How Magneto-Convection Reshapes the Evolution of Short Period Cataclysmic Variables

Cataclysmic variables are close binary stars consisting of a low-mass, main sequence star transferring mass to a white dwarf. While astronomers have established a general picture of the evolution of these systems, outstanding problems remain. Many of these issues revolve around the magnetic nature of the main sequence component. Magnetic fields can alter the internal structure of low mass stars. In particular, they inhibit convection, leading to inflated radii and a delay in the fully convective transition. These effects are relevant to cataclysmic variable evolution. Here we present a simple model to demonstrate the impact of the magnetic inhibition of convection on short period cataclysmic variables. We show that including magneto-convection can help alleviate the discrepancy between the observed and predicted minimum orbital period for cataclysmic variables.