XMM-Newton observations of the polars EV UMa, RX J1002-19 and RX J1007-20

Abstract

We present XMM-Newton data of three strongly magnetic cataclysmic variables (polars) EV UMa, RX J1002-19 and RX J1007-20. These include the polar with the shortest orbital period (EV UMa) and the polar with one of the highest magnetic field strengths (RX J1007-20). They exhibit a range of X-ray spectral characteristics which are consistent with their known magnetic field strength. We find that two of the systems show evidence for an absorption dip in soft X-rays. Their profiles are well defined, implying that the stream is highly collimated. We determine the mass transfer rate for the two systems with known distances. We determine that the mass of the white dwarf in EV UMa and RX J1007-20 is ~1Msun while in RX J1002-19 it is closer to ~0.5Msun.