The mass spectrum of the white dwarfs in cataclysmic binaries

Details The mass spectrum of the white dwarfs in cataclysmic binaries The mass spectrum of the white dwarfs in cataclysmic binaries

Jun 1985

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1985esasp.236...17r&link_type=abstract

In ESA Recent Results on Cataclysmic Variables p 17-20 (SEE N86-20287 10-93)

Physics

4

Cataclysmic Variables, Mass Spectra, Stellar Evolution, White Dwarf Stars, Space Observations (From Earth), Star Distribution, Stellar Gravitation, Stellar Models, Stellar Spectra

Scientific paper

Using a simple model for the secular evolution of cataclysmic binaries, the extent to which observations would select in favor of massive white dwarfs was investigated. Results show that the selection effect is strong enough to account for the high mean white dwarf mass observed, and that the intrinsic mass spectrum of the white dwarfs in cataclysmic binaries need not be significantly different from that of single white dwarfs. The main reason for the strong selection is found to be the strong dependence on mass of the white dwarf's gravitational potential. Only a very small fraction of the population of cataclysmic binaries is actually observed. Accordingly, the true space density of these objects must be much higher than inferred from observations.

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