We present a long-term study of the secondary star in the cataclysmic variable AE Aqr , using Roche tomography to indirectly image starspots on the stellar surface spanning 8 years of observations .
The 7 maps show an abundance of spot features at both high and low latitudes .
We find that all maps have at least one large high-latitude spot region , and we discuss its complex evolution between maps , as well as its compatibility with current dynamo theories .
Furthermore , we see the apparent growth in fractional spot coverage , f _ { \mathrm { s } } , around 45 \degr latitude over the duration of observations , with a persistently high f _ { \mathrm { s } } near latitudes of 20 \degr .
These bands of spots may form as part of a magnetic activity cycle , with magnetic flux tubes emerging at different latitudes , similar to the ‘ butterfly ’ diagram for the Sun .
We discuss the nature of flux tube emergence in close binaries , as well as the activity of AE Aqr in the context of other stars .