• Corpus ID: 15186247

The CV period gap: still there

@article{Kolb1998TheCP,
  title={The CV period gap: still there},
  author={Ulrich C. Kolb and Andrew King and H. Ritter Astronomy Group and University of Arizona - Mpa Garching},
  journal={arXiv: Astrophysics},
  year={1998}
}

• U. Kolb, A. King, +1 author U. O. L. M. Garching
• Published 1 May 1998
• Economics
• arXiv: Astrophysics

We consider a recently-proposed alternative explanation of the CV period gap in terms of a revised mass-radius relation for the lower main sequence. We show that no such thermal-equilibrium relation is likely to produce a true gap. Using population synthesis techniques we calculate a model population that obeys the claimed equilibrium mass-radius relation. A theoretical period histogram obtained from this population shows two prominent period spikes rather than a gap. We consider also recent arguments suggesting that the period gap itself may not be real. We argue that, far from demonstrating a weakness of the interrupted-braking picture, the fact that most CV subtypes prefer one side of the gap or the other is actually an expected consequence of it.