086359

Magnetic cataclysmic variables are binary systems which contain a highly magnetic white dwarf accreting matter along its magnetic field lines from a late-type companion. It has recently been found that a particular class of these systems known as intermediate polars occasionally enter previously unanticipated ..low states comma . during which the accretion-rate comma and therefore flux comma mysteriously decreases. Deep comma pointed X-ray observations of these low states are rare comma so we propose a 50ks XMM-Newton Target of Opportunity observation of the next intermediate polar to enter such a state comma in order to investigate the accretion mechanisms openParor lack thereofclosePar in this poorly understood low-flux regime.