The Impact of Binary Stars on Stellar Evolution


Book Description

An advanced review of how binary stars affect stellar evolution, presenting results from state-of-the art models and recent observations.




The Realm of Interacting Binary Stars


Book Description

More than two centuries have elapsed since the story of the interacting binary stars began with the rediscovery of the variability of Algol by John Goodricke and the interpretation he proposed for explaining the regular periodic brightness variations which he found. Over this long span of time our knowledge about these systems has been growing, and we have now reached a fairly good understanding of the structure and behavior of this interesting group of objects. This book contains a timely summary of our present knowledge of interacting binary stars. The chapters have been written by distinguished scientists who have done relevant research in the field of interacting binary stars.




The Impact of Binary Stars on Stellar Evolution


Book Description

Stars are mostly found in binary and multiple systems, with at least 50% of all solar-like stars having companions; this fraction approaches 100% for the most massive stars. A large proportion of these systems interact and alter the structure and evolution of their components, leading to exotic objects such as Algol variables, blue stragglers and other chemically peculiar stars, but also to phenomena such as non-spherical planetary nebulae, supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. While it is understood that binaries play a critical role in the Initial Mass Function, the interactions among binary systems significantly affect the dynamical evolution of stellar clusters and galaxies. This interdisciplinary volume presents results from state-of-the-art models and observations aimed at studying the impact of binaries on stellar evolution in resolved and unresolved populations. Serving as a bridge between observational and theoretical astronomy, it is a comprehensive review for researchers and advanced students of astrophysics.




Interacting Binaries


Book Description

Peter P. Eggleton and James E. Pringle Institute of Astronomy Madingley Road Cambridge England The 1970's can be described, in retrospect, as the "Decade of the Close Binary". Exciting observations with new technology, combined with classical work, both observational and theoretical, convinced the astronomical world that binary interaction of various kinds is not only interesting but common. Indeed, by 1975 almost anything unusual had a good chance of being interpreted as due to binary interaction. But astronomers are seldom overwhelmed by speculation, even their own, and solid observational work has confirmed or refuted such speculation, without regard to its plausibility. For instance, binarity has been found where it was perhaps least expected, in Barium stars, and refuted where it could most reasonably be expected, in Wolf-Rayets. Unfortunately, many other classes of potential binaries remain without the clearest evidence of binarity, for instance Be stars, symbiotics and blue stragglers. This Advanced Study Institute was held to commemorate John Whelan (1945-1981), whose scientific career, sadly cut short in its prime, did much to further the careful study, theoretical and observational, of close binaries, as well as to encourage the spirit of international friendship and collaboration. His own interests covered a greater field, but "Interacting Binaries" seemed a reasonable restriction. We publish here 15 review talks, which still do not cover the whole topic, although they range widely.




Stellar Structure and Evolution


Book Description

A complete and comprehensive treatment of the physics of the stellar interior and the underlying fundamental processes and parameters. The text presents an overview of the models developed to explain the stability, dynamics and evolution of the stars, and great care is taken to detail the various stages in a star's life. The authors have succeeded in producing a unique text based on their own pioneering work in stellar modeling. Since its publication, this textbook has come to be considered a classic by both readers and teachers in astrophysics. This study edition is intended for students in astronomy and physics alike.




Evolutionary Processes in Interacting Binary Stars


Book Description

This book contains the proceedings of IAU Symposium No. 151 `Evolutionary Processes in Interacting Binary Stars,' which was held from 5 to 9 August 1991 in Cordóba, Argentina. The primary aim of this conference was to review and evaluate our current understanding of the evolutionary processes in wide variety of interacting binary stars from their births to their deaths. Subjects included the formation of binaries, mass flow and transfer, accretion processes, and binaries with collapsed components, such as novae, X-ray binaries and binary pulsars. As the field covered is both broad and diverse, there were in all thirty-seven invited talks; sixty-two contributed papers were also presented. In addition, these proceedings contain comments from a panel discussion of the major unsolved problems of interacting binary stars.




Evolution of Massive Stars


Book Description

Massive stars occupy an exceptional place in general astrophysics. They trigger many if not all of the important processes in galactic evolution whereas due to their intrinsic brightness, they offer the (only until now) possibility to study the stellar content and stellar behaviour in distant galaxies. The last, say, 25 years, massive stars have been the subject of numerous meetings discussing the influence of massive stars on population synthesis, the number distribution of different types of massive stars, the LBV phenomenon, WR stars, X-ray binaries, stellar winds in massive stars, chemical pecularities in massive stars, supernova explosions of massive stars and the important SN1987A event, the influence of massive stars and chemical evolution of galaxies. It is clear that without a theory of stellar evolution, the study of these topics loses a lot of its significance. Massive star evolution therefore got a chance in these meetings, but rarely as a prime subject. The state of the art, the physical processes and the uncertainties in stellar evolution were barely touched. Even more, the influence of close binaries in all these massive star meetings slowly disappeared the last, say, 13 years without any scientific justification, although a significant fraction of stars occurs in close binaries with periods small enough so that both components will interact during their evolution. Denying the binaries or not discussing their influence on results and conclusions, makes the latter very uncertain or even completely unreliable.




Evolutionary Processes in Binary and Multiple Stars


Book Description

Binary systems of stars are as common as single stars. Stars evolve primarily by nuclear reactions in their interiors, but a star with a binary companion can also have its evolution influenced by the companion. Multiple star systems can exist stably for millions of years, but can ultimately become unstable as one star grows in radius until it engulfs another. This volume, first published in 2006, discusses the statistics of binary stars; the evolution of single stars; and several of the most important kinds of interaction between two (and even three or more) stars. Some of the interactions discussed are Roche-lobe overflow, tidal friction, gravitational radiation, magnetic activity driven by rapid rotation, stellar winds, magnetic braking and the influence of a distant third body on a close binary orbit. A series of mathematical appendices gives a concise but full account of the mathematics of these processes.




Interacting Binaries


Book Description

Observational and Theoretical Issues of Interacting Binaries was the topic of the 22nd Advanced Course of the Swiss Society for Astrophysics and Astronomy. It was the first time that binary systems were the center of attention of our course. The established concept and organisation of the Advanced Course has been retained: three scientists, all acknowledged experts in their respective fields, were each invited to give nine one-hour lectures within the period of a week. The Advanced Course took place from April 6 to 11, 1992, at Les Diablerets, a charming resort in the Swiss alps. The high level of the lectures, the international background of the 65 participants, including many young students, and the beauty of the surroundings all contributed to the success of the course. The lecture notes of this course, the 22nd in our series, are also the third to be published by Springer-Verlag. Well over half of all stars seem to exist in binary systems. The study of binary evolution is therefore essential for our understanding of stellar evolution in general. The evolution of interacting binaries contains in itself many of the problems met in other fields of modern astrophysics. This is very apparent in these lecture notes.




Physics of Binary Star Evolution


Book Description

A graduate-level textbook on the astrophysics of binary star systems and their evolution Physics of Binary Star Evolution is an up-to-date textbook on the astrophysics and evolution of binary star systems. Theoretical astrophysicists Thomas Tauris and Edward van den Heuvel cover a wide range of phenomena and processes, including mass transfer and ejection, common envelopes, novae and supernovae, X-ray binaries, millisecond radio pulsars, and gravitational wave (GW) sources, and their links to stellar evolution. The authors walk through the observed properties and evolution of different types of binaries, with special emphasis on those containing compact objects (neutron stars, black holes, and white dwarfs). Attention is given to the formation mechanisms of GW sources—merging double neutron stars and black holes as well as ultra-compact GW binaries hosting white dwarfs—and to the progenitors of these sources and how they are observed with radio telescopes, X-ray satellites, and GW detectors (LIGO, Virgo, KAGRA, Einstein Telescope, Cosmic Explorer, and LISA). Supported by illustrations, equations, and exercises, Physics of Binary Star Evolution combines theory and observations to guide readers through the wonders of a field that will play a central role in modern astrophysics for decades to come. 465 equations, 47 tables, and 350+ figures More than 80 exercises (analytical, numerical, and computational) Over 2,500 extensive, up-to-date references