  We have used the PACS instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory to observe
eight cataclysmic variables at 70 and 160 microns. Of these eight objects, only
AM Her was detected. We have combined the Herschel results with ground-based,
Spitzer, and WISE observations to construct spectral energy distributions for
all of the targets. For the two dwarf novae in the sample, SS Cyg and U Gem, we
find that their infrared luminosities are completely dominated by their
secondary stars. For the two highly magnetic "polars" in our survey, AM Her and
EF Eri, we find that their mid-infrared excesses, previously attributed to
circumbinary dust emission, can be fully explained by cyclotron emission. The
WISE light curves for both sources show large, orbitally modulated variations
that are identically phased to their near-IR light curves. We propose that
significant emission from the lowest cyclotron harmonics (n </= 3) is present
in EF Eri and AM Her. Previously, such emission would have been presumed to be
optically thick, and not provide significant orbitally modulated flux. This
suggests that the accretion onto polars is more complicated than assumed in the
simple models developed for these two sources. We develop a model for the
near-/mid-IR light curves for WZ Sge with an L2 donor star that shows that the
ellipsoidal variations from its secondary star are detected. We conclude that
none of the targets surveyed have dusty circumbinary disks.
