PolarCat: Catalog of polars, low-accretion rate polars, and candidate objects

Axel D. Schwope

PolarCat: Catalog of polars, low-accretion rate polars, and candidate objects

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics 2025-05-16 v1

Authors: Axel D. Schwope

Abstract

Polars and low-accretion rate polars (LARPs) are strongly magnetic cataclysmic variables. Mediated by the magnetic field of the white dwarf, their spin and binary orbit are (mostly) synchronized. They play an important role in our understanding of close binary evolution and the generation of strong magnetic fields in white dwarfs. Thanks to X-ray all-sky surveys, optical variability, and spectroscopic surveys, the number of polars and LARPs has grown from just a few in the 1980s to more than 200 today. Follow-up studies are facilitated by the systematic compilation of these systems presented here, which is also made available as an online resource. Yearly updates are planned, and community input is highly appreciated.

Keywords

polars low-accretion rate polars cataclysmic variables white dwarf magnetic fields binary evolution X-ray surveys

Cite

@article{arxiv.2505.10337,
  title  = {PolarCat: Catalog of polars, low-accretion rate polars, and candidate objects},
  author = {Axel D. Schwope},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.10337},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

A&A, in press; 6 pages, 6 figures, catalogs available at https://www.aip.de/de/members/axel-schwope/polarcat

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