SYNTHESIS OF LIGHT CURVES OF CLOSE BINARY-SYSTEMS - A CATACLISMIC VARIABLE APPROXIMATION

A method for the synthesis of Light curves of cataclismic variable-typ e close binary systems is described. The system consists of a normal s tar (red dwarf) and a spherically symmetric compact star (white dwarf) surrounded by an axisymmetric accretion disk with a complex shape, wh ich is geometrically thin near the white dwarf and thick at the edge o f the disk. The influence on the light curve of hot spots at the side surface of the disk and on the bulge-the thickening in the region wher e the gaseous stream impacts the axisymmetric part of the disk-is exam ined. The parameters of the eclipsing cataclismic variable IP Peg obta ined from analysis of its V-band light curve using this method are in good agreement with the parameters obtained using other methods.