Cataclysmic Variable Primary Effective Temperatures: Constraints on Binary Angular Momentum Loss

Abstract

We review the most decisive currently available measurements of the surface effective temperatures, Teff, of white dwarf (WD) primaries in cataclysmic variables (CVs) during accretion quiescence, and use these as a diagnostic for their time averaged accretion rate, <Mdot>. Using time-dependent calculations of the WD envelope, we investigate the sensitivity of the quiescent Teff to long term variations in the accretion rate. We find that the quiescent Teff provides one of the best available tests of predictions for the angular momentum loss and resultant mass transfer rates which govern the evolution of CVs. While gravitational radiation is sufficient to explain the <Mdot> of strongly magnetic CVs at all Porb, faster angular momentum loss is required by the temperatures of dwarf nova primaries (non-magnetic systems). This provides evidence that a normal stellar magnetic field structure near the secondary is essential for the enhanced braking mechanism to work, supporting the well-known stellar wind braking hypothesis. The contrast in <Mdot> is most prominent for orbital periods Porb > 3 hours, above the period gap, but a modest enhancement is also present at shorter Porb. The averaging time which <Mdot> reflects is as much as 10^5 years for low-<Mdot> systems and as little as 10^3 years for high-<Mdot> systems. We discuss the security of conclusions drawn about the CV population in light of these time scales and our necessarily incomplete sample of systems. Measurements for non-magnetic systems above the period gap fall below predictions from traditional stellar wind braking prescriptions, but above more recent predictions with somewhat weaker angular momentum loss. We also discuss the apparently high Teff's found in the VY Scl stars. (abridged)

17 pages, 6 figures, accepted to the Astrophysical Journal

References in corpus (33)

• The Donor Stars of Cataclysmic Variables
• ULTRACAM: an ultra-fast, triple-beam CCD camera for high-speed astrophysics
• Masses and Radii of Low-Mass Stars: Theory versus Observations
• HS2331+3905: The cataclysmic variable that has it all
• Far-ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables
• New Low Accretion-Rate Magnetic Binary Systems and their Significance for the Evolution of Cataclysmic Variables
• SW Sextantis stars: the dominant population of CVs with orbital periods between 3-4 hours
• A brown dwarf mass donor in an accreting binary
• Classical Novae as a Probe of the Cataclysmic Variable Population
• FUSE and HST/STIS far-ultraviolet observations of AM Herculis in an extended low state
• VLT/FORS spectroscopy of faint cataclysmic variables discovered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
• A Thousand and One Nova Outbursts
• HS2237+8154: On the onset of mass transfer or entering the period gap?
• The accreting white dwarfs in BW Scl, BC UMa and SW UMa
• Barnes-Evans relations for dwarfs with an application to the determination of distances to cataclysmic variables
• Dynamical constraints on the component masses of the cataclysmic variable WZ Sge
• ULTRACAM photometry of the eclipsing cataclysmic variables XZ Eri and DV UMa
• ULTRACAM observations of SDSS J170213.26+322954.1 - an eclipsing cataclysmic variable in the period gap
• The Dwarf Novae During Quiescence
• ULTRACAM photometry of the eclipsing cataclysmic variables GY Cnc, IR Com and HT Cas
• White Dwarf Heating and Subsequent Cooling in Dwarf Nova Outbursts
• The long period Intermediate Polar 1RXSJ154814.5-452845
• HST and Optical Observations of Three Pulsating Accreting White Dwarfs in Cataclysmic Variables
• An in-depth study of the pre-polar candidate WX LMi
• VW Hyi: optical spectroscopy and Doppler tomography
• FUSE Spectroscopy of the White Dwarf in U Geminorum
• GALEX and Optical Light Curves of EF Eridanus During a Low State: the Puzzling Source of UV Light
• The Far Ultraviolet Spectrum of Z Cam in Quiescence
• FUV Spectroscopy of the Dwarf Novae SS Cygni and WX Hydri in Quiescence
• A Spreading Layer Origin for Dwarf Nova Oscillations
• Far Ultraviolet Observations of the Dwarf Novae SS Aur and RU Peg in Quiescence
• A 150MG magnetic white dwarf in the cataclysmic variable RX J1554.2+2721
• A Far Ultraviolet Study of the Hot White Dwarf in the Dwarf Nova WW Ceti

Cited by in corpus (114)

• Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Binaries, Pulsations, and Explosions
• The Evolution of Cataclysmic Variables as Revealed by their Donor Stars
• The Evolution of Compact Binary Star Systems
• Magnetic White Dwarfs
• Post-common-envelope binaries from SDSS. IX: Constraining the common-envelope efficiency
• SDSS unveils a population of intrinsically faint cataclysmic variables at the minimum orbital period
• Post-common-envelope binaries from SDSS. XI: The white dwarf mass distributions of CVs and pre-CVs
• Evidence for the White Dwarf Nature of Mira B
• A Volume Limited Sample of Cataclysmic Variables from $Gaia$ DR2: Space Density and Population Properties
• Physical properties of IP Pegasi: an eclipsing dwarf nova with an unusually cool white dwarf
• Post common envelope binaries from SDSS. XII: The orbital period distribution
• Three in one go: consequential angular momentum loss can solve major problems of CV evolution
• Constraining the Evolution of Cataclysmic Variables via the Masses and Accretion Rates of their Underlying White Dwarfs
• Effective Temperatures of Cataclysmic Variable White Dwarfs as a Probe of their Evolution
• Cataclysmic Variables below the Period Gap: Mass Determinations of 14 Eclipsing Systems
• The evolutionary status of Cataclysmic Variables: Eclipse modelling of 15 systems
• BK Lyncis: The Oldest Old Nova?... And a Bellwether for Cataclysmic-Variable Evolution
• Evidence for reduced magnetic braking in polars from binary population models
• Post Common Envelope Binaries from SDSS. XV: Accurate stellar parameters for a cool 0.4-solar mass white dwarf and a 0.16-solar mass M-dwarf in a 3 hour eclipsing binary
• The space density of magnetic cataclysmic variables
• Detached cataclysmic variables are crossing the orbital period gap
• No cataclysmic variables missing: higher merger rate brings into agreement observed and predicted space densities
• Transient outburst events from tidally disrupted asteroids near white dwarfs
• Magnetic braking saturates: evidence from the orbital period distribution of low-mass detached eclipsing binaries from ZTF
• The shortest period detached white dwarf + main-sequence binary
• X-ray Luminosities of Optically-Selected Cataclysmic Variables and Application to the Galactic Ridge X-ray Emission
• Birth of the ELMs: a ZTF survey for evolved cataclysmic variables turning into extremely low-mass white dwarfs
• Post common envelope binaries from the SDSS. VI. SDSS J120615.73+510047.0: a new low accretion rate magnetic binary
• A He3 driven instability near the fully convective boundary
• Total eclipse of the heart: The AM CVn Gaia14aae / ASSASN-14cn
• Finding the Instability Strip for Accreting Pulsating White Dwarfs from HST and Optical Observations
• Towards a volumetric census of close white dwarf binaries I.Reference samples
• Sporadic radio pulses from a white dwarf binary at the orbital period
• Cataclysmic variable evolution and the white dwarf mass problem: A Review
• SWIFT XRT Observations of the Nova-like Cataclysmic Variables MV Lyr, BZ Cam and V592 Cas
• The evolutionary state of short period magnetic white dwarf binaries
• Enigmas from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR7 Kleinman White Dwarf Catalog
• Orbital periods of cataclysmic variables identified by the SDSS. VI. The 4.5-hr period eclipsing system SDSS J100658.40+233724.4
• HST/ACS Imaging of Omega Centauri: Optical Counterparts of Chandra X-Ray Sources
• SDSS J105754.25+275947.5: a period-bounce eclipsing cataclysmic variable with the lowest-mass donor yet measured
• The cataclysmic variable SDSS J1507+52: An eclipsing period bouncer in the Galactic halo
• Helium White Dwarfs in Cataclysmic Variables
• The helium-rich cataclysmic variable SBSS 1108+574
• LAMOST J0140355+392651: An evolved cataclysmic variable donor transitioning to become an extremely low mass white dwarf
• Period bouncers as detached magnetic cataclysmic variables
• Evidence for mass accretion driven by spiral shocks onto the white dwarf in SDSS J123813.73-033933.0
• CKVul: evolving nebula and three curious background stars
• The luminosity evolution of nova shells -- I. A new analysis of old data
• Distances of CVs and related objects derived from Gaia Data Release 1
• Using Gaussian processes to model light curves in the presence of flickering: the eclipsing cataclysmic variable ASASSN-14ag
• Hubble Space Telescope and Ground-Based Observations of V455 Andromedae Post-Outburst
• A brown dwarf donor and an optically thin accretion disc with a complex stream impact region in the period-bouncer candidate BW Sculptoris
• An X-Ray-dim "Isolated'' Neutron Star in a Binary?
• GW Librae: A unique laboratory for pulsations in an accreting white dwarf
• Analysis of a Kepler Light Curve of the Novalike Cataclysmic Variable KIC 8751494
• The Accreting White Dwarf in SS Cygni Revealed
• Life after eruption - III. Orbital periods of the old novae V365 Car, AR Cir, V972 Oph, HS Pup, V909 Sgr, V373 Sct and CN Vel
• On the absence of nova shells
• Discovery of ZZ Cetis in detached white dwarf plus main-sequence binaries
• A dense $0.1{\mathbf{M}}_{\odot }$ star in a 51-minute orbital period eclipsing binary
• Orbital periods of cataclysmic variables identified by the SDSS. VII. Four new eclipsing systems
• Life after eruption - I. Spectroscopic observations of ten nova candidates
• ASAS J071404+7004.3 -- a close, bright nova-like cataclysmic variable with gusty winds
• A 9-Hr CV With One Outburst in 4 Years of Kepler Data
• The fight for accretion: discovery of intermittent mass transfer in BB Doradus in the low state
• Swift J2218.4+1925: a new hard X-ray selected Polar observed with XMM-Newton
• Neglected X-ray discovered polars: II: The peculiar eclipsing binary HY Eridani
• A Survey of Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Observations of Cataclysmic Variables
• When the disc's away, the stars will play: dynamical masses in the nova-like variable KR Aur with a pinch of accretion
• Dwarf Novae in the Shortest Orbital Period Regime: II. WZ Sge Stars as the Missing Population near the Period Minimum
• V405 Peg (RBS 1955): A Nearby, Low-Luminosity Cataclysmic Binary
• Unveiling the white dwarf in J191213.72-441045.1 through ultraviolet observations
• Formation and Evolution of Accreting Compact Objects
• Life after eruption - II. The eclipsing old nova V728 Scorpii
• Galactic model parameters of cataclysmic variables: Results from a new absolute magnitude calibration with 2MASS and WISE
• Large amplitude variability from the persistent ultracompact X-ray binary in NGC 1851
• Neglected X-ray discovered polars: III. RX J0154.0-5947, RX J0600.5-2709, RX J0859.1+0537, RX J0953.1+1458, and RX J1002.2-1925
• Updated photometry and orbital period analysis for the polar \objectname{am herculis} on the upper edge of the period gap
• A Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Survey of High Declination Dwarf Novae
• A Chandra Survey of Milky Way Globular Clusters II: Testing the Hills-Heggie Law
• A Semi-empirical Mass-loss Rate in Short-period Cataclysmic Variables
• Spectroscopy of the enigmatic short-period cataclysmic variable IR Com in an extended low state
• Discovery of Halpha satellite emission in a low state of the SW Sextantis star BB Doradus
• System parameters of three short period cataclysmic variable stars
• Life after eruption VIII: The orbital periods of novae
• Hubble Space Telescope Ultraviolet Light Curves Reveal Interesting Properties of CC Sculptoris and RZ Leonis
• A parameter study of the eclipsing CV in the Kepler field, KIS J192748.53+444724.5
• Time-resolved Spectroscopy of the Polar EU Cancri in the Open Cluster Messier 67
• BG Tri an example of a low inclination RW Sex-type novalike
• Discovery of a Nova-Like Cataclysmic Variable in the Kepler Mission Field
• Cyclotron emitting magnetic white dwarfs in post common envelope binaries discovered with the Zwicky Transient Facility
• X-ray and ultraviolet observations of the eclipsing cataclysmic variables OV Bootis and SDSS J103533.02+055158.3 with degenerate donors
• Doppler Tomography and Photometry of the Cataclysmic Variable 1RXS J064434.5+334451
• The Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable LSQ1725-64
• Relation between the X-ray and Optical Luminosities in Binary Systems with Accreting Nonmagnetic White Dwarfs
• Sample of Cataclysmic Variables from 400d X-ray Survey
• J1832.4-1627, the first eclipsing stream-fed intermediate polar
• A spectroscopic analysis of the eclipsing nova-like EC21178-5417 -- discovery of spiral density structures
• A magnetic accretion switch in pre-cataclysmic binaries?
• XMM-Newton observations of the low-luminosity cataclysmic variable V405 Pegasi
• Phase-resolved X-ray spectroscopy and spectral energy distribution of the X-ray soft polar RS Caeli
• The C/N ratio from FUV spectroscopy as a constraint upon the past evolution of HS0218+3229
• PTF1 J085713+331843, a new post common-envelope binary in the orbital period gap of cataclysmic variables
• X-ray spectroscopy method of white dwarf mass determination in intermediate polars. External systematic uncertainties
• Resolution of a paradox: SDSS J1257+5428 can be explained as a descendant of a cataclysmic variable with an evolved donor
• The SW Sex-type star 2MASS J01074282+4845188: an unusual bright accretion disk with non-steady emission and a hot white dwarf
• Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Origins Spectrograph Spectroscopy of the Southern Nova-like BB Doradus in an Intermediate State
• Gravity modes on rapidly rotating accreting white dwarfs and their variation after dwarf novae
• SRGe J194401.8+284452 -- an X-ray Cataclysmic Variable in the Field of the Gamma-Ray Source 4FGL J1943.9+2841
• Current and secular accretion rates of EX Hydrae
• The period bouncer system SDSS J105754.25+275947.5: first radial velocity study
• Structure of the accretion flow of IX Velorum as revealed by high-resolution spectroscopy
• OGLE-BLG504.12.201843: A possible extreme dwarf nova
• Confirmation of SRGt 062340.2-265751 as a nova-like cataclysmic variable with a possible magnetic nature