Phase variability in the rapid optical oscillations of SS Cygni
High-speed photometry of SS Cygni on four nights during the 1978 September eruption revealed a small-amplitude optical oscillation with period 8.23 s and mean semiamplitude 0.0005 mag on September 21 and period 8.50 s and mean semiamplitude 0.0006 mag on September 23. If the observed periods present orbital periods near the surface of the white dwarf, then the white dwarf mass must exceed 0.92 solar mass. Phase variability of the oscillation is analyzed quantitatively and found to be less than that observed in 1978 June for soft X-ray pulsations from SS Cygni.