Concept information
Preferred term
cataclysmic binary
Definition(s)
- A cataclysmic binary is a close binary system consisting of a white dwarf primary and an orange or red (K- or M-type) main-sequence or giant secondary, in which matter flows from the secondary toward the primary. In most cases, the stripped hydrogen-rich gas enters an accretion disk around the white dwarf and may subsequently fall onto the condensed star to ignite violently in a fusion reaction. Cataclysmic variables fall into two groups. The non-magnetic group, which is by far the most populous, includes U Geminorum stars (dwarf novae) and classical and recurrent novae. The much rarer, magnetic group includes AM Herculis stars and DQ Herculis stars and is distinguished by the presence of a powerful magnetic field around the primary that dramatically affects the accretion flow. (Encyclopedia of Science, by David Darling, https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/B/binarystar.html#cataclysmic_binary)
Broader concept(s)
Synonym(s)
- cataclysmic binary star
In other languages
-
French
-
étoile binaire cataclysmique
URI
http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-C594N0HC-W
{{label}}
{{#each values }} {{! loop through ConceptPropertyValue objects }}
{{#if prefLabel }}
{{/if}}
{{/each}}
{{#if notation }}{{ notation }} {{/if}}{{ prefLabel }}
{{#ifDifferentLabelLang lang }} ({{ lang }}){{/ifDifferentLabelLang}}
{{#if vocabName }}
{{ vocabName }}
{{/if}}