The role of the SW Sextantis stars in the picture of CV evolution

Abstract

The SW Sextantis stars are novalike cataclysmic variables (CVs) which exhibit intricate behaviour which is still a matter of debate. For years the common belief has been that these systems were the``outlaws'' of the CVs, mainly because of the lack of an overall understanding. We are now realising that a large percentage (~30%) of all novalikes in the ~3-4 hour period range are SW Sex stars. The study of the dominance of this class just above the period gap will provide clues on the evolution of CVs. Here we present the discovery of 7 new SW Sex stars from the CVs found in the Hamburg Quasar Survey.

2 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the Proceedings of 'The Astrophysics of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects', Strasbourg, France, 11-16 July 2004 (ASP Conference Series, J. M. Hameury and J. P. Lasota eds.)