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| Paper: |
Observations of Ultra-short Period Double-degenerate WD Binary Candidates |
| Volume: |
334, 14th European Workshop on White Dwarfs |
| Page: |
381 |
| Authors: |
Reinsch, K. |
| Abstract: |
We review the observational evidence for a recently discovered new population of ultra-short orbital period WD binaries and present new results from imaging circular polarimetry and near-infrared photometry obtained with the ESO VLT. We discuss the implications of our results for the three different flavours of the double-degenerate model (polar, direct accretor, electric star) which have been advanced to account for the observational characteristics of these systems. In addition, we compare our observations with the predictions of an alternative interpretation of these systems as face-on, stream-fed intermediate polars. Only one of the three candidate ultra-short period double-degenerate WD binaries, ES Cet with Porb = 10.3 min, meets all characteristics of an AM CVn type system. A double-degenerate WD binary nature of the other two systems, RXJ0806.3+1527 (P = 5.4 min) and V407Vul (P = 9.5 min), must be considered as doubtful. |
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