A model for the accretion disk in the dwarf nova AB Draconis

Abstract A least squares fit to the dwarf nova AB Dra shows that the continuum spectrum predicted by a blackbody accretion disk model can roughly account for the IUE observations during the time of the explosion, while small discrepancies can be attributed to recombination radiation of an optically thin atmosphere and/or blackbody radiation from hot spots. The fit gives a set of reasonable parameter values for the accretion disk.