Einstein Probe: Application on the observation ofcataclysmic variables
Abstract
<p indent="0mm">Cataclysmic variables (CVs) are binaries where a white dwarf star accretes matter from its companion. CVs are important X-ray emitters in the Milky Way. Our knowledge on CVs is limited by the incompleteness of CV samples, especially those with low X-ray luminosities (<italic>Lx</italic><1.0×10<sup>32</sup> erg s<sup>−1</sup>). Einstein Probe (EP) is a powerful instrument to search for nearby CVs. In one year of operation, EP can provide a complete sample of CVs above 5.0×10<sup>30</sup> erg s<sup>−1</sup> within 300 parsec, and the total estimated number of CVs could reach 1000. Based on this sample, the X-ray luminosity function of nearby CVs could be built, which will further be used to investigate key astrophysical questions like the diffuse emission of galaxies and the progenitors of type Ia supernovae.</p>
