A survey in hard X-rays for probing accretion and ejection in Symbiotic Stars

Symbiotic stars are interacting binaries, containing white dwarfs accreting athigh rates from a wind of the red giant companion. These systems are possibleprogenitors for type Ia supernovae. The most crucial parameter in symbioticsystems is the accretion rate, since i) it determines (together with the mass)the lifetime of the white dwarf until a possible supernova explosion and ii)possibly explains the striking dichotomy concerning the fraction of objects withand without jets in symbiotics and CVs. In this project, we will search for hardXray emission from symbiotic stars which is the most valuable probe for theaccretion process. We will determine the fraction of sources which produce hardXrays, the mass distribution of white dwarfs, the distribution of accretion rates and their lifetimes. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]