The influence of a circumbinary ( CB ) disk on the evolution of cataclysmic variable ( CV ) binary systems is investigated .
We show that CB mass surface densities sufficient to influence the evolution rate are plausibly provided by the outflows observed in CVs , if the net effect of these winds is to deliver 10 ^ { -4 } – 10 ^ { -3 } of the mass transfer rate to the CB disk .
The torque exerted by the CB disk provides a positive feedback between mass transfer rate and CB disk mass which can lead to mass transfer rates of \sim 10 ^ { -8 } -10 ^ { -7 } M _ { \odot } { yr } ^ { -1 } .
This mechanism may be responsible for causing the range of variation of mass transfer rates in CV ’ s .
In particular , it may explain rates inferred for the novalike variables and the supersoft X-ray binary systems observed near the upper edge of the period gap ( P \sim 3 - 4 hr ) , as well as the spread in mass transfer rates above and below the period gap .
Consquences and the possible observability of such disks are discussed .