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Claus Tappert |
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"Are Pre-CVs really
Pre-CVs?" |
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The standard theory of the formation and evolution of cataclysmic variables (CVs) implies that the secondary (mass-transferring) component in these systems is a main-sequence star. However, over the last few years convincing evidence has been presented that those stars show anomalous chemical abundances especially concerning the CO bands in the infrared spectral range. This points to the presence of nuclear processed material in the photosphere of the secondary star. In this talk, I will present the results of an infrared study to search for corresponding anomalies in pre-CVs, i.e. detached white dwarf / red dwarf binaries that will eventually evolve into semi-detached CVs, and I will answer the question if these objects really are representative progenitors of the currently observed CV population. |