VY Scl stars are in two respects an extraordinary subgroup of CataclysmicVariables. First, they are located just above the period gap, the most prominentfeature of the orbital period distribution of CVs which indicates theirexceptional evolutionary status. Secondly, VY Scl stars show long lastinglow-states but no dwarf outbursts in their light curves which is still puzzlingin the context of the disc instability model (DIM). The aim of this proposal isto detect the one physical characteristic which relates to both, theevolutionary status of VY Scl stars and the mechanism driving their low-states:the magnetic nature of the accreting white dwarf.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2005-09-28T10:42:28Z/2005-09-28T14:26:04Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Matthias R. Schreiber, 2006, 'Clues for accretion discs and binary evolution from VY Scl stars', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ku4pvbm
