A white dwarf is the compact remnant of a former star. When a white dwarf closely orbits a companion, material from the companion can flow onto and accumulate on the white dwarf's surface. Over time, progressively more material leads to higher temperatures and pressures on the white dwarf's surface, causing an explosion called a cataclysmic variable. This article describes a study that simulates how material in this explosion emits radiation, helping astronomers better understand this process.

http://www.raa-journal.org/raa/index.php/raa/article/view/1502