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The Secondary Stars in Short Period (Magnetic) Cataclysmic Variables

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Steve B. Howell*
Affiliation:
University of California, Riverside, CA 92521

Abstract

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We review the recent knowledge base pertaining to causes for mass accretion variations (high/low states) in highly magnetic cataclysmic variables (i.e. polars). We then examine what theory has to say about the properties of the secondary stars (the mass donors) with respect to those CVs with very short orbital periods. Finally, we use recent observations of EF Eri in an extended low state to provide direct observational evidence which shows that this CV, as well as a few others, likely contain very low mass, sub-stellar secondary stars.

Type
Part 8. Stellar Components
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2004

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