Secondary Stars in CVs: The Theoretical Perspective

Abstract

We apply the new generation of theoretical models of low-mass stars to secondaries in CVs, focussing on systems above the period gap. The models confirm that the spectral type should be a good indicator of the donor mass. The orbital period-spectral type diagram can potentially constrain the long-term mean mass transfer rate. A transfer rate that increases with decreasing period is most easily reconciled with the observational data.