A model for the optical high state light curve of AM Herculis

We present a simple quantitative model that can describe the photometric B and V band light curves of AM Herculis obtained during a high state. The double-humped shape of the V band light curve is dominated by cyclotron emission from a region at the main accreting pole with an area of ~$5\times10^{16} \mathrm{cm^2}$ and sustaining an inflow of ~0.06 $\rm g cm^{-2} s^{-1}$. The almost unmodulated B band is dominated by emission from the accretion stream. The contribution of the heated white dwarf to the optical emission is small in the B band, but comparable to that of the accretion stream in the V band. The emission of the secondary star is negligible both in B and in V .