PolarCat: Catalog of polars, low-accretion rate polars, and candidate objects

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive catalog of polars and low-accretion rate polars, providing a valuable resource for studying magnetic cataclysmic variables and their role in binary evolution.

Contribution

It offers the first systematic compilation of over 200 polars and LARPs, including an online resource with planned updates and community input.

Findings

Number of known polars and LARPs exceeds 200.

The catalog facilitates follow-up studies and statistical analyses.

Provides an accessible online database for the community.

Abstract

Polars and low-accretion rate polars (LARPs) are strongly magnetic cataclysmic variables. Mediated by the magnetic field of the white dwarf, their spin and binary orbit are (mostly) synchronized. They play an important role in our understanding of close binary evolution and the generation of strong magnetic fields in white dwarfs. Thanks to X-ray all-sky surveys, optical variability, and spectroscopic surveys, the number of polars and LARPs has grown from just a few in the 1980s to more than 200 today. Follow-up studies are facilitated by the systematic compilation of these systems presented here, which is also made available as an online resource. Yearly updates are planned, and community input is highly appreciated.