We report the first results from a new search for cataclysmic variables ( CVs ) using a combined X-ray ( ROSAT ) / infrared ( 2MASS ) target selection that discriminates against background AGN .
Identification spectra were obtained at the Isaac Newton Telescope for a total of 174 targets , leading to the discovery of 12 new CVs .
Initially devised to find short-period low-mass-transfer CVs , this selection scheme has been very successful in identifying new intermediate polars .
Photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations identify four of the new CVs as intermediate polars : 1RXS J063631.9+353537 ( \mbox { $P _ { \mathrm { orb } } $ } \simeq 201 min , \mbox { $P _ { \mathrm { spin } } $ } = 1008.3408 s or 930.5829 s ) , 1RXS J070407.9+262501 ( \mbox { $P _ { \mathrm { orb } } $ } \simeq 250 min , \mbox { $P _ { \mathrm { spin } } $ } = 480.708 s ) , 1RXS J173021.5–055933 ( \mbox { $P _ { \mathrm { orb } } $ } = 925.27 min , \mbox { $P _ { \mathrm { spin } } $ } = 128.0 s ) , and 1RXS J180340.0+401214 ( \mbox { $P _ { \mathrm { orb } } $ } = 160.21 min , \mbox { $P _ { \mathrm { spin } } $ } = 1520.51 s ) .
RX J1730 , also a moderately bright hard X-ray source in the INTEGRAL/IBIS Galactic plane survey , resembles the enigmatic AE Aqr .
It is likely that its white dwarf is not rotating at the spin equilibrium period , and the system may represent a short-lived phase in CV evolution .