Astronomy Colloquium

The evolution of ultracompact white dwarf binaries is set by the loss of angular momentum by the emission of gravitational waves. The discovery of detached and accreting systems with orbital periods as short as 5 minutes opens the possibility to test evolutionary theories, spin-orbit couplings of angular momentum, hot-slow merger events. Transient surveys such as the Palomar Transient factory are ideal to detect these systems in the Milky Way and Local Universe as they are are the (possible) sites of supernovae Type Ia, Type .Ia, helium novae and helium dwarf novae outbursts. The PTF has already discovered 6 of the 32 known interacting white dwarf ultracompact binaries and is set to revolutionize the field.