The most striking feature of the close binary system AE Aqr is its unique photometric behaviour - irregular alternations of quiet and active phases without noticeable transition periods. Although extensive photometric observations of AE Aqr have been carried out for more than forty years (see Bruch 1991 and references therein), the mechanism of its flaring activity is still poorly understood and the star - although generally classified as a cataclysmic variable - does not fit well into any of the subclasses.

According to us, much insight into this peculiar object can be gained by an investigation of the connections between the flaring activity of AE Aqr and the strictly periodic oscillations at 33s, identified as the spin period of the primary. The latter have been seen in optical (Patterson 1979) and UV light (Eracleous et al. 1994), in X-rays (Patterson et al. 1980) and in TeV γ rays (Meintjes et al. 1992). There are contradictory reports about the relation between their amplitude and the flaring activity in AE Aqr: Patterson (1979) noted that the amplitude of the pulsations increases during active phases, while Eracleous et al. (1994) observed that their characteristics are not strongly affected by the flares.