The Hard X-Ray Spectra of EF Eri and Other CVs

Reflection of the X-ray emission from the surface of the white dwarf should be present in all hard X-ray emitting CV systems. It is clearly identified in the Ginga 2… 20 keV spectra of the polars AM Her and EF Eri, and also in the quiescent spectra of the dwarf novae SS Cyg. The inclusion of the hard reflection spectrum lowers the derived continuum temperature, so resolving a long standing problem of the mismatch of the iron line and continuum properties, and, with more realistic multi-temperature continuua, the derived shock temperatures are close to those expected from theoretical models of a strong shock.