The Quest for a Self-Consistent Model of BF Eri = 1ES 0437-046

The Xray spectrum of BF Eri contains a puzzling contradiction. BF Eri is theoptical counterpart of an Einstein slew survey source 1ES0437046, and wasidentified as a cataclysmic variable with a massive (>1.23 Msun) white dwarf. Assuch, we expect a hot, opticallythin, thermal plasma with prominent emissionlines of Helike and/or Hlike iron. No such lines are seen in the Suzakuobservation, showing instead a continuumdominated spectrum. While this could bedue to a low abundance of iron, the equivalent width of the 6.4 keV linesuggests a nearsolar abundance. Here we propose an XMMNewton observation of BFEri to confirm and refine, or refute, these Suzaku results, with the aim ofconstructing a model for the Xray emission from BF Eri with a single abundance of iron. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]