| Popis: |
Space densities of novae, dwarf novae and novalike stars are derived on the basis of the most recent catalogue of cataclysmic variables and improved values of absolute magnitudes. Assuming that these objects represent different stages of the same type of variable, changing over short-term cycles, we derive an average time interval of 10000 years between two subsequent nova eruptions. During this time, the cataclysmic variable remains almost 2000 years in the novalike stage and the remaining time in the dwarf nova stage, in which a total of nearly 3 · 10−5M⊙ is accreted on the white dwarf primary. This amount is comparable to the average mass of ejected nova shells. |
