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| Paper: |
Evidence for Precession of White Dwarfs in Cataclysmic Variables |
| Volume: |
372, 15th European Workshop on White Dwarfs |
| Page: |
541 |
| Authors: |
Tovmassian, G.H.; Zharikov, S.V.; Neustroev, V.V. |
| Abstract: |
Cataclysmic Variables (CV) are close binary systems, in which the primary, the more massive star, is a white dwarf. CVs usually exhibit a number of periodicities, most of which are now understood. However, recently, a new phenomenon was discovered that does not fit the standard picture. Two objects have been discovered to show photometric or radial velocity (RV) periods that are much longer than the orbit, and have no relation to it. Here, we show that the precession of the magnetically accreting white dwarf can successfully explain these phenomena. The theory of compact objects predicts certain relations between the spin and precession periods, and our finding provides a good test for the theory and establishes a qualitative model to be explored both theoretically and observationally. Detection of precession can become a powerful tool in searching for the internal properties of these objects, which would be otherwise inaccessible. |
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