Magnetic moment distribution of magnetic cataclysmic variables

• Published in: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 252; no. 3; pp. 386 - 393
• Main Authors: Wu, Kinwah, Wickramasinghe, Dayal T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford University Press 01.10.1991; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Astronomy; Astrophysics; Binary and multiple stars; Cataclysmic binaries (novae, dwarf novae, recurrent novae, and nova-like objects). Symbiotic stars; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Stars; Low mass star; Probability law; Accretion; Magnetic star; Cataclysmic variable star; AM Herculis binary; Intermediate polar; Close binary; White dwarf; Magnetic moment
• ISSN: 0035-8711; 1365-2966
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/252.3.386

We have presented a simulation study or the relative numbers or the AM Herculis binaries and the intermediate polars as a function of the orbital period using random variables subject to suitable constraints to describe the various parameters. We show that the observations can be matched by a single distribution in the magnetic moment μ that is, Gaussian in logarithm space with $\langle \text {log}(\mu/10^{33}\enspace \text{G cm}^{3})\rangle = 0.7 \pm 0.3$. For such an ensemble the intermediate polars are distributed in the $\text{log}(P_\text{orb})-\text{log}(P_\text{s})$ diagram about the critical disc line but with a larger scatter than observed.