THE K-BAND SURFACE BRIGHTNESS OF LATE-TYPE STARS AND THE DISTANCE TO CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES

The method for determining the distance to cataclysmic variables using the K-band surface brightness is reexamined with a new, larger datase t. The K-band surface brightness of dwarf stars is constant over the r ange 3.0 less-than-or-equal-to V - K less-than-or-equal-to 5.0, and de clines at larger values of V - K. The behavior of the K-band surface b rightness depends on luminosity class. Theoretical models of M dwarf s tars are roughly consistent with the observations. This new surface br ightness relationship reconciles the different distance determinations for HT Cas.