CLUES TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOUNDARY-LAYER IN CATACLYSMIC VARIABLESFROM OBSERVATIONS OF THE FLICKERING

We propose that the domain of origin of the flickering in Cataclysmic Variables is the boundary layer between the white dwarf and the accret ion disk. In the framework of a one-zone model for radially extended b oundary layers, we determine limits for the geometrical size of the bo undary layer and find typical values of greater than or similar to 2 w hite dwarf radii. The boundary layer temperatures that result from suc h models lie within the domain of the observed values, and thus offer a solution to the mystery of the missing boundary layer.