The short time-scale light variability of HD 153919 revisited

Using Fourier analysis techniques, the available sets of visual photometric data concerning the X-ray binary HD 153919 are analyzed in order to clear up the controversy on the possible existence or absence of the small-amplitude light variability (T = about 90 min). In this work, great effort has been made to keep a good level of homogeneity and objectivity. The main conclusion is that at the 99.4-percent confidence level, a periodicty (v = 15.5/day) is detected in one data set. In this case, it is possible to conclude that the short time-scale variability does exist. No other self-conclusive detection can be definitely reported; nevertheless, at the 90-percent confidence level, the star has a tendency to vary with characteristic frequencies of about 15/day, 30/day, and possibly higher multiples.