HIGH-ENERGY GAMMA-RAYS FROM POLARS

An analysis of the EGRET phase 1 data was made to search for gamma-ray emission from the magnetic cataclysmic variables V834 Cen, VV Pup, an d AM Her. These sources were not detected using either a steady (DC) o r a periodic (AC) analysis. These results are consistent with the uppe r limit detected by the Whipple Observatory at TeV energies, if we ass ume that gamma-rays are produced, via pion decay, from accelerated pro tons with a power-law energy spectrum of -2, and are inconsistent with a claimed detection at TeV energies by the Gulmarg Observatory. Our r esults show that the gamma-ray luminosity from polars is less than 1% of the bolometric luminosity and that the acceleration of particles (p rotons) to gamma-ray energies by diffusive shocks is probably not impo rtant for polars.