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arXiv · 1808.08170

On the M_V -- Inclination Relationship for Nova-like Variables

Steve B. Howell·Elena Mason
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Abstract

Using a sample of Nova-like stars from the Ritter and Kolb catalog, we examine the relationship between their Gaia determined absolute magnitude and the inclination of the binary system. Webbink et al. (1987) derived a relationship between these two variables that provides a good fit and allows differentiation between $\dot{M}$ (and possibly M_{WD}) as a function of inclination. We show that the spread in M_V, at a given i, is dominated by the mass transfer rate with only a small dependence on the white dwarf mass. The validated relation shows that present-day theoretical population studies of cataclysmic variables as well as model fits to observational data yield mass transfer rates and white dwarf masses consistent with the Gaia derived M_V for the nova-like stars.

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Steve B. Howell, Elena Mason. 2018-08-24. On the M_V -- Inclination Relationship for Nova-like Variables. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881%2Faadd13

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