We revealed that the hydrogen-rich cataclysmic variable lRXS J232953.9+062814 is an SU UMa-type dwarf nova with a superbump period of 66.774±0.010 min. A photometric orbital period is determined to be 64.184± 0.003 min, which is below the period minimum. Although the standard evolutionary scenario of cataclysmic variables predicts lower mass-transfer rates in systems with shorter orbital periods, its short recurrence time of outbursts and bright apparent magnitude indicate that this object has a relatively high mass-transfer rate. With the analogous system V485 Cen, these objects establish the first subpopulation in hydrogen-rich cataclysmic variables below the period minimum. Concerning the evolutionary status of them, we propose that they are progenitors of AM CVn stars on evolutionary courses in which systems have an evolved secondary star with a hydrogen-exhausted core.

We report on first results of computing synthetic spectra from H/He-poor accretion disks in ultracompact LMXBs. We aim at the determination of the chemical composition of the very low-mass donor star, which is the core of a former C/O white dwarf. The abundance analysis allows to draw conclusions on gravitational settling in WDs which is an important process affecting cooling times and pulsational g-mode periods.

We present the results of simulations that explore the variety of accretion flows possible in magnetic cataclysmic variables (mCVs). Our simulations evolve to equilibrium periods spanning 0.01 < Рspin/Рorb < 0.6 and the resulting flows vary from disc-fed systems at Рspin/Рorb ~ 0.01 - 0.1, to stream fed systems at Рspin/Рorb ~ 0.1 - 0.5 and systems fed from a ring at the outer edge of the white dwarf's Roche lobe at Рspin/Рorb ~ 0.6.

We study the interaction between the Be-star disk and the neutron star in Be/X-ray binaries by three dimensional SPH simulations. We find that, the resonant, truncation of the Be disk works except for systems with extremely high orbital eccentricity or large misalignment angles between the Be disk and the orbital plane. Owing to the truncation, the mass-capture rate by the neutron star is sensitive both to the orbital eccentricity and to the angle of misalignment. It is single-peaked in coplanar systems and in systems with small misalignment angles, whereas it, becomes double-peaked in systems with large misalignment angles.

We have obtained FUSE spectra of several dwarf novae which reveal the properties of their accreting white dwarfs, their rates of accretion during quiescence and the nature of their boundary layer/inner disk regions including accretion belts on the white dwarfs. Among the systems for which preliminary results will be presented are BV Cen, WW Ceti, EY Cyg, SS Aur and VW Hyi. The contribution of these FUSE studies to our understanding of disk accretion physics will be emphasized within the context of the white dwarf and boundary layer.

The FUSE and HST spectra of dwarf novae in outburst, and of nova-like variables exhibit a wide range of characteristics. In a few systems, there are obvious signatures of a fast wind in the form of P-Cygni-like profiles of OVI and other relatively high ionization state ions. But this is rare. More common are systems with FUV spectra, showing a complex mixture of high and low ionization state lines. Here we describe attempts to reproduce the spectra using a Monte Carlo radiative transfer code developed to model bi-conical winds in disk systems.

In the proceedings of this, and of several recent close binary conferences, there have been several contributions describing smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of accretion disks. It is opposite therefore to review the numerical scheme itself with emphasis on its advantages for disk modelling, and the methods used for modelling viscous processes.