| Description |
Spitzer and IRAS observations have shown that cataclysmic variables (CVs) are sources of mid/far-infrared emission. While the excesses detected by Spitzerhave been attributed to circumbinary disks (CB), as currently envisioned, such disks could not be reponsible for the IRAS detections. If due to dust, the IRAS detections imply much more extended CB disks then previously proposed, or perhaps, dust shells ejected by ancient classical novae eruptions. Alternatively, the Spitzer and IRAS detections may be due to synchrotron emission from these objects. Recent Spitzer and radio observations have now confirmed that CVs are synchrotron sources. If most CVs are synchrotron sources, this would solve the mystery of the unexpectedly large IRAS detection rate for CVs. Both CB disks and synchrotron emission can provide additional sources of angular momentum loss. Currently, there is considerable debate in the CV community over whether the commonly invoked mechanisms for momentum loss are sufficient to explain CV evolution. If most CVs have CB disks or synchrotron jets, they could provide the additional angular momentum loss required to keep CVs contact binaries. We propose to conduct a small survey spanning the major subclasses of CVs. All eight targets have mid/far-infrared excesses. Our program requires 7.0 hr of Herschel time. |
