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Magnetic CV

 

Catalog

MAGNETIC CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES (CVs)

What is a Magnetic CV? Magnetic cataclysmic variables (CVs) are binary star systems that contain a white dwarf with a magnetic field that is strong enough to control the accretion flow from a late type Roche-lobe secondary. Late type secondaries are cooler stars with spectral types such as K and M.
This site contains the catalogue of the known Magnetic CVs.

CLASSIFICATIONS

Each magnetic cataclysmic variable binary (mCV) is categorized as either a polar or an intermediate polar (IP). The polars are further divided the disjoint sub-classes of synchronous polars (P), asynchronous polars (AP), and the low luminosity/pre-polars (LP) also known as Low Accretion-Rate Polars (LARPs).

The intermediate polars are divided into the normal  IPs (IP), the transitional IPs (TIP), and the low-luminosity IPs (LIP). Several polars and intermediate polars have been the site of a novae eruption, designated by N and/or dwarf novae eruptions, designated by DN in the catalog.

The disjoint sets, as defined for this catalog, are described as follows:

This is an observational database with links and detailed information of known Magnetic CVs.

P = Synchronous Polars

These polars have a white dwarf spin period that is equal to the binary orbital period. This is because the white dwarf's magnetic field is strong enough to synchronous the white dwarf's rotation to the binary orbit.

AP = Asynchronous Polars

These polars have a white dwarf spin period that are up to a few percent different (longer or shorter) than the binary orbital period. These are probable only temporary APs as they all are moving towards synchronization.

LP = Low Accretion Rate Polars/ Pre-Polars

These polars show evidence for strong magnetic fields but very low level accretion and some may be evolving to become polars for the first time. The latter are called pre-polars.

IP = Intermediate Polars

The white dwarf magnetic field is not strong enough to disrupt the accretion disk in nearly all of the intermediate polars. The white dwarf spin period often spins much faster than the binary orbital period. This is due to  mass accretion from the disk along the magnetic field lines that results in the spin-up of the white dwarf.

LIP = Low Luminosity Intermediate Polars

These IPs accrete at a much lower rates than the normal IPs.

TIP = Transitional Intermediate Polars

These IPs are undergoing a transition from an IP to a polar. They have white dwarf rotation rates that are not too different than their orbital periods. They are the only IPs to have magnetic fields similar to polars, as measured by polarization and some TIPs, accrete by a stream rather than a disk or combination of a disk and stream.

RRIP =  Rapidly Rotation Intermediate Polars

These IPs are defined as being those with a white dwarf spin period of less than 4 minutes. This makes them potentially related to propeller binaries, especially AE Aqr, which eject much of the material transferred from the donor star out of the binary system, rather than being accreted onto the white dwarf. 

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Name
Other Name
Right Ascension (RA)
Declination (DEC)
Orbital Period (hr)
WD Spin Period (hr)
Distance (pc)
WD Mass (Solar Units)
Magnetic Field (mg)
Optical (V)
Finder Chart
HS Cam
RX J0719.2+6557; 1RXS J071913.4+655734
07h 19m 14.52s
+65° 57’ 44.31”
1.637
1.637
437.95
0.85
18.8
V654 Aur
SDSSp J072910+365838; AAVSO 0722+37
07h 29m 10.69s
+36° 58’ 38.24”
2.496
2.496
1344.46
20.0
J0733+2619
RXS J073346.0+261933; SDSS J073346.27+261926.2
07h 33m 46.27s
+26° 19’ 26.30”
3.202
3.202
1334.44
18.3
J0749-0549
RX J0749.1-0549; 1RXS J074909.8-054933
07h 49m 10.40s
-05° 49’ 25.46”
3.672
3.672
1218.39
0.85
43.5
17.9
EU Lyn
SDSS J075240.45+362823.2; 2XMM J075240.4+362822
07h 52m 40.45s
+36° 28’ 23.22”
2.736
2.736
631.54
20.0
V516 Pup
RX J0803-4748; 2MASS J08034562-474844
08h 03m 45.60s
-47° 48’ 44.15”
2.285
2.285
456.36
39
18.2
J0810+0024
CSS J0810+0024; CRTS CSS100108 J081031+002429
08h 10m 30.61s
+00° 24’ 28.50”
1.936
1.936
1830.91
20.0
VV Pup
1E 0812-1854; 1RXS J081506.7-190310
08h 15m 06.80s
-19° 03’ 17.77”
1.674
1.674
135.26
0.73
56, 31.5
16.0
EG Lyn
1RXS J082051+493433; RBS 0696
08h 20m 51.08s
+49° 34’ 31.79”
1.656
1.656
870.38
20.3
J0837+3830
SDSS J083751.00+383012.5, CRTS J083750.9+383013
08h 37m 51.01s
+38° 30’ 12.59”
3.18
3.18
1066.13
65
18.9
J0838-2827
1RXS J083842.1-282723; DWV2017 J0838.8 X1
08h 38m 43.35s
-28° 27’ 01.14”
1.64
1.58
156
17.7
J0846+2453
SDSS J084617.11+245344.1; CRTS J084617.1+245343
08h 46m 17.11s
+24° 43’ 44.09”
4.64
4.51
1232.49
18.8
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