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Abstract: Cataclysmic variable stars are binary stars mainly characterised by accretion from a main sequence donor star to a white dwarf star. This study focuses on two sub-classes of cataclysmic variables, namely AM CVn stars with helium accretion from a compact (semi-)degenerate donor star and magnetic cataclysmic variables with strong magnetic fields leading to magnetically-controlled accretion. I make use of optical transient surveys, primarily the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey (CRTS), for the identification of individual objects to follow up. I will present some of the spectroscopic and photometric results of individual cataclysmic variables using the 11-m Southern African Large Telescope and the 1.0/1.9-m telescopes situated at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland, South Africa. I also used the long-term light curves from CRTS to characterise the long-term photometric behavioural patterns of magnetic cataclysmic variables. A set of criteria was developed to quantify these characterisations and to systematically identify potential magnetic cataclysmic variables through their long-term light curves. 

Hosted by Professor John Thorstensen

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