We present a magnetic stripping model for AM Her type objects. Our model is
based on an equilibrium condition between ram pressure and magnetic pressu
re in a stiff dipolar magnetic field. We investigate the detailed geometry
of the stripping process, most of which can be tackled analytically. By inv
olving additional numerical calculations, the model allows the prediction o
f phase-resolved spectra and Doppler tomograms. The emission-line features
from the companion star, the horizontal stream and the accretion curtain ar
e identified with the emission-line components found by Gaussian fitting to
observational data of HU Aqr in its high-accretion state. Given the simpli
city of the model, its agreement with the observation is remarkably good, a
nd it enables us to derive a number of physical quantities such as stellar
masses and radii, total mass accretion rate, bulk temperature, and coupling
density.