The Evolution of Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables
Abstract
The authors study the period distribution of magnetic cataclysmic variables (CVs) by computing their secular evolution under different hypotheses. They confirm the suggestion of King, Frank, and Ritter that the distribution of magnetic cataclysmic variables is well explained if they evolve in the same way as nonmagnetic cataclysmic systems, but their magnetic moments lie in the restricted range ≡1033 - 1034G cm3. The authors discuss the synchronization mechanisms and show that the propeller mechanism proposed by Schmidt, Stockman, and Grandi can be very efficient in bringing the white dwarf spin near synchronism with the orbital motion. It is suggested that the cause of the period gap in all CVs is the cessation of the secondary's stellar wind at periods ≡3 hr.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1086/165199
- Bibcode:
- 1987ApJ...316..275H
- Keywords:
-
- Binary Stars;
- Cataclysmic Variables;
- Magnetic Stars;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Dwarf Novae;
- Histograms;
- Secular Variations;
- Synchronism;
- White Dwarf Stars;
- Astrophysics;
- STARS: ACCRETION;
- STARS: BINARIES;
- STARS: DWARF NOVAE;
- STARS: EVOLUTION;
- STARS: MAGNETIC