VV Puppis in an active phase

The time resolved spectrophotometric and polarimetric observations of VV Puppis, obtained on 1979 June 14 when the system was in a highly active state, are presented and discussed. The spectra show strong variable emission lines of H, He I and He II, characteristic of AM Herculis. Strong evidence for a contribution to the optical continuum from a second accretion column comes from the phase dependence of the continuum energy distribution. Further, broad absorption troughs due to cyclotron absorption are seen in the continuum from the second pole, suggesting a polar field strength of >= 6 x 107 G, higher than the value approximately 3 x 107 G, found previously for the main accreting pole. In this instance no cyclotron absorption features are seen from the main pole. The observed sinusoidal emission line radial velocity variation with phase, with velocity amplitude 2K = 680 km s-1, has been interpreted in terms of a single mass transfer stream directed towards the accreting white dwarf. (author)