Observations and Interpretation of Cataclysmic Variables

Abstract

AbstractRecent observations pertaining to the structure of cataclysmic variables (CVs) are reviewed. Detection of X-rays from CVs, and their behaviour during outbursts, has opened new possibilities of studying the innermost regions of accretion discs. Studies of rapid oscillations continue to be an important source of information (and problems) on the white dwarf and accretion disc.Several major reviews of the properties of cataclysmic variables have appeared in recent years (Gorbatsky 1975; Warner 1976; Robinson 1976; Wolf 1977; Payne-Gaposchkin 1977a, b; Mallama and Trimble 1978; Gallagher and Starrfield 1978) so there would be no justification at this date in another survey of the entire field of CVs. This review is therefore confined to a discussion of some of the recent observations and their relevance to the problems of understanding the structure and mechanisms in novae and related stars. I have omitted AM Herculis stars as they are discussed by Tapia later in this Conference.