V/82 Cataclysmic binaries (Ritter+ 1993)

A compilation of cataclysmic binaries with known or suspected orbital periods

Ritter H., Kolb U.

<Max-Planck-Institut fuer Astrophysik, Garching bei Muenchen -- MPA 757 >

<to appear as a chapter in "X-ray Binaries", eds. W.H. Lewin, J. van Paradijs & E.P. van den Heuvel, Cambridge Astrophys. Ser. No 26 ISBN 0-521-41684-1 (in press)>

Description:

This compilation contains the current content (as of 1 September 1993) of the Catalogue of cataclysmic binaries, low-mass X-ray binaries and related objects (previous version: A&AS 85, 1179, catalogue V/59)i, however, regarding only the cataclysmic binaries. Accordingly, this compilation provides the equatorial coordinates, magnitudes, orbital parameters and stellar parameters of the components and other characteristic properties of 231 cataclysmic binaries together with a comprehensive list of references to the relevant recent literature. In addition the compilation contains a list of recent references to published finding charts for 218 of the 231 objects and a cross-reference list of aliases of object designations.

File Summary:

Byte-by-byte Description of file: catalog.dat

Note (1):

Object type is characterized with the following abbreviations:

AC = AM CVn star, does not contain hydrogen, subtype of NL

AM = polar = AM Her system, subtype of NL, contains a synchronously rotating, magnetized white dwarf

CP = coherent pulsator, contains a coherently pulsating white dwarf

DD = system consists of two degenerate components

DN = dwarf Nova

DQ = DQ Her star, contains a non-synchronously rotating magnetized white dwarf

IP = intermediate polar, shows coherent X-ray period from a non-synchronously spinning magnetized white dwarf

N = classical nova of undetermined speed class

NA = fast Nova (decline from max. by 3 mag. in less than about 100 days)

NB = slow nova (decline from max. by 3 mag. in more than about 100 days)

NC = extremely slow nova (typical time scale of the decline from maximum: decades)

NL = nova-like variable

NR = recurrent nova

SH = non-SU UMa star showing either permanent or transient superhumps

SU = SU UMa star, subtype of DN

SW = SW Sex star, subtype of NL

UG = dwarf nova of either U Gem or SS Cyg subtype

UX = UX UMa star, subtype of NL

VY = VY Scl star (anti dwarf nova), subtype of NL

XS = X-ray source

ZC = Z Cam star, subtype of DN

* = object possibly related to the DQ Her stars

Note (2):

visual or B magnitude (when followed by 'B')

Note (3):

Orbital period 1 in case of object types

DQ: the spectroscopic period is given here if it is different from the photometric one.

SU: if followed by *, the orbital period has been estimated from the known superhump period using the empirical relation given by

B. Stolz and R. Schoembs (1984,A&A.132,187)

*: spectroscopic period, photometric period if followed by P.

Note (4):

second orbital period in case of object types

N, NA, NB, NC, NR: orbital period of the prenova, unless the object is also of type DQ or *. In these cases see below.

DQ: the photometric period is given here if it is different from the spectroscopic one.

AM: polarization period (= spin period of the white dwarf), if it is different from the presumed orbital period

SU: superhump period. wherever possible, the superhump period at the beginning of a superoutburst is given.

SH: photometric period, presumably superhump period of either permanent or transient superhumps

*: photometric period.

Note (5):

third and fourth periods in case of object types

CP: periods of coherent pulsation, (transient if followed by T).

DQ: rotation period of the white dwarf (Per3) optical period, (presumably due to reprocessed X-rays) (Per4)

IP: X-ray period (presumably the rotation period of the white dwarf) (Per3) optical period, (presumably due to reprocessed X-rays) (Per4)

The occurrence of transient quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) in objects of type N, DN, NL is indicated by 'Q'

Note (6):

The EB flag takes the values blank no eclipses observed

1 1 eclipse per orbital revolution observed

2 2 eclipses per orbital revolution observed

D periodic eclipse-like DIPS observed

Note (7):

The SB flag takes the values

1 single-lined spectroscopic binary

2 double-lined spectroscopic binary

Note (8):

the number to the right of the slash indicates the luminosity class , i.e.

I = 1

II = 2

III = 3

IV = 4

V = 5

VI = 6

See also:

V/59 : Ritter H., 1990, "Catalogue of cataclysmic binaries, low-mass X-ray binaries and related objects (5th edition)", A&AS 85, 1179

Historical Notes:

* This catalogue was initially copied in May 1994 via ftp anonymous from ibm-3.mpa-garching.mpg.de, directory /pub/cvcat. The original "cat.cb93" file was transformed into a standard table with one line per binary into the file "catalog". The documentation of the "ReadMe" file is mainly taken from the original "descr.cb93" file

(End) Paul Kuin( NASA/ADC) and Francois Ochsenbein [CDS] 11-Oct-1996