Related papers: The evolutionary status of Cataclysmic Variables: …
Period bouncers are cataclysmic variables (CVs) that have evolved past their orbital period minimum. The strong disagreement between theory and observations of the relative fraction of period bouncers is a severe shortcoming in the…
We derive metallicities for 41 cataclysmic variables (CVs) from near-infrared spectroscopy. We use synthetic spectra that cover the 0.8 $\mu$m $\leq \lambda \leq$ 2.5 $\mu$m bandpass to ascertain the value of [Fe/H] for CVs with K-type…
AM CVn stars are ultra-compact semi-detached binaries consisting of a white dwarf primary and a hydrogen-depleted secondary. In this paper we present spectroscopic and photometric results of 15 transient sources pre-classified as AM CVn…
We have discovered a new high proper motion cataclysmic variable (CV) in the SUPERBLINK proper motion survey, which is sensitive to stars with proper motions greater than 40 mas/yr. This CV was selected for follow-up observations as part of…
CSS1603+19 is a cataclysmic variable (CV) with an orbital period of 81.96 min, near the minimal period of cataclysmic variables. It is unusual in having a strong mid-infrared excess inconsistent with thermal emission from a brown dwarf…
We report the discovery of two new magnetic cataclysmic variables with brown dwarf companions and long orbital periods ($P_{\rm orb}=95\pm1$ and $104\pm2$ min). This discovery increases the sample of candidate magnetic period bouncers with…
The predicted and observed space density of cataclysmic variables (CVs) have been for a long time discrepant by at least an order of magnitude. The standard model of CV evolution predicts that the vast majority of CVs should be period…
In order to determine the spatial distribution, Galactic model parameters and luminosity function of cataclysmic variables (CVs), a $J$-band magnitude limited sample of 263 CVs has been established using a newly constructed…
The 2dF QSO survey is a spectroscopic survey of 48,000 point-sources selected by colour with magnitudes in the range 18.35 < B < 20.95. Amongst QSOs, white dwarfs, narrow-line galaxies and other objects are some cataclysmic variables (CVs).…
We present the photometric results of the eclipsing cataclysmic variable (CV) WZ Sge near the period minimum ($P_{min}$). Eight new mid-eclipse times were determined and the orbital ephemeris was updated. Our result shows that the orbital…
The evolution of Cataclysmic Variables (CVs) is driven by period-changes ($\dot{P}$), for which the long-venerable consensus is the Magnetic Braking Model (MBM). The MBM has its only distinctive assumption being a power-law `recipe'…
The discrepancies between observations and theoretical predictions of cataclysmic variables (CVs) suggest that there exists unknown angular momentum loss mechanism(s) besides magnetic braking and gravitational radiation. Mass loss due to…
We present follow-up spectroscopy of 21 cataclysmic variables (CVs) with evolved secondaries and ongoing or recently-terminated mass transfer. Evolutionary models predict that the secondaries should have anomalous surface abundances owing…
The population synthesis of cataclysmic variables below the period is investigated. A grid of detailed binary evolutionary sequences has been calculated and included in the simulations to take account of additional angular momentum losses…
We present time resolved CCD photometry of 15 cataclysmic variables (CVs) identified by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The data were obtained as part of the 2004/05 International Time Programme on La Palma. We discuss the morphology…
We report the results of a statistical study of cyclical period changes in cataclysmic variables (CVs). Assuming the third-body hypothesis as the cause of period changes, we estimate the third-body mass, $m_3$, and its separation from the…
We have extracted spectra of 20 magnetic Cataclysmic Variables (mCVs) from the RXTE archive and fitted them using the X-ray continuum method of Cropper et al to determine the mass of the accreting white dwarf in each system. We find…
The average white dwarf (WD) masses in cataclysmic variables (CVs) have been measured to significantly exceed those of single WDs, which is the opposite of what is theoretically expected. We present the results of binary population…
Context. Cataclysmic variables with degenerate donors which have evolved past the period minimum, also known as period-bouncers, are predicted to make up a great portion of the cataclysmic variable population, between 40 and 70 percent.…
We apply population synthesis techniques to calculate the present day number of two types of white dwarf-main sequence star (WDMS) binaries within the cataclysmic variable period gap. The first are post-common envelope binaries with…