Probing Magnetism in CVs with the SALT
Abstract
The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), and its first generation instrument suite, have unprecedented capabilities for high signal-to-noise and time resolved studies of CVs, including high-speed photometry, spectroscopy, polarimetry and spectropolarimetry. Magnetic CVs, including polars and intermediate polars, are an important class of low luminosity X-ray sources whose study will benefit from such observations by SALT. This paper discusses these possibilities and high-lights some initial results. Emphasis is given to the prospects of polarimetric observations which will lead to a better understanding of the influence of magnetic fields on accretion.
- Publication:
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Variable Stars, the Galactic halo and Galaxy Formation
- Pub Date:
- February 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010vsgh.conf...91B