RITTERCV - Ritter Cataclysmic Binaries Catalog (7th Edition, Rev. 7.21)

Overview

This HEASARC database table contains information on cataclysmic binaries only, as taken from the Catalog of Cataclysmic Binaries, Low-Mass X-ray Binaries, and Related Objects (7th Edition, Release 7.21, March 2014) of Ritter & Kolb. The complete catalog lists coordinates, apparent magnitudes, orbital parameters, stellar parameters of the components, and other characteristic properties of 1166 cataclysmic binaries, 105 low-mass X-ray binaries, and 500 related objects with known or suspected orbital periods. The HEASARC has for simplicity split this catalog into three Browse database tables, one for each class of objects: the present table (RITTERCV) containing the cataclysmic binaries' data, a second one (RITTERLMXB) containing the low-mass X-ray binaries' data, and a third one (RITTERRBIN) containing the related binaries' data. The literature published before 1 January 2014 has, as far as possible, been taken into account.

Cataclysmic binaries are semi-detached binaries consisting of a white dwarf (or a white dwarf precursor) primary and a low-mass secondary which is filling its critical Roche lobe. The secondary is not necessarily unevolved, it may even be a highly evolved star, as, for example, in the case of the AM CVn-type stars.

Catalog Bibcode

2003A&A...404..301R

References

Catalogue of cataclysmic binaries, low-mass X-ray binaries
and related objects (7th Edition, Release 7.21, March 2014)
     Ritter H., Kolb U.
    <Astron. Astrophys. 404, 301 (2003)>
    =2003A&A...404..301R

Provenance

This table was last updated by the HEASARC in April 2014 based on the cbdata.dat file from the CDS Catalog B/cb.

Parameters

Name
The name of the cataclysmic binary. Wherever possible, the designation of the object given in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) is used.

Alt_Name
A frequently used alternative name of the cataclysmic binary.

RA
The Right Ascension in the specified equinox. The RA was given in the J2000 equinox in the originating table, to a precision of 0.1 seconds of time, except for a handful of entries for which the precision was 1 second of time or even 1 minute of time.

Dec
The Declination in the specified equinox. The declination was given in the J2000 equinox in the originating table, to a precision of 1 arcsecond, except for a handful of entries for which the precision was only 1 arcminute.

LII
The Galactic Longitude of the object.

BII
The Galactic Latitude of the object.

Acc_Pos
The estimated accuracy of the position in arcseconds. If the positional error is larger than 9 arcseconds, this field is left blank. The letter 'P' indicates an object with a large proper motion.

Type1
The object type as coarsely characterized using the following abbreviations:

      AC = AM CVn star, spectrum devoid of hydrogen lines, subtype of NL
      AM = polar = AM Her system, subtype of NL, contains a synchronously
           or nearly synchronously rotating, magnetized white dwarf
      AS = subtype of AM, with a slowly asynchronously rotating, magnetized
           white dwarf
      BD = secondary star is a brown dwarf
      CP = coherent pulsator, contains a coherently pulsating white dwarf
      CV = cataclysmic variable of unspecified subtype
      DA = non-magnetic direct accretor
      DN = dwarf nova
      DQ = DQ Her star, contains a non-synchronously rotating, magnetized
           white dwarf; usually not seen in X-rays
      EG = extragalactic source
      ER = ER UMa star = SU UMa star with an extremely short supercycle
      GC = source in a globular cluster
      GW = contains a pulsating white dwarf of the GW Vir = PG 1159-035 type
      IP = intermediate polar, shows coherent X-ray period from a
           non-synchronously spinning, magnetized white dwarf; usually a
           strong X-ray source
      LA = low accretion rate polar (LARP), i.e. a somewhat detached magnetic
           CV/pre-CV
      LI = low-accretion rate intermediate polar (LARIP), i.e. a somewhat
           detached magnetic CV/pre-CV
      N  = classical nova
      Na = fast nova (decline from max. by 3mag in less than about 100days)
      Nb = slow nova (decline from max. by 3mag in more than about 100days)
      Nc = extremely slow nova (typical time scale of the decline from
           maximum: decades)
      NL = nova-like variable
      Nr = recurrent nova
      NS = system showing negative (nodal) superhumps
      PW = precessing white dwarf
      SH = non-SU UMa star showing either permanent or transient positive
           (apsidal) superhumps
      SS = supersoft X-ray source; CV with stationary hydrogen burning on
           the white dwarf
      SU = SU UMa star, subtype of DN
      SW = SW Sex star, subtype of NL
      UG = dwarf nova of either U Gem or SS Cyg subtype
      UL = ultra-luminous X-ray source
      UX = UX UMa star, subtype of NL
      VY = VY Scl star (anti dwarf nova), subtype of NL
      WZ = WZ Sge star = SU UMa star with an extremely long supercycle
      ZC = Z Cam star, subtype of DN
      ZZ = white dwarf shows ZZ Ceti-type pulsations

Type1_Flag
An uncertainty flag ('?' or ':') for the object type parameter Type1.

Type2
The object type as coarsely characterized using the same abbreviations as for the parameter Type1.

Type2_Flag
An uncertainty flag ('?' or ':') for the object type parameter Type2.

Type3
The object type as coarsely characterized using the same abbreviations as for the parameter Type1.

Type3_Flag
An uncertainty flag ('?' or ':') for the object type parameter Type3.

Type4
The object type as coarsely characterized using the same abbreviations as for the parameter Type1.

Type4_Flag
An uncertainty flag ('?') for the object type parameter Type4.

Lim_Mag1
A limit flag ('>' or '<') for the magnitude parameter Mag1.

Mag1
The apparent V (or B, b, g, R, I, or other, if so specified) magnitude at maximum brightness of

            novae (N,Na,Nb,Nc,Nr) in minimum
            DN    (UG,ZC,SU)      in minimum
            NL    (UX,AC)         in normal state
            NL    (DQ,IP,AM,VY)   in high state
            SS                    in high state.

Mag1_Flag
This can be either an uncertainty flag for the parameter Mag1 (':') or an indicator that Mag1 is the apparent B, b, g, R, F, i, I, J, j, K, p, r, or w ("white light") magnitude rather than the apparent V magnitude.

Lim_Mag2
A limit flag ('>' or '<') for the magnitude parameter Mag2.

Mag2
The apparent V (or B, b, g, R, i, I, K, p, or w, if so specified) magnitude, in case of eclipses, at mid-eclipse, of

            novae (N,Na,Nb,Nc,Nr) in minimum
            DN    (UG,ZC,SU)      in minimum
            NL    (UX,AC)         in normal state
            NL    (DQ,IP,AM,VY)   in high state
            SS                    in high state.

Mag2_Flag
This can be either an uncertainty flag for the parameter Mag2 ('?' or ':') or, if set to 'B', 'b', 'g', 'R', 'r', 'i', 'I', 'K', 'p', or 'w' (for white light), it is an indicator that Mag2 is the apparent magnitude in the corresponding band, rather than the apparent V magnitude.

Lim_Mag3
A limit flag ('>' or '<') for the magnitude parameter Mag3.

Mag3
The apparent V (or B, g or R, if so specified) magnitude at maximum brightness of

            novae (N,Na,Nb,Nc,Nr) in outburst
            DN    (UG,ZC)         in outburst
            DN    (SU)            in normal outburst
            DN    (WZ)            in echo outburst
            NL    (AM,VY)         in low state
            NL    (DQ,IP)         in low state
            SS                    in low state.

Mag3_Flag
This can be either an uncertainty flag for the parameter Mag3 ('?' or ':') or, if set to 'B', 'b', 'g', 'p', 'R', 'r', 'I', or 'w', an indicator that Mag3 is the apparent magnitude in the quoted band, rather than the apparent V magnitude.

Lim_Mag4
A limit flag ('>' or '<') for the magnitude parameter Mag4.

Mag4
The apparent V (or B or R or p, if so specified) magnitude of

            DN    (ZC)            in standstill
            DN    (SU)            in superoutburst
            WZ                    in superoutburst
            NL    (DQ,IP)         in flaring state or outburst
            NL    (AM,VY)         in low state,

or at minimum brightness of

            NL    (AM,VY)         in low state
            SS                    in low state.

Mag4_Flag
This can be either an uncertainty flag for the parameter Mag4 ('?' or ':') or, if set to 'B', 'g', 'R', 'U', 'I', 'p', 'w', or 'r', an indicator that Mag4 is the apparent magnitude in the quoted band, rather than the apparent V magnitude.

Interval
The time interval, in days, between outbursts, defined thus:

            - for dwarf novae of subtype UG or ZC: the typical time interval
              between two subsequent outbursts;
            - for dwarf novae of subtype SU or WZ: the typical time interval
              between two subsequent normal outbursts.

Interval2
The time interval, in days, between outbursts, defined thus:

            - for dwarf novae of subtype UG or ZC: the typical time interval
              between two subsequent outbursts;
            - for dwarf novae of subtype SU or WZ: the typical time interval
              between subsequent superoutbursts.

Orbital_Period
The orbital period, in days; in the case of objects of type DQ this is taken to be the spectroscopic period, if it is different from the photometric one.

Orbital_Period_Flag
This is a flag for the orbital period, which is set to ':' if the period is uncertain, or set to 'E' if, in the case of objects of type SU, the orbital period has been estimated from the known superhump period using the empirical relation given by B. Stolz and R. Schoembs (1984A&A...132..187S).

Period2
The second period, in days. This is, in the case of objects of type:

           DQ or IP: the photometric period if it is different from the
                     spectroscopic one
           AM: the polarization period = spin period of the white dwarf, if
                     different from the presumed orbital period (subtype AS)
           SU: the superhump period, wherever possible, at the beginning of a
                     superoutburst
           SH: the photometric period, superhump period of either permanent or
                     transient superhumps if Period > Orbital_Period
           NS: photometric period, period of either permanent or transient
               negative superhumps if Period < Orbital_Period

Period2_Flag
An uncertainty flag for Period2 (the second period).

Period3
? An additional period in the system, in seconds. This is, in the case of objects of type:

           CP: the period of coherent pulsation, (transient if the value of the
               parameter Period3_Flag ='T')
           DQ: the spin period of the white dwarf
           IP: the spin period of the white dwarf, usually detected in X-Rays
           SW: probably the spin period of the white dwarf

Period3_Flag
A flag for the period3 parameter. The flag takes the values:

           ':' uncertainty flag
           'T' indicating transient pulsations
           'Q' indicating the occurrence of quasi- periodic oscillations (QPO)
               in objects of type N, DN, NL.

Period4
An additional period in the system, in seconds. This is, in the case of objects of type:

           CP: a second period of coherent pulsation, (transient if
               period4_flag = 'T')
           DQ: an additional period, presumably due to reprocessed X-Rays
           IP: an additional period, usually seen in the optical and presumably
               due to reprocessed X-Rays.

Period4_Flag
A flag for the period4 parameter. The flag takes the values:

           ':' uncertainty flag
           'T' indicating transient pulsations

Eclipse
A flag indicating the occurrence of eclipses as follows:

            =  : (blank) no eclipses observed.
            =1 : 1 eclipse per orbital revolution observed.
            =2 : 2 eclipses per orbital revolution observed.
            =D : periodic eclipse-like dips observed.

This flag may be appended with either '?' or ':' to indicate uncertainty.

SB
A flag specifying the type of spectroscopic binary as follows:

           SB=1: single-line spectroscopic binary
           SB=2: double-line spectroscopic binary

This flag may be appended with a ':' to indicate uncertainty.

Spect_Type_2
The spectral type of the secondary given in the format of [Spectral class/Luminosity class], where the usual roman numerals for the latter are replaced by the corresponding Arabic numerals, i.e. I = 1, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4, V = 5, VI = 6.

Spect_Type_1
The spectral type of the primary given in the format of [Spectral class/Luminosity class], where the usual roman numerals for the latter are replaced by the corresponding Arabic numerals, i.e. I = 1, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4, V = 5, VI = 6.

Lim_Mass_Ratio
A limit flag for the mass ratio of the primary to secondary (M1/M2).

Mass_Ratio
The mass ratio of the primary to secondary (M1/M2).

Mass_Ratio_Flag
An uncertainty flag for the mass ratio of the primary to secondary (M1/M2).

Mass_Ratio_Error
The error in the mass ratio of the primary to secondary (M1/M2).

Lim_Inclination
A limit flag for the orbital inclination.

Inclination
The orbital inclination of the system, in degrees.

Inclination_Flag
An uncertainty flag for the orbital inclination.

Inclination_Error
The error in the orbital inclination, in degrees.

Lim_M1
A limit flag for the primary mass (M1).

M1
The primary mass (M1), in solar masses.

M1_Flag
An uncertainty flag for the primary mass (M1).

M1_Error
The error in the primary mass (M1), in solar masses.

Lim_M2
A limit flag for the secondary mass (M2).

M2
The secondary mass (M2), in solar masses.

M2_Flag
An uncertainty flag for the secondary mass (M2).

M2_Error
The error in the secondary mass (M2), in solar masses.

Class
The HEASARC Browse object classification, based on the value of the Type1 parameter.

Contact Person

Questions regarding the RITTERCV database table can be addressed to the HEASARC Help Desk.

Page Author: Browse Software Development Team
Last Modified: Monday, 16-Sep-2024 17:33:46 EDT