X-ray and UV radiation from accreting nonmagnetic degenerate dwarfs

We report the results of detailed numerical calculations of X-ray emission from nonmagnetic degenerate dwarfs. Our calculations span the entire range of accretion rates and stellar masses, and include the important, but previously unexplored, regime at moderate and high accretion rates. Our calculations show that the characteristics of X-radiation from nonmagnetic degenerate dwarfs are qualitatively different than heretofore stated. The spectra and the correlations between spectral temperature and intensity shown by a number of X-ray sources, including both Sco X-1 and Cyg X-2, appear remarkably like those of degenerate dwarfs with hard X-ray luminosities L/sub h/approx.0.5--5 x 1036 ergs s-1