Following our high speed photometric survey of faint cataclysmic variables, two CVs were recognised to be helium-transferring double degenerates; these are ES Cet (Рorb – 620.21144 s) and 2003aw (Psh= 2041.5 s). We have now observed ES Cet photometrically for over two years in order to follow the evolution of the orbital period. We oiler an alternative; explanation for the nature of V407 Vul (which was classified as an ultra-compact together with RX J0806 and ES Cet); this will take V407 Vul out of the AM CVn classification.

We have undertaken a theoretical study of the impact of the accumulating envelopes on the thermal state of the underlying white dwarf (WD). This has allowed us to find the equilibrium WD core temperatures, the classical nova ignition masses and the thermal luminosities for WDs accreting at rates of 10–11 – 10–8M⊙ yr–1. These accretion rates are most, appropriate to WDs in cataclysmic variables (CVs) of (Porb ≲ 7 hr), many of which accrete sporadically as Dwarf Novae. Over twenty Dwarf Novae have been observed in quiescence, when the accretion rate is low and the WD photosphere is detected and Teff measured. Comparing our theoretical work to these observations allows us to constrain the WD mass and the time averaged accretion rate, ⟨Ṁ⟩. If ⟨Ṁ⟩ is that given by gravitational radiation losses alone, then the WD masses are > 0.8 M⊙. An alternative conclusion is that the masses are closer to 0.6M⊙ and ⟨Ṁ⟩ is 3-4 times larger than that expected from gravitational radiation losses.

We report the discovery of one unique cataclysmic variable drawn from the Hamburg Quasar Survey, HS 2331 + 3905. Follow-up observations obtained over three years unveiled a very unusual picture. The large amplitude 3.5 h radial velocity variations obtained from our optical spectroscopy is not the orbital period of the system, as one would normally expect. Instead, extensive CCD photometry strongly suggests that HS 2331 + 3005 is a short orbital period cataclysmic variable with Рorb = 81.09 min, containing a cold white dwarf which appears to exhibit ZZ Ceti pulsations.