The white dwarf mass and orbital period distribution in zero-age cataclysmic binaries

Abstract

A zero-age cataclysmic variable (ZACV) we define as a binary system at the onset of interaction as a cataclysmic variable. We present here the results of calculations of the distributions of white dwarf masses and of orbital periods in ZACVs, due to binaries present in a stellar population which has undergone continuous, constant star formation for 10 10 years. These results differ from previous work (Politano and Webbink 1988) in that an improved criterion for stability against rapid mass transfer by the secondary to the white dwarf has been used. A brief outline of the method and key assumptions made in this calculation is given in Politano and Webbink (1988). The white dwarf mass distribution of ZACVs (shown in Figure 1) contains two components: systems with helium white dwarfs and systems with C-0 white dwarfs. Systems with helium white dwarfs comprise slightly greater than 50% of all ZACVs. The helium white dwarfs have masses which range from 0.27 to 0.46 solar mass. The C-0 white dwarfs have masses which range from 0.54 solar mass up to the Chandrasekhar mass. (Note: systems with O-Ne-Mg white dwarfs are not distinguished from systems with C-0 white dwarfs in this calculation. Presumably, these O-Ne-Mg systems comprise the upper end of the white dwarf mass distribution.)