Secondary Stars in CVs: The Theoretical Perspective
Astrophysics
2009-10-31 v1
Abstract
We apply the new generation of theoretical models of low-mass stars to secondaries in CVs, focussing on systems above the period gap. The models confirm that the spectral type should be a good indicator of the donor mass. The orbital period-spectral type diagram can potentially constrain the long-term mean mass transfer rate. A transfer rate that increases with decreasing period is most easily reconciled with the observational data.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9906449,
title = {Secondary Stars in CVs: The Theoretical Perspective},
author = {Ulrich Kolb and Isabelle Baraffe},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9906449},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
6 pages; to appear in proceedings of Warner Symposium on Cataclysmic Variables