# The Fe Line Flux Ratio as a diagnostic of the maximum temperature and the white dwarf mass of Cataclysmic Variables

## TL;DR

This study demonstrates that the Fe line flux ratio effectively estimates the maximum temperature and white dwarf mass in cataclysmic variables, validated by X-ray observations and consistent with dynamical measurements.

## Contribution

It calibrates and validates the Fe line flux ratio as a reliable diagnostic tool for white dwarf mass and temperature in CVs using archival X-ray data.

## Key findings

- The Fe line flux ratio correlates well with the maximum temperature.
- Estimated white dwarf masses from the ratio agree with dynamical measurements.
- The diagnostic applies to both magnetic and non-magnetic CVs.

## Abstract

The flux ratio of Fe XXVI--Ly$\alpha$ to Fe XXV--He$\alpha$ lines ($I_{\rm 7.0}/I_{\rm 6.7}$) is a sensitive indicator of the maximum temperature ($T_{\rm max}$), and therefore the mass of white dwarf stars ($M_{\rm WD}$) in cataclysmic variables (CVs). To examine and calibrate the theoretical $I_{\rm 7.0}/I_{\rm 6.7}$--$T_{\rm max}$--$M_{\rm WD}$ relations, reliable measurements of $T_{\rm max}$ and $I_{\rm 7.0}/I_{\rm 6.7}$ are necessary. In this work, we conduct a thorough investigation on 3--50 keV X-ray spectra of 25 solar neighborhood magnetic and non-magnetic CVs based on archival \textit{NuSTAR} and \textit{Suzaku} observations. The measured $T_{\rm max}$ are compared to the $I_{\rm 7.0}/I_{\rm 6.7}$ and $M_{\rm WD}$. The results show the sampled CVs closely follow the theoretical $I_{\rm 7.0}/I_{\rm 6.7}$--$T_{\rm max}$ relation. Moreover, all the $M_{\rm WD}$ estimated from $I_{\rm 7.0}/I_{\rm 6.7}$ are consistent with the dynamically measured ones. We conclude that $I_{\rm 7.0}/I_{\rm 6.7}$ can be used as a good diagnostic for $T_{\rm max}$ and $M_{\rm WD}$ in both magnetic and non-magnetic CVs.