Investigating the Mean Temperature of Accretion Disks and Mass Transfer Rates in Cataclysmic Variable Stars Through Orbital Characteristics

Abstract

Cataclysmic variable (CV) stars, characterized by their dynamic binary systems composed of a white dwarf and a donor red dwarf star, exhibit intricate mass transfer processes crucial for understanding their evolutionary pathways. This study delved into the theoretical investigation of mass transfer processes occurring within nonmagnetic

CV stars analyzing their orbital characteristics. A selection of eleven CV systems, encompassing a diverse range of subcategories, were chosen for the analysis of this research. Well-established Fourier and LombScargle

algorithms were utilized to identify the most effective algorithm in determining the periodicity of their light curves. The calculated orbital periods for the aforementioned CV sample were then leveraged to determine the mean temperature of their accretion disks. This determination was achieved through established techniques which used spectroscopic Balmer emission lines and Stromgren photometric observations. These techniques provide robust measurements of the physical properties of accretion disks within CVs. Finally, a strong correlation was established between mean temperature of the disk which determined through spectroscopic method and system’s mass transfer rate which determined via various techniques and algorithms.