Context. We present time-resolved spectroscopy and photometry of HS 0218+3229, a new long-period cataclysmic variable discovered within the Hamburg Quasar Survey. It is one of the few systems that allow a dynamical measurement of the masses of the stellar components. Aims. We combine the analysis of time-resolved optical spectroscopy and R-band photometry with the aim of measuring the mass of the white dwarf and the donor star and the orbital inclination. Methods. Cross-correlation of the spectra with K-type dwarf templates is used to derive the radial velocity curve of the donor star. An optimal subtraction of the broadened templates is performed to measure the rotational broadening and constrain the spectral type of the donor. Finally, an ellipsoidal model is fitted to the R-band light curve to obtain constraints upon the orbital inclination of the binary system. Results. The orbital period of HS 0218+3229 is found to be 0.297229661 +- 0.000000001 d (7.13351186 +- 0.00000002 h), and the amplitude of the donor's radial velocity curve is K2 = 162.4 +- 1.4 km/s. Modelling the ellipsoidal light curves gives an orbital inclination in the range i = 59 +- 3 deg. A rotational broadening between 82.4 +- 1.2 km/s and 89.4 +- 1.3 km/s is found when assuming zero and continuum limb darkening, respectively. The secondary star has most likely a spectral type K5 and contributes ~ 80-85% to the R-band light. Our analysis yields a mass ratio of 0.52 < q < 0.65, a white dwarf mass of 0.44 < M1(Msol) < 0.65, and a donor star mass of 0.23 < M2(Msol) < 0.44. Conclusions. We find that the donor star in HS 0218+3229 is significantly undermassive for its spectral type. It is therefore very likely that it has undergone nuclear evolution prior to the onset of mass transfer.
We have used ATLAS12 to generate hydrogen-deficient stellar atmospheres to allow us to construct synthetic spectra to explore the possibility that the donor stars in some cataclysmic variables (CVs) are hydrogen deficient. We find that four systems, AE Aqr, DX And, EY Cyg, and QZ Ser have significant hydrogen deficits. We confirm that carbon and magnesium deficits, and sodium enhancements, are common among CV donor stars. The three Z Cam systems we observed are found to have solar metallicities and no abundance anomalies. Two of these objects, Z Cam and AH Her, have M-type donor stars; much co…
Secondary stars in cataclysmic variables (CVs) follow a well defined period-density relation. Thus, canonical donor stars in CVs are generally low-mass stars of spectral type M. However, several CVs have been observed containing secondary stars which are too hot for their inferred masses. This particular configuration can be explained if the donor stars in these systems underwent significant nuclear evolution before they reached contact. In this paper we present SDSSJ001153.08-064739.2 as an additional example belonging to this peculiar type of CV and discuss in detail its evolutionary history…
Evolution of a long-period Cataclysmic Variable from the viewpoint of the donor star: the case of SDSS J085210.48+783246.6
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México（墨西哥国立自治大学）；Instituto de Astronomía（天文研究所）；INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera（INAF-布雷拉天文台）；International Centre of Supernovae (ICESUN)（超新星国际中心（ICESUN））；Yunnan Key Laboratory of Supernova Research（云南省超新星研究重点实验室）；Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)（中国科学院云南天文台）；University of Warwick（华威大学）；Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María（费德里科·圣玛丽亚技术大学）；Università degli Studi di Padova（帕多瓦大学）
We present high-speed, three-colour photometry of the eclipsing dwarf nova PHL 1445, which, with an orbital period of 76.3 min, lies just below the period minimum of ~82 min for cataclysmic variable stars. Averaging four eclipses reveals resolved eclipses of the white dwarf and bright spot. We determined the system parameters by fitting a parameterised eclipse model to the averaged lightcurve. We obtain a mass ratio of q = 0.087 +- 0.006 and inclination i = 85.2 +- 0.9 degrees. The primary and donor masses were found to be Mw = 0.73 +- 0.03 Msun and Md = 0.064 +- 0.005 Msun, respectively. Thro…
We present measurements of the component masses in 15 Cataclysmic Variables (CVs) - 6 new estimates and 9 improved estimates. We provide new calibrations of the relationship between superhump period excess and mass ratio, and use this relation to estimate donor star masses for 225 superhumping CVs. With an increased sample of donor masses we revisit the implications for CV evolution. We confirm the high mass of white dwarfs in CVs, but find no trend in white dwarf mass with orbital period. We argue for a revision in the location of the orbital period minimum of CVs to $79.6 \pm 0.2$ min, signi…
The detection of heavy elements at suprasolar abundances in the atmospheres of some accreting white dwarfs in cataclysmic variables, coupled with the high temperatures needed to produce these elements requires explosive thermonuclear burning. The central temperatures of any formerly more massive secondary stars in CVs undergoing hydrostatic CNO burning are far too low to produce these elements. Evidence is presented that at least some cataclysmic variables contain donor secondaries that have been contaminated by repeated novae ejecta and are transferring this material back to the white dwarf. …
We present high-speed, multicolour photometry of the faint, eclipsing cataclysmic variable (CV) SDSS J105754.25+275947.5. The light from this system is dominated by the white dwarf. Nonetheless, averaging many eclipses reveals additional features from the eclipse of the bright spot. This enables the fitting of a parameterised eclipse model to these average light curves, allowing the precise measurement of system parameters. We find a mass ratio of q = 0.0546 $\pm$ 0.0020 and inclination i = 85.74 $\pm$ 0.21$^{\circ}$. The white dwarf and donor masses were found to be M$_{\mathrm{w}}$ = 0.800 $…
I report spectroscopy and time-series photometry of the cataclysmic binary CSS J134052.0+151341. The optical light is dominated by the secondary star, which I classify as K4 (+-2 subclasses), yet the orbital period derived from the absorption radial velocities is only 2.45 hr, implying a Roche radius much too small to contain a main-sequence K star. The spectrum shows enhanced sodium absorption in several lines, suggesting that the surface material has been processed at high temperatures. CSS J134052.0+151341 appears to be a rare example of a cataclysmic binary in which the secondary star is t…
We derive metallicities for 41 cataclysmic variables (CVs) from near-infrared spectroscopy. We use synthetic spectra that cover the 0.8 $μ$m $\leq λ\leq$ 2.5 $μ$m bandpass to ascertain the value of [Fe/H] for CVs with K-type donors, while also deriving abundances for other elements. Using calibrations for determining [Fe/H] from the $K$-band spectra of M-dwarfs, we derive more precise values for T$_{\rm eff}$ for the secondaries in the shortest period CVs, and examine whether they have carbon deficits. In general, the donor stars in CVs have sub-solar metallicities. We confirm carbon deficits …
We explore conditions and structure of accretion disks in short-period Cata- clysmic Variables (CVs), which have evolved beyond the period minimum. We show that accretion discs in systems with extreme mass ratios grow up to the size of corresponding Roche lobe and are relatively cool. In contrast, the viscosity and temperature in spiral arms formed as a result of a 2:1 resonance are higher and their contribution plays an increasingly important role. We model such discs and generate light curves which successfully simulate the observed double-humped light curves of SDSS1238, SDSS0804, SDSS1610 …
We present a binary evolution study of cataclysmic variables (CVs) and related systems with white dwarf accretors, including for example, AM CVn systems, classical novae, supersoft X-ray sources, and systems with giant donor stars. Our approach intentionally avoids the complications associated with population synthesis algorithms thereby allowing us to present the first truly comprehensive exploration of all of the subsequent binary evolution pathways that ZACVs might follow (assuming fully non-conservative, Roche-lobe overflow onto an accreting WD) using the sophisticated binary stellar evolu…
We present a new sample of $K$-band spectral observations for CVs: non-magnetic and magnetic as well as present day and pre CVs. The purpose of this diverse sample is to address the recent claim that the secondary stars in dwarf novae are carbon deficient, having become so through a far more evolved evolution than the current paradigm predicts. Our new observations, along with previous literature results, span a wide range of orbital period and CV type. In general, dwarf novae in which the secondary star is seen show weak to no CO absorption while polar and pre-CV donor stars appear to have no…
We present LAMOST J0140355+392651 (hereafter J0140), a close ($P_{\rm orb} = 3.81$ hours) binary containing a bloated, low-mass ($M \approx 0.15 M_{\odot}$) proto-white dwarf (WD) and a massive ($M\approx 0.95\,M_{\odot}$) WD companion. The system's optical light curve is dominated by large-amplitude ellipsoidal variability but also exhibits additional scatter, likely driven by pulsations. The proto-WD is cooler ($T_{\rm eff} = 6800\pm 100$ K) and more puffy ($\log\left[g/\left({\rm cm\,s^{-2}}\right)\right]=4.74\pm0.07$) than any known extremely low mass (ELM) WD, but hotter than any known ca…
We model cataclysmic variables (CVs) with solar metallicity donors ($X=0.7,\:Z=0.02$) that evolve to form AM CVn stars through the Evolved CV formation channel using various angular momentum loss mechanisms by magnetic braking ($\mathrm{AML_{MB}}$). We find that the time-scale for $\mathrm{AML_{MB}}$ in our double-dynamo (DD) model is shorter than that of previously used empirical formulae. Owing to the shorter time-scales, a larger parameter space of initial conditions evolves to form AM CVn stars with the DD model than with other models. We perform an analysis of the expected number of AM CV…
This contribution is focused on the role of cool giants in symbiotic binaries. Especially, we pay attention to their mass-loss rates and the wind mass-transfer onto their compact accretors.
Evolution of cataclysmic variables under different magnetic braking prescriptions
School of Physical Science and Technology, Xinjiang University（新疆大学物理科学与技术学院）；Department of Nuclear Physics and Astronomy, Institute of Engineering Physics, Samarkand State University（撒马尔罕国立大学工程物理学院核物理与天文学系）
We present time-resolved J-band spectroscopy of the short period cataclysmic variable SDSS J143317.78+101123.3. We detect absorption lines from the sub-stellar donor star in this system, which contributes 38 +/- 5% to the J-band light. From the relative strengths of the absorption lines in the J-band, we estimate the spectral type of the donor star to be L2 +/- 1. These data are the first spectroscopic detection of a confirmed sub-stellar donor in a cataclysmic variable, and the spectral type is consistent with that expected from semi-empirical evolutionary models. Using skew mapping, we have …
Using photometric ULTRACAM observations of three new short period cataclysmic variables, we model the primary eclipse lightcurves to extract the orbital separation, masses, and radii of their component stars. We find donor masses of 0.060 +/- 0.008 solar masses, 0.042 +/- 0.001 solar masses, and 0.042 +/- 0.004 solar masses, two being very low-mass sub-stellar donors, and one within 2 sigma of the hydrogen burning limit. All three of the new systems lie close to the modified, "optimal" model evolutionary sequence of Knigge et al. (2011). We briefly re-evaluate the long-standing discrepancy bet…
We present high-speed, three-colour photometry of the eclipsing cataclysmic variables CTCV 1300, CTCV 2354 and SDSS 1152. All three systems are below the observed "period gap" for cataclysmic variables. For each system we determine the system parameters by fitting a parameterised model to the observed eclipse light curve by chi-squared minimisation. We also present an updated analysis of all other eclipsing systems previously analysed by our group. New donor masses are generally between 1 and 2 sigma of those originally published, with the exception of SDSS 1502 and DV UMa. We note that the do…
The majority of cataclysmic variables are predicted to be post-period minimum systems with degenerate donor stars, the period bouncers. Owing to their intrinsic faintness, however, only a handful of these systems have so far been securely identified. We want to study the X-ray properties of two eclipsing period bouncers, OV Bootis and SDSS J103533.02+055158.3, that were selected for this study due to their proximity to Earth. We have obtained XMM-Newton phase-resolved X-ray and ultraviolet observations of the two objects for spectral and timing analysis. Owing to a recent dwarf nova outburst O…
The NSF's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) is used to observe 122 magnetic cataclysmic variables (MCVs) during three observing semesters (13B, 15A, and 18A). We report radio detections of 33 stars with fluxes in the range 6--8031 uJy. Twenty-eight stars are new radio sources, increasing the number of radio detected MCVs to more that 40. A surprising result is that about three-quarters (24 of 33 stars) of the detections show highly circularly polarized radio emission of short duration, which is characteristic of electron cyclotron maser emission. We argue that this emission originates from…
We report the discovery of 1RXH J082623.6-505741, a 10.4 hr orbital period compact binary. Modeling extensive optical photometry and spectroscopy reveals a $\sim 0.4 M_{\odot}$ K-type secondary transferring mass through a low-state accretion disk to a non-magnetic $\sim 0.8 M_{\odot}$ white dwarf. The secondary is overluminous for its mass and dominates the optical spectra at all epochs, and must be evolved to fill its Roche Lobe at this orbital period. The X-ray luminosity $L_X \sim 1$-$2 \times 10^{32}$ erg s$^{-1}$ derived from both new XMM-Newton and archival observations, although high co…
Cataclysmic variable SDSS J143317.78+101123.3 with P=0.054241 d (78.1-min) was suspected to be a possible dwarf nova of WZ Sge type with the sub-stellar donor, but without detected outbursts so far. Checking the newly available data from ATLAS survey has revealed the outburst by at least 6 magnitudes in September 2020, thus confirming the dwarf nova nature of this object with the brown dwarf secondary. Other projects and individual observers have stopped their monitoring of this target several days before the outburst. This finding strengthens the value of observing the twilight zone by the pr…
We present a complete dynamical study of the intermediate polar and dwarf nova cataclysmic variable GK Per (Nova Persei 1901) based on a multi-site optical spectroscopy and $R$-band photometry campaign. The radial velocity curve of the evolved donor star has a semi-amplitude $K_2=126.4 \pm 0.9 \, \mathrm{km}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}$ and an orbital period $P=1.996872 \pm 0.000009 \, \mathrm{d}$. We refine the projected rotational velocity of the donor star to $v_\mathrm{rot} \sin i = 52 \pm 2 \, \mathrm{km}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}$ which, together with $K_2$, provides a donor star to white dwarf mass ratio $…
I review what we know about the donor stars in cataclysmic variables (CVs), focusing particularly on the close link between these binary components and the overall secular evolution of CVs. I begin with a brief overview of the "standard model" of CV evolution and explain why the key observables this model is designed to explain - the period gap and the period minimum -- are intimately connected to the properties of the secondary stars in these systems. CV donors are expected to be slightly inflated relative to isolated, equal-mass main-sequence (MS) stars, and this "donor bloating" has now bee…
The mass-loss rate of donor stars in cataclysmic variables (CVs) is of paramount importance in the evolution of short-period CVs. Observed donors are oversized in comparison with those of isolated single stars of the same mass, which is thought to be a consequence of the mass loss. Using the empirical mass-radius relation of CVs and the homologous approximation for changes in effective temperature T_2, orbital period P, and luminosity of the donor with the stellar radius, we find the semi-empirical mass-loss rate M2_dot of CVs as a function of P. The derived M2_dot is at ~10^(-9.5)-10^(-10) Ms…
Institute of Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences（保加利亚科学院天文学研究所和国家天文台）；Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shumen University ”Episkop Konstantin Preslavski”（舒门大学“埃皮斯科普·康斯坦丁·普雷斯拉夫斯基”物理与天文学系）
We study the formation of ultra-compact binaries (AM CVn stars and ultra-compact X-ray binaries) with emphasis on the surface chemical abundances of the donors in these systems. Hydrogen is not convincingly detected in the spectra of these systems. Three different proposed formation scenarios involve different donor stars, white dwarfs, helium stars or evolved main-sequence stars. Using detailed evolutionary calculations we show that the abundances of helium WD donors and evolved main-sequence stars are close to equilibrium CNO-processed material, and the detailed abundances correlate with the…
The Long-Period Radio Transient and Cataclysmic Variable ASKAP J1745-5051: Evidence for a 15,000 K White Dwarf and a Sub-Stellar Donor
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton（南安普顿大学物理与天文学院）；Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy, Department of Physics, Durham University（杜伦大学物理系河外天文中心）；INAF-Capodimonte Astronomical Observatory（意大利国家天体物理研究所卡波迪蒙特天文台）；Department of Physics, University of Warwick（华威大学物理系）；Institute of Space Sciences (ICE, CSIC)（空间科学研究所（西班牙高等科学研究委员会））；Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC)（加泰罗尼亚太空研究学院）
According to standard evolutionary theory for cataclysmic variables (CVs), angular momentum loss drives CVs to initially evolve from longer to shorter orbital periods until a minimum period is reached (\approx 80 min). At roughly this stage, the donors becomes degenerate, expand in size, and the systems move towards longer Porb. Theory predicts that 70% of all CVs should have passed their minimum period and have sub-stellar donors, but until recently, no such systems were known. I present one CV showing evidence of harbouring a sub-dwarf donor, SDSS J1507+52. Due to the system's unusually shor…
We present time-resolved optical and ultraviolet spectroscopy and photometry of V1460~Her, an eclipsing cataclysmic variable with a 4.99\,h orbital period and an overluminous K5-type donor star. The optical spectra show emission lines from an accretion disc along with absorption lines from the donor. We use these to measure radial velocities, which, together with constraints upon the orbital inclination from photometry, imply masses of $M_1=0.869\pm0.006\,\mathrm{M}_\odot$ and $M_2=0.295\pm0.004\,\mathrm{M}_\odot$ for the white dwarf and the donor. The radius of the donor, $R_2=0.43\pm0.002\,\…
We present a systematic survey for mass-transferring and recently-detached cataclysmic variables (CVs) with evolved secondaries, which are progenitors of extremely low-mass white dwarfs (ELM WDs), AM CVn systems, and detached ultracompact binaries. We select targets below the main sequence in the Gaia color-magnitude diagram with ZTF light curves showing large-amplitude ellipsoidal variability and orbital period $P_{\rm orb} < 6$ hr. This yields 51 candidates brighter than G=18, of which we have obtained many-epoch spectra for 21. We confirm all 21 to be completely -- or nearly -- Roche lobe f…
We reconstruct the evolutionary path followed by cataclysmic variables (CVs) from the observed mass-radius relationship of their donor stars. Along the way, we update the semi-empirical CV donor sequence of Knigge (2006) and present a comprehensive review of the link between CV evolution and donor physics. After calibrating state-of-the art stellar models for use in the CV setting, we fit self-consistent theoretical evolution sequences to the observed donor masses and radii. In the standard model of CV evolution, AML below the period gap is assumed to be driven solely by gravitational radiatio…
We present infrared JHK photometry of the cataclysmic variable SDSS J123813.73-033933.0 (SDSS1238)and analyze it along with optical spectroscopy, demonstrating that the binary system is most probably comprised of a massive white dwarf with Teff=12000+/-1000 K and a brown dwarf of spectral type L4. The inferred system parameters suggest that this system may have evolved beyond the orbital period minimum and is a bounce-back system. SDSS1238 stands out among CVs by exhibiting the cyclical variability (brightenings). These are not related to specific orbital phases of the binary system and are fa…
Purely photometric models can be used to determine the binary parameters of eclipsing cataclysmic variables with a high degree of precision. However, the photometric method relies on a number of assumptions, and to date there have been very few independent checks of this method in the literature. We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the P=90.9 min eclipsing cataclysmic variable OY Carinae obtained with X-shooter on the VLT, in which we detect the donor star from K I lines in the J-band. We measure the radial velocity amplitude of the donor star K2 = 470.0 +/- 2.7 km/s, consistent with pred…
Analysis of a large set of phase-resolved $K$-band spectra of the cataclysmic variable WZ Sge shows that the secondary star of this system appears to be an L-dwarf. Previous $K$-band spectra of WZ Sge found that the CO overtone bandheads were in emission. We show that absorption from the $^{\rm 12}$CO$_{\rm (2,0)}$ bandhead of the donor star creates a dip in the $^{\rm 12}$CO$_{\rm (2,0)}$ emission feature. Measuring the motion of this feature over the orbital period, we construct a radial velocity curve that gives a velocity amplitude of K$_{\rm abs}$ = 520 $\pm$ 35 km s$^{\rm -1}$, consisten…
The orbital periods of most eclipsing cataclysmic binaries are not undergoing linear secular decreases of order a few parts per billion as expected from simple theory. Instead, they show several parts per million increases and decreases on timescales of years to decades, ascribed to magnetic effects in their donors, triple companions, or both. To directly test the triple companion hypothesis, we carried out a speckle imaging survey of six of the nearest and brightest cataclysmic variables. We found no main sequence companions earlier than spectral types M4V in the separation range 0.02" - 1.2"…
While highly evolved cataclysmic variables (CVs) with brown dwarf donors, often called "period bouncers", are predicted to make up $\simeq40-70$ % of the Galactic CV population, only a handful of such systems are currently known. The identification and characterization of additional period bouncers is therefore important to probe this poorly understood phase of CV evolution. We investigate the evolution of the CV QZ Lib following its 2004 super-outburst using multi-epoch spectroscopy. From time-resolved spectroscopic observations we measure the orbital period of the system, $P_\mathrm{orb}= 0.…
We have carried out an extensive population synthesis study of the ensemble properties of the present-day population of cataclysmic variables (PDCVs) that takes into account the nuclear evolution of high-mass donors close to the bifurcation and dynamical instability limits. Assuming the interrupted magnetic braking paradigm, we confirm many of the general features associated with the observed CV population and find enormous diversity in their secular properties. We predict that nearly half of the non-magnetic CVs with Porb > 6 hours are at least mildly evolved (i.e., greater than one-half of t…
Short-period cataclysmic variables (spCVs), with orbital periods below the period gap ($P_{orb}$ < 2 hr), offer insight into the evolutionary models of CVs and can serve as strong emitters of gravitational waves (GWs). To identify new spCV candidates, we crossmatch a catalog of known CVs to sources with robust parallaxes in the Gaia second data release (DR2). We uncover and fit an apparently monotonic relationship between the color--absolute-magnitude diagram (CMD) position and $P_{orb}$ of these CVs, revealed in DR2. To supplement this relation, we develop a method for identifying sources wit…
We present time-series spectroscopy of two short period cataclysmic variables, CC Scl and V2051 Oph, to test the efficiency of Doppler tomography-based methods in constraining orbital parameters of evolved cataclysmic variables. We find that the Ca~II triplet lines offer superior diagnostics, revealing emission components from the mass donors and sharp images of the accretion discs. Furthermore, we use Monte-Carlo methods to estimate the uncertainties from ensembles of Doppler maps. We compare our new methods against traditional radial velocity methods and show that they offer a valid route to…
We used the light curve code XRBinary to model the quiescent K2 light curves of three low-inclination cataclysmic variables (CVs): 1RXS\,J0632+2536 (J0632+2536), RZ\,Leo, TW\,Vir and the pre-CV WD\,1144+011. Optimized light curve models were obtained using a nonlinear fitting code NMfit and visualized by Phoebe 2.0. The disk model of J0632+2536 shows that one hotspot at the edge of the disk is enough to describe its light curve, while the other two dwarf nova (DN): RZ\,Leo and TW\,Vir require two hotspots. A typical pre-CV model with a weak irradiation effect for WD\,1144+011 can explain its s…
AM CVn-type systems are ultra-compact, hydrogen-deficient accreting binaries with degenerate or semi-degenerate donors. The evolutionary history of these systems can be explored by constraining the properties of their donor stars. We present high-speed photometry of Gaia14aae, an AM CVn with a binary period of 49.7 minutes and the first AM CVn in which the central white dwarf is fully eclipsed by the donor star. Modelling of the lightcurves of this system allows for the most precise measurement to date of the donor mass of an AM CVn, and relies only on geometric and well-tested physical assump…
Photometric masses for long period CVs: the case study of CSS131106
University of Ferrara（费拉拉大学）；University of Sheffield（谢菲尔德大学）；Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias（加那利群岛天体物理研究所）；University of Hamburg（汉堡大学）；Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma（俄克拉荷马大学霍默·L·多德物理与天文系）；JILA, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology（科罗拉多大学与美国国家标准与技术研究院联合JILA实验室）
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 bouncers, whose space density has been recently measured to be $ρ\lesssim 2 \times 10^{-5}$ pc$^{-3}$. We performed population synthesis of CVs using an updated version of the Binary Stellar Evolution (BSE) code for single and binary star evolution. We find that the recently suggested empirical prescription of consequential angular momentum loss (CAML) brings int…
Observations of the accretion powered millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 have revealed an interesting binary evolution, with the orbit of the system expanding at an accelerated rate. We use the recent finding that the accreted fuel in SAX J1808.4-3658 is hydrogen depleted to greatly refine models of the progenitor and prior evolution of the binary system. We constrain the initial mass of the companion star to 1.0-1.2 M$_{\mathrm{\odot}}$, more massive than previous evolutionary studies of this system have assumed. We also infer the system must have undergone strongly non-conservative mass tra…
We review our knowledge of the origin and phenomenology of low states (also known as VY Scl states) in cataclysmic variables, making special emphasis on the cataclysmic variable population found just above the period gap. This orbital period range between approximately 3 and 4 hours is the preferred land for the elusive SW Sextantis stars, which are believed to be about to enter the gap when their donor stars become fully convective. Despite their main role in our understanding of the whole picture of cataclysmic variable evolution, the study of their component stars is almost impossible due t…
The white dwarf (WD) mass distribution of cataclysmic variables (CVs) has recently been found to dramatically disagree with the predictions of the standard CV formation model. The high mean WD mass among CVs is not imprinted in the currently observed sample of CV progenitors and cannot be attributed to selection effects. Two possibilities have been put forward: either the WD grows in mass during CV evolution, or in a significant fraction of cases, CV formation is preceded by a (short) phase of thermal time-scale mass transfer (TTMT) in which the WD gains a sufficient amount of mass. We investi…
The space gravitational wave (GW) detector Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) that was planed to launch in the early 2030s is to detect the low-frequency GW signals in the Galaxy. AM CVn stars were generally thought to be important low-frequency GW sources. Employing the MESA code, in this work we calculate the evolution of a great number of binary systems consisting of a white dwarf (WD) and a main sequence (MS) star, and diagnose whether their descendants-AM CVn stars can be visible by the LISA. The simulated results show that the progenitors of these LISA sources within a distance of…
We report near-infrared radial velocity measurements of the recently identified donor star in the high mass X-ray binary system OAO 1657-415 obtained in the H band using ISAAC on the VLT. Cross-correlation methods were employed to construct a radial velocity curve with a semi-amplitude of $22.1 \pm 3.5$ km s$^{-1}$. Combined with other measured parameters of this system this provides a dynamically determined neutron star mass of $1.42 \pm 0.26 M$_{\odot}$ and a mass of $14.3 \pm 0.8 M$_{\odot}$ for the Ofpe/WN9 highly evolved donor star. OAO 1657-415 is an eclipsing High Mass X-ray binary puls…
Intermediate resolution (0.5-1 Angs) optical spectroscopy of the cataclysmic variable SY Cnc reveals the spectrum of the donor star. Our data enable us to resolve the orbital motion of the donor and provide a new orbital solution, binary mass ratio and spectral classification. We find that the donor star has spectral type G8+-2 V and orbits the white dwarf with P=0.3823753 +- 0.0000003 day, K2=88.0 +-2.9 km/s and V sin i=75.5 +- 6.5 km/s. Our values are significantly different from previous works and lead to q=M2/M1=1.18 +- 0.14. This is one of the highest mass ratios known in a CV and is very…
The late stellar evolutionary phases of low and intermediate-mass stars are strongly constrained by their mass-loss rates. The wind surrounding cool evolved stars frequently shows non-spherical features, thought to be due to an unseen companion orbiting the donor star. We study the morphology of the circumbinary envelope, in particular around oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We run a grid of 70 3D hydrodynamics simulations of a progressively accelerating wind propagating in the Roche potential formed by a mass-loosing evolved star in orbit with a main sequence companion. We res…
