On the diversity and similarity of outbursts of symbiotic binaries and cataclysmic variables

TL;DR

This paper compares outbursts in symbiotic stars and cataclysmic variables, revealing similar ionization structures but differing in outburst intensity, suggesting a common underlying mass ejection mechanism.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of outburst properties and ionization structures in symbiotic binaries and CVs, highlighting their similarities and differences.

Findings

Outbursts have similar ionization structures despite different durations.

The main difference is the violence of the outbursts.

Mass ejection mechanisms are likely similar in both systems.

Abstract

Outbursts in two classes of interacting binary systems, the symbiotic stars (SSs) and the cataclysmic variables (CVs), show a number of similarities in spite of very different orbital periods. Typical values for SSs are in the order of years, whereas for CVs they are of a few hours. Both systems undergo unpredictable outbursts, characterized by a brightening in the optical by 1 - 3 and 7 - 15 mag for SSs and CVs, respectively. By modelling the multiwavelength SED of selected examples from both groups of these interacting binaries, I determine their basic physical parameters at a given time of the outburst evolution. In this way I show that the principal difference between outbursts of these objects is their violence, whereas the ionization structure of their ejecta is basically very similar. This suggests that the mechanism of the mass ejection by the white dwarfs in these systems is also similar.