Related papers: Helium White Dwarfs in Cataclysmic Variables
Accreting white dwarfs in Cataclysmic variables (CVs) show short-period (tens of minutes) brightness variations that are consistent with non-radial oscillations similar to gravity (g) modes observed in isolated white dwarfs (WDs). GW…
The metal abundances in the atmospheres of hot white dwarfs (WDs) entering the cooling sequence are determined by the preceding Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) evolutionary phase and, subsequently, by the onset of gravitational settling and…
We present high-speed, three-colour photometry of the eclipsing dwarf nova PHL 1445, which, with an orbital period of 76.3 min, lies just below the period minimum of ~82 min for cataclysmic variable stars. Averaging four eclipses reveals…
We show that long-period dwarf novae offer a promising route for making Type Ia supernovae. For typical dwarf nova duty cycles d ~ 0.1 - 0.01, mass is accreted by the white dwarf mainly during dwarf nova outbursts at rates allowing steady…
The recent prediction and discovery of hypervelocity supernova survivors has provided strong evidence that the "dynamically driven double-degenerate double-detonation" (D6) Type Ia supernova scenario occurs in Nature. In this model, the…
Chemical abundances studies of cataclysmic variables have revealed high nitrogen to carbon ratios in a number of of cataclysmic variable white dwarfs (based on ultraviolet emission and absorption lines), as well as possible carbon…
We study the effect of a white dwarf on the spin-down of a cataclysmic variable system using a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic numerical model. The model includes the stellar corona, the stellar wind, and the WD mass and magnetic…
We have known for a long time that many of the measured white dwarf (WD) masses in cataclysmic variables (CVs) significantly exceed the mean mass of single WDs. This was thought to be related to observational biases, but recent…
The nuclear reactions that occur in the stellar progenitors of white dwarfs (WDs) lead to an internal composition of 12C, 16O, and a ``contaminant'' nucleus, 22Ne. The 22Ne is produced by helium captures on 14N left from hydrogen burning…
Accreting white dwarf binaries (AWDs) comprise cataclysmic variables (CVs), symbiotics, AM CVns, and other related systems that host a primary white dwarf (WD) accreting from a main sequence or evolved companion star. AWDs are a product of…
Binaries of two white dwarfs (WDs) are an important class of astrophysical objects that are theorized to lead to Type Ia supernovae and are also used to gain insight into complex processes involved in stellar binary evolution. We report the…
All single stars that are born with masses up to 8.5 - 10 $M_\odot$ will end their lives as a white dwarf (WD) star. In this evolutionary stage, WDs enter the cooling sequence, where the stars radiate away their thermal energy, and are…
Symbiotic binaries are long period interacting binaries consisting of a white dwarf (WD) accreting material from a cool evolved giant star via stellar winds. In this paper we study the symbiotic binary LIN 358 located in the SMC. We have…
In AM CVn binaries, a white dwarf primary accretes material from a helium-rich white dwarf or stellar companion. The unstable ignition of nuclear burning via the $3\alpha$ reaction in an accumulated helium layer powers a thermonuclear…
We have used HST/COS to obtain a series of 4 FUV (915-2148A) spectroscopic observations of the prototypical dwarf nova U Geminorum during its cooling following a two-week outburst. Our FUV spectral analysis of the data indicates that the…
White dwarfs (WDs) can increase their mass by accretion from companion stars, provided the mass-accretion rate is high enough to avoid nova eruptions. The accretion regimes that allow growth of the WDs are usually calculated assuming…
We investigate the evolution of cooling helium atmosphere white dwarfs using a full evolutionary code, specifically developed for following the effects of element diffusion and gravitational settling on white dwarf cooling. The major…
We study the evolution of a system composed by a 1.4 \msun neutron star and a normal, solar composition star of 2 \msun in orbit with a period of 1 day. Calculations were performed employing the binary hydro code presented in Benvenuto & De…
Accretion of mass onto a white dwarf (WD) in a binary system can lead to stellar explosions. If a WD accretes from stellar wind of a distant evolved giant in a symbiotic binary, it can undergo occasional outbursts in which it brightens by…
We present Chandra and Swift X-ray observations of four extremely low-mass (ELM) white dwarfs with massive companions. We place stringent limits on X-ray emission from all four systems, indicating that neutron star companions are extremely…