Open AccessThe short‐period supersoft source in M31
Author(s) -
King A. R.,
Osborne J. P.,
Schenker K.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05173.x
Subject(s) - physics , white dwarf , astrophysics , cataclysmic variable star , accretion (finance) , astronomy , spins , period (music) , intermediate polar , stars , acoustics , condensed matter physics
We show that the recently discovered short period supersoft source in M31 is probably a progenitor of a magnetic cataclysmic variable (CV). The white dwarf spins asynchronously because of the current high accretion rate. However its fieldstrength is typical of an AM Herculis system, which is what it will ultimately become. We discuss the relevance of this system to CV evolution, and its relation to some particular CVs with special characteristics.