10657( 1) - 04/05/05 12:21 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 10657 Version: 1 Check-in Date: 05-Apr-2005 16:21:34 1.Proposal Title: Combined HST-FUSE Far Ultraviolet Spectral Study of Cataclysmic Variables ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle 4. Parallel Pointing Tolerance AR 14 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. Patrick Godon Villanova University CoI: Prof. Edward M. Sion Villanova University N CoI: Prof. Paula Szkody University of Washington N CoI: Dr. Albert P. Linnell University of Washington N CoI: Dr. Ivan Hubeny University of Arizona N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Abstract The white dwarfs (WDs) in cataclysmic variables (CVs) are probes of cataclysmic evolution and accretion physics because they bear the thermal, chemical and rotational imprint of their long term accretion and thermonuclear history. An understanding of the consequences of accretion in CVs is the first step in a global understanding of accretion-related phenomena throughout the universe including Young Stellar Objects, galactic binaries (accretion onto neutron stars and black holes) and AGNs, which can't be easily observed. We propose an archival study of 25 CV systems, for which the HST/STIS (and/or HRS, FOS) spectra can be combined with matching FUSE spectra, covering a total spectral wavelength range 905-1725A. Such a systematic study of a large sample of combined HST-FUSE spectra of CVs systems is unique. We propose to use these 25 CVs as probes of CV evolution and accretion physics by deriving, for each system, the WD masses, surface temperatures, rotation rates, abundances and the mass accretion rate. This will be achieved by analysing the combined spectra with state-of-the-art stellar & accretion disk synthetic spectrum programs TLUSTY and BINSYN. The combined HST-FUSE spectra are expected to improve the accuracy of the measurements from the individual HST and FUSE spectra alone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10657( 1) - 04/05/05 12:21 - [ 2] Summary Form for Proposal 10657 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category AR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------