Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2001-01-18
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics, 8 pages, 4 figures
Scientific paper
10.1051/0004-6361:20010176
We show that the disc instability model can reproduce all the observed properties of Z Cam stars if the energy equation includes heating of the outer disc by the mass-transfer stream impact and by tidal torques and if the mass-transfer rate from the secondary varies by about 30% around the value critical for stability. In particular the magnitude difference between outburst maxima and standstills corresponds to observations, all outbursts are of the inside-out type and can be divided into two classes: long (wide) and short (narrow) outbursts, as observed. Mass transfer rate fluctuations should occur in other dwarf novae but one can exclude variations similar to those observed in magnetic systems (AM Her's and some DQ Her's) and some nova-like systems (VY Scl's), in which \dot{M} become very small during low states; these would produce mini-outburst which, although detectable, have never been observed.
Buat-Menard Valentin
Hameury Jean-Marie
Lasota Jean-Pierre
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