Determining the mass of the accreting white dwarf in magnetic cataclysmic variables using RXTE data |
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| Authors: | Gavin Ramsay |
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| Affiliation: | Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT |
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| Abstract: | We have extracted spectra of 20 magnetic cataclysmic variables (mCVs) from the RXTE archive and best 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 evidence that the mass distribution of these mCVs is significantly different from that of non-magnetic isolated white dwarfs, with the white dwarfs in mCVs being biased towards higher masses. It is unclear if this effect is a result of selection or whether this reflects a real difference in the parent populations. |
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| Keywords: | accretion, accretion discs methods: data analysis stars: fundamental parameters novae, cataclysmic variables white dwarfs X-rays: stars |
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