Accretion processes in cataclysmic variable stars: insights from optical transient surveys

Cataclysmic variable (CV) stars are binary stars mostly characterised by accretion from a main sequence donor star to a white dwarf star. Multiple CV subclasses exist with varia tions in the nature of the CV, many of which have accretion discs surrounding the accretor. This study focuses on two sub-classes of CVs, namely AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) stars with helium accretion from a (semi-)degenerate helium star or white dwarf donor star, and magnetic CVs, specifically polars, which have the strongest magnetic fields of the accreting white dwarfs in CVs and lack accretion discs. I make use of optical transient surveys to explore individual objects, as well as the global population of polars, with a focus on the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey (CRTS). Follow-up observations were carried out with the 1-m and 1.9-m telescopes and the 10-m Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). Observations of 7 outbursting AM CVn stars with orbital periods ranging from

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Astronomy

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Motsoaledi, Mokhine

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Woudt, Patrick
• Buckley, David
• Warner, Brian

• optical transient surveys

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41096

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41096