Recent progress in high resolution X-ray spectroscopy of cataclysmic variables

Cataclysmic variables (CVs) are a rich source of emission lines over the 0.3 to 10 keV (1 to 30 A) range. I will report on recent progres in utilizing these emission lines to probe the conditions of the accretion flow in CVs. X-ray spectra of many CVs can be described as a cooling flow to first order; I will present a detailed analysis of one such system, V603 Aql, and compare the results with that of other systems. Magnetic CVs, on the other hand, often have a much harder X-ray continuum than that of a cooling flow. I will present Chandra HETG spectra of magnetic CVs, AM Her and V1223 Sgr, and discuss the origin of the hard continuum.