White dwarf post common envelope binaries from the SDSS

Abstract

Post common envelope binaries (PCEBs) consisting of a white dwarf and a main sequence star are ideal systems to calibrate current theories of angular momentum loss in close compact binary stars. The potential held by PCEBs for further development of close binary evolution could so far not be exploited due to the small number of known systems and the inhomogeneity of the sample. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey is changing this scene dramatically, as it is very efficient in identifying white dwarf/main sequence (WDMS) binaries, including both wide systems whose stellar components evolve like single stars and - more interesting in the context of close binary evolution - PCEBs. We pursue a large-scale follow-up survey to identify and characterise the PCEBs among the WDMS binaries that have been found with SDSS. We here present preliminary results of our survey and derive first constraints on current models of white dwarf binary evolution. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.