidate

Continuous CCD photometry of Nova Aquilae 1995 has been performed through the standard B, V, R and I filters during three nights in 1995 and with the I filter during 18 nights in 1996. The power spectrum of the 1996 data reveals three periodicities in the light curve: 0.2558, 0.06005 and 0.079 d, with peak-to-peak amplitudes of about 0.012, 0.014 and 0.007 mag respectively. The two shorter periods are absent from the power spectrum of the 1995 light curve, while the long one is probably already present in the light curve of that year. We propose that V1425 Aql should be classified as an intermediate polar cataclysmic variable. Accordingly, the three periods are interpreted as the orbital period of the underlying binary system, the spin period of the magnetic white dwarf and the beat period between them. Our results suggest that, no later than 15 months after the outburst of the nova, accretion processes are taking place in this stellar system. Matter is being transferred from the cool component, most likely through an accretion disc and via accretion columns on to the magnetic poles of the hot component.