The X-ray pulse profile of BG CMi

We present an analysis of the X-ray data of a magnetic cataclysmic variable, BG CMi, obtained with ROSAT in March 1992 and with ASCA in April 1996. We show that four peaks clearly exist in the X-ray pulse profile, unlike a single peak found in the optical profile. The fluxes of two major pulses are ∼2–5 times larger than those of two minor pulses. The fraction of the total pulsed flux increases from 51% to 85% with increasing energy in 0.1–2.0 keV, whereas it decreases from 96% to 22% in 0.8–10 keV. We discuss the implications of our findings for the origin of the pulse profile and its energy dependence.