Tomography of polars

Proc. Annapolis Workshop on Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables (MCV2), ASP Conf. Ser. in press

Contact: aschwope@aip.de

Preprint of paper (350 kb gzip'ed postscript)

A.D. Schwope [1], R. Schwarz [1], A. Staude [1], C. Heerlein [2], K. Horne [3], D. Steeghs [3]

  1. Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam, An der Sternwarte 16, D-14482 Potsdam, Germany,
  2. Universität Erlangen, Institut für Theoretische Physik II, Erlangen, Germany
  3. Physics and Astronomy, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK

Abstract

We are reviewing the power of Doppler tomography for detailed investigations of polars (magnetic cataclysmic binaries without accretion disk). Using high-resolution spectroscopy in combination with tomography as analytic tool, the structure and extent of the accretion flows and accretion curtains in the binaries can be uncovered and the irradiated and non-irradiated parts of the mass-donating secondary stars can be made visible. In addition we show, how basic system parameters like the binary inclination and the mass ratio can be addressed by tomography.

Key words: Accretion -- stars: cataclysmic variables -- AM Herculis binaries -- Tomography