Secondary stars in CVs: the theoretical perspective

We apply the new generation of theoretical models of low-mass stars to seco ndaries in CVs, focussing on systems above the period gap. The models confi rm that the spectral type should be a good indicator of the donor mass. The orbital period-spectral type diagram can potentially constrain the long-te rm mean mass transfer rate. A transfer rate that increases with decreasing period is most easily reconciled with the observational data. (C) 2000 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.