Magnetic White Dwarf–M Dwarf Binaries in Pre-mCV Phase as Special Population of Long-period Radio Transients

Abstract Long-period radio transients (LPTs) are a new class of coherent radio sources with periods ranging from minutes to hours. Recently, two LPT sources, ILT J1101+5521 and GLEAM-X J0704–37, with periods of 2–3 hr have been confirmed to originate from white dwarf (WD)–M dwarf (MD) binaries. In this work, we propose that at least some LPTs originate from the magnetic WD–MD binaries in the pre-magnetic cataclysmic variables (pre-mCV) phase. The asynchronism between the WD’s rotation and the binary’s orbital motion allows for the unipolar-inductor mechanism or magnetosphere-interaction to operate and accelerate radiating particles, with the dominant process depending on the magnetic moment ratio of the two stars. Under an asynchronism condition, both the peak flux and the polarization of radio pulses will be modulated by the beat period. The pre-mCV phase characterized by an extremely low-accretion rate provides the relatively clean magnetospheric environment necessary for an LCDM mechanism to operate, producing the LPT emission. The observed pulse duty cycle of 10 −3 −10 −1 is attributed to a beaming effect modulated by the binary’s magnetic geometry. Furthermore, the magnetized environment of a WD–MD binary is conducive to Faraday conversion with weak coupling, which implies that the polarization state of LPTs should vary significantly at different periods. Finally, we predict that LPTs from WD–MD binaries should exhibit a period distribution following f P ( P ) dP ∝ P (1.67−2.33) dP and a luminosity function described by f L ( L ) dL ∝ L −(1.80−2.67) dL , which can be tested by the future large sample.