Survey of H alpha mass transfer structures in classical Algol-type binaries

Five years of H alpha survey data for 37 "classical" Algol-type binaries ar e presented. All these systems have primaries with a spectral type of A or B, have a period of less than 5 days, and are visible in the Northern Hemis phere. Data were collected with the 1.02 m reflector at the US Naval Observ atory, Flagstaff Station. The survey consists of over 460 system spectra. E ach system was observed at least once during the 5 years, with many systems observed several times over several epochs. Difference profiles are calcul ated for most spectra by modeling and subtracting the spectrum of the photo spheres of the stellar components. We examined each spectrum for the presen ce of mass transfer, stream-star and stream-disk interaction, a disk or cir cumstellar bulge, and chromospheric emission. We present information on the prevalence of mass transfer activity, disk presence, and system states ass ociated with particular mass transfer structures. We show that no currently published study, including this one, has enough data for a rigorous statis tical identification of system states.