Tidal evolution in close binary systems

The aim of the present paper will be to give a mathematical outline of the theory of tidal evolution in close binary systems of secularly constant total momentum — an evolution activated by viscous friction of dynamical tides raised by the two components on each other. The first section contains a general outline of the problem; and in Section 2 we shall establish the basic expressions for the energy and momenta of close binaries consisting of components of arbitrary internal structure. In Section 3 we shall investigate the maximum and minimum values of the energy (kinetic and potential) which such systems can attain for given amount of total momentum; while in Section 4 we shall compare these results with the actual facts encountered in binaries with components whose internal structure (and, therefore, rotational momenta) are known to us from evidence furnished by the observed rates of apsidal advance.The results show that all such systems — be these of detached or semi-detached type — disclose that more than 99% of their total momenta are stored in the orbital momentum. The sum of the rotational momenta of the constituent components amounts to less than a percent of the total — a situation characteristic of a state close to the minimum energy for given total momentum. This appears, moreover, to be true not only of the systems with both components on the Main Sequence, but also of those possessing evolved components in contact with their Roche limits.Under such conditions, a synchronism between rotation and revolution (characteristic of both extreme states of maximum and minimum energy) is not only possible, but appears to have been actually approached — if not attained — in the majority of cases. In other words, it would appear that — in at least a large majority of known cases — the existing close binaries have already attained orbits of maximum distension consistent with their momenta; and tidal evolution alone can no longer increase the present separations of the components to any appreciable extent.The virtual absence, in the sky, of binary systems intermediate between the stages of maximum and minimum energy for given momentum leads us to conjecture that the process of dynamical evolution activated by viscous tides may enroll on a time-scale which is relatively short in comparison with their total age — even for systems like Y Cygni or AG Persei, whose total age can scarcely exceed 10⁷ yr. A secular increase of the semi-major axes of relative orbits is dynamically coupled with a corresponding variation in the velocity of axial rotation of both components through the tidal lag arising from the viscosity of stellar material. The differential equations of so coupled a system are given in Section 5; but their solution still constitutes a task for the future.The Lunar Science Institute Contribution No. 90. The Lunar Science Institute is operated by the Universities Space Research Association under Contract No. NSR 09-051-001 with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.     

Tidal evolution in close binary systems,II

The aim of the present investigation will be to determine the explicit forms of differential equations which govern secular perturbations of the orbital elements of close binary systems in the plane of the orbit (i.e., of the semi-major axisA, eccentricitye, and longitude of the periastron ), arising from the lag of dynamical tides due to viscosity of stellar material. The results obtained are exact for any value of orbital eccentricity comprised between 0e<1; and include the effects produced by the second, third and fourth-harmonic dynamical tides, as well as by axial rotation with arbitrary inclination of the equator to the orbital plane.In Section 2 following brief introductory remarks the variational equations of the problem of plane motion will be set up in terms of the rectangular componentsR, S, W of disturbing accelerations with respect to a revolving system of coordinates. The explicit form of these coefficients will be established in Section 3 to the degree of accuracy to which squares and higher powers of quantities of the order of superficial distortion can be ignored. Section 4 will be devoted to a derivation of the explicit form of the variational equations for the case of a perturbing function arising from axial rotation; and in Section 5 we shall derive variational equations which govern the perturbation of orbital elements caused by lagging dynamical tides.Numerical integrations of these equations, which govern the tidal evolution of close binary systems prompted by viscous friction at constant mass, are being postponed for subsequent investigations.Prepared at the Lunar Science Institute, Houston, Texas, under the joint support of the Universities Space Research Association, Charlottesville, Virginia, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas, under Contract No. NSR 09-051-001. This paper constitutes Lunar Science Institute Contribution no. 100.Normally at the Department of Astronomy, University of Manchester, England.     

Tidal evolution of close binary asteroid systems

We provide a generalized discussion of tidal evolution to arbitrary order in the expansion of the gravitational potential between two spherical bodies of any mass ratio. To accurately reproduce the tidal evolution of a system at separations less than 5 times the radius of the larger primary component, the tidal potential due to the presence of a smaller secondary component is expanded in terms of Legendre polynomials to arbitrary order rather than truncated at leading order as is typically done in studies of well-separated system like the Earth and Moon. The equations of tidal evolution including tidal torques, the changes in spin rates of the components, and the change in semimajor axis (orbital separation) are then derived for binary asteroid systems with circular and equatorial mutual orbits. Accounting for higher-order terms in the tidal potential serves to speed up the tidal evolution of the system leading to underestimates in the time rates of change of the spin rates, semimajor axis, and mean motion in the mutual orbit if such corrections are ignored. Special attention is given to the effect of close orbits on the calculation of material properties of the components, in terms of the rigidity and tidal dissipation function, based on the tidal evolution of the system. It is found that accurate determinations of the physical parameters of the system, e.g., densities, sizes, and current separation, are typically more important than accounting for higher-order terms in the potential when calculating material properties. In the scope of the long-term tidal evolution of the semimajor axis and the component spin rates, correcting for close orbits is a small effect, but for an instantaneous rate of change in spin rate, semimajor axis, or mean motion, the close-orbit correction can be on the order of tens of percent. This work has possible implications for the determination of the Roche limit and for spin-state alteration during close flybys.     

CaseA evolution of massive close binary systems

The caseA evolution of close binary systems with total mass of 20.4M is investigated by following the evolution of both components simultaneously. The evolution is followed up to the stage at which a system overflows the outer critical surface or evolves into the phase of modeBr mass-transfer. It is found that the evolution of the systems can be classified into six types. The ranges of initial parameters which lead systems to each type of evolution are shown on the initial-parameter plane. The evolutionary features of each evolution type are described in detail.     

Tidal fluxes and evolution of binary star systems

Explicit analytical expressions for the tidal velocities in the stars which are components of the binary system are obtained, taking into account the viscosity of the stellar matter, the star's rotation, the eccentricity of the orbit and tilt of the axis of rotation to the orbital plane.Equations which determine the tidal evolution of the star's axial and orbital motions are obtained and analyzed. Numerical solutions of these equations are analyzed.     

Case a evolution of massive close binary systems

We present in this paper the evolutionary characteristics of the systems belonging to two evolution types, designated as 1C2COf and 1Nc2COf, among seven evolution types which were studied in the preceding paper of this series. These two types are most complicated and interesting in the evolutionary behaviour, which consists of repeated detached, semi-detached, and contact phases. We discuss observational aspects of the results. Evolutionary behaviour of the systems are also discussed, compared with the thermal relaxation oscillation model.     

Case a evolution of massive close binary systems

The evolution of three close binary systems of total mass 20.4M in and after the phase of mode Br mass-transfer in caseA of mass exchange is investigated. In every case a secondary component evolves to interfere with the progress of primary's evolution and the system overflows the outer critical surface before the primary completes its nuclear-burning evolution. This strongly indicates the importance of simultaneous calculation of both components. A summary of evolution of the systems considered in this series of papers up to the stage ofL ₂-overflow is given. The observational aspects of the numerical models are also discussed.     

Accretion, ablation and propeller evolution in close millisecond pulsar binary systems

A model for the formation and evolution of binary millisecond radio pulsars in systems with low mass companions (<0.1 M_⊙) is investigated using a binary population synthesis technique. Taking into account the non conservative evolution of the system due to mass loss from an accretion disk as a result of propeller action and from the companion via ablation by the pulsar, the transition from the accretion powered to rotation powered phase is investigated. It is shown that the operation of the propeller and ablation mechanisms can be responsible for the formation and evolution of black widow millisecond pulsar systems from the low mass X-ray binary phase at an orbital period of ～0.1 day. For a range of population synthesis input parameters, the results reveal that a population of black widow millisecond pulsars characterized by orbital periods as long as ～0.4 days and companion masses as low as ～0.005 M_⊙ can be produced. The orbital periods and minimum companion mass of this radio millisecond pulsar population critically depend on the thermal bloating of the semi-degenerate hydrogen mass losing component, with longer orbital periods for a greater degree of bloating. Provided that the radius of the companion is increased by about a factor of 2 relative to a fully degenerate, zero temperature configuration, an approximate agreement between observed long orbital periods and theoretical modeling of hydrogen rich donors can be achieved. We find no discrepancy between the estimated birth rates for LMXBs and black widow systems, which on average are ${\sim}1.3\times10^{-5}~{\rm yr}^{-1}$ and $1.3\times10^{-7}~{\rm yr}^{-1}$ respectively.     

Tidal flows in binary systems

The expressions of the tidal velocity in not very close binaries (double stars, the Sun and a planet, a planet and a satellite) are derived and applied in particular to white dwarfs and the giant planets of the solar system. The magnitude of the velocity on the surface of Jupiter is estimated to be about 0.5 cm s^?1. In white dwarfs the velocities of the order of tens m s^?1 may be encountered, and they can influence their evolution. The symmetry of the tidal flows is noted to be suitable for the magnetic field generation.     

The weak friction approximation and tidal evolution in close binary systems

The aim of this paper is to study the dynamical problem of tidal friction in a binary system consisting of deformable components, with the restriction that the angle of lag or advance of the tidal distortion with respect to the direction of the disturbing companion is small. The fractional distortion of the bodies due to rotation and tidal interaction is also treated as a first-order small quantity, and terms up to the fourth harmonic in the tidal potential are retained. In this linear approximation, the time-dependent tidal potential can be Fourier decomposed into a spectrum of simple harmonic terms, each of which is responsible for raising a partial wave in the body; each such partial wave can then be treated independently of the others. This is the method first employed by Darwin.In Section 2, it is assumed that the phase lag in the response of the body (due to dissipation of kinetic energy of deformation) is proportional to the forcing frequency, which is justified for small amplitude oscillations of a viscous fluid or visco-elastic body. A simple expression is then obtained for the potential function for the distortion in terms of the disturbing potential and the structure of the body.In Section 3, the distortion potential function is employed in deriving the componentsR, S andW of the disturbing force which are then substituted in the Gaussian form of the equations for variation of the elements. In Section 4, the Eulerian equations for motion of deformable bodies are derived, using the so-called mean axes of the body as the rotating axes of reference. In Section 5, it is shown that the dynamical effects of rotational distortion occur on a much shorter time scale than those arising from tidal friction, which allows one to consider the two phenomena as acting independently of one another. The collected set of Gaussian (orbital) and Eulerian (body) equations is re-written in terms of dimensionless variables for the tidal friction case, and the stability of the system is examined on the basis of these equations.In Section 6, the tidal friction equations are integrated numerically for the close binary system AG Persei and for the Earth-Moon system. In the former, the integrations were started from a highly elliptical orbit and the system was found to relax into a circular orbit, with synchronous rotation perpendicular to the orbit. In the latter, the integrations were performed backwards in time from the present day, and it was found that the lunar orbit rapidly becomes highly elliptical at the time of closest approach, thus indicating a probable capture of the Moon by the Earth. This result is in agreement with that obtained by other investigators; however, it is shown that the detailed behaviour of the system at the time of capture, in particular the inclination of the lunar orbit to the ecliptic, depends critically on the chosen rate of dissipation in the Moon's interior. A simple argument is presented which allows an estimation for the mean viscosity of a fluid body from the known age of the system: for the components of AG per, the result is 2×10¹¹ g cm^–1 s^–1, indicating that the stars must have possessed turbulent convective outer regions during some part of their tidal evolution, while for the Earth, the result, is 1.4×10¹² g cm^–1 s^–1. It is shown that the angle of tidal lag in nonsynchronous close binary systems in general is expected to be extremely small, and not observationally detectable.     

Tidal interactions in binary stellar systems

The tidal interactions in binary stellar systems are studied under the assumption that the orbital motion of the binary is negligible in comparison with the stellar motion. By integrating over time the tidal forces acting on the stars, the energy changes are derived. These are used to obtain simple analytical expressions for the rates of disruption and merging. This method gives appropriate value for the Roche density ρ_r and it is found that the disruption rate of a satellite of density ρ changes drastically at ρ ρ_R A comparison is made with earlier results obtained under the simplifying assumption that stellar motion is negligible in comparison with the orbital motion of the binary and its implications are discussed.     

Dynamical tides in close binary systems,I

The aim of the present paper will be to develop from the fundamental equations of hydrodynamics a theory of dynamical tides in close binary systems, the components of which are regarded to consist of heterogeneous viscous fluid, and to revolve around their common centre of gravity in eccentric orbits; moreover, the equatorial planes of their axial rotation and the orbital plane need not be co-planar, but all may be inclined to the invariable plane of the system of arbitrary amounts. The changes in the pressure or density invoked by time-dependent deformation will be regarded as adiabatic; but, in the equilibrium state, both the density and viscosity of the material of our components may be arbitrary functions of the radial distance.Following a brief exposition in Section 2 of the fundamental equations linearized to small oscillations — be these free or forced — in Section 3 we shall particularize them to describe spheroidal deformations; with due regard to all terms arising from viscosity. Section 4 will contain a specification of the boundary conditions to be imposed upon such oscillations; and in Section 5 we shall solve the problem of non-radial oscillations of self-gravitating inviscid configurations in terms of hypergeometric series. The remaining Sections 6–8 will be devoted to a discussion of the phenomena arising from viscosity: in particular, we shall solve in a closed form the problem of non-radial oscillations of incompressible viscous globes in the terms of Bessel functions. It will be shown that the effect of viscosity — like those of compressibility — tend to de-stabilize all non-radial oscillations of homogeneous configurations.At the other extreme, a similar treatment of a mass-point model — as well as of one exhibiting high but finite degree of central condensation — is being postponed for a subsequent communication.     

Loss of orbital angular momentum in close binary systems during their evolution

A total 91 binary systems of systemic mass less than 6.5M have been studied. It is found that binary systems obey the relation: logH=C–1.8 logM whereC is constant having values –1.18, –2.12 and –2.27 respectively for detached, semi-detached and contact binary systems. It is inferred that during evolution, the systemic orbital angular momentum decreases.     

Roundchrom emissivity in close binary systems

Roundchrom is a common chromosphere enveloping both components of close binary system. In present article, the problem of the construction of outward boundary of the roundchrom is examined, particularly, identifying this boundary with zero-velocity equipotential Lagrangian surface corresponding to a definite value of Jacoby constantC. The roundchroms for seven RS CVn type close binary systems as well for an interacting binary HD 207739 are constructed. The main parameters of these roundchroms are obtained, particularly, the electron concentrations are of the order of 10¹⁰ cm^–3.     

Dynamical tides in close binary systems

Differential equations governing the dynamical tides in close binary systems consisting of centrally condensed components of viscous gas are split up (Section 2) in their real and imaginary parts, the ratio of which defines the tidal lag. In Sections 3 and 4 these equations will be particularized to a case in which the central mass-point of each star is surrounded by an evanescent envelope the density of which decreases as the inverse square of the central distance. It is shown that self-gravitating configurations built up in accordance with this model are incapable of performing free nonradial oscillations with a frequency comprised between 0 ² ; but explicit expressions for forced oscillations representing dynamical tides are given for an arbitrary form of the external field of force. Equations for the imaginary components of the displacement, constructed for the same model in Section 4, disclose that if the viscosity of stellar material is identified with that of hydrogen plasma, the tidal lag due to a viscous dissipation of kinetic energy may produce dynamical effects, the cumulative outcome of which becomes appreciable on the Kelvin time-scale, but over short intervals of time their stationary photometric effects should be negligible. The latter can become observationally significant only for stars in which turbulent viscosity under near-adiabatic conditions becomes and important factor.     

Dynamical tides in close binary systems

The aim of the present paper will be to investigate the circumstances under which an irreversible dissipation of the kinetic energy into heat is generated by the dynamical tides in close binary systems if (a) their orbit is eccentric; (b) the axial rotation of the components is not synchronized with the revolution; or (c) the equatorial planes are inclined to that of the orbit.In Section 2 the explicit form of the viscous dissipation function will be set up in terms of the velocity-components of spheroidal deformation arising from the tides; in Section 3, the principal partial tides contributing to the dissipation will be detailed; Section 4 will be devoted to a determination of the extent of stellar viscosity — both gas and radiative; while in the concluding Section 5 quantitative estimates will be given of the actual rate at which the kinetic energy of dynamical tides gets dissipated into heat by viscous friction in stellar plasma.The results disclose that the amount of heat produced per unit time by tidal interaction between components of actual close binaries equals only about 10^–10th part of their nuclear energy production; and cannot, therefore, affect the internal structure of evolution of the constituent stars to any appreciable extent. Moreover, it is shown that the kinetic energy of their axial rotation can be influenced by tidal friction only on a nuclear, rather than gravitational (Kelvin) time-scale — as long as plasma or radiative viscosity constitute the sole sources of dissipation. However, the emergence of turbulent viscosity in secondary components of late spectral types, which have evolved away from the Main Sequence, can accelerate the dissipation 10⁵–10⁶ times, and thus give rise to appreciable changes in the elements of the system (particularly, in the orbital periods) over time intervals of the order of 10⁵–10⁶ years. Lastly, it is pointed out that, in close binary systems consisting of a pair of white dwarfs, a dissipation of the kinetic energy through viscous tides in degenerate fermion-gas could produce enough heat to account, by itself, for the observed luminosity of such objects.     

Dynamical tides in close binary systems

The aim of the present paper will be to deduce the explicit form of differential equations which govern dynamical tides in close binary systems, with simplifications which are permissible for the mass-point model (Section 2), as well as for one exhibiting finite but high internal density concentration (Section 3). It is pointed out that, whereas the exact formulation of the problem leads to a simultaneous system of equations of sixth order (fourth in the inviscid case), this order reduces to four (or two for inviscid fluids) for the mass-point model; and to five (three for inviscid case) if the density concentration is high but finite.In the last section of this paper the coefficientsC _i,j which specify the amplitudes of the individual partial tides are explicitly formulated as functions of the time.     

Re-analysis of close binary systems

Line-forming regions around close binaries with strong winds ( /4r _* v 10^–4 g cm^–2) are large in extent compared with the stars, large enough to screen them. Their orbitally-modulated Doppler shifts can overestimate the mass function, because of a larger rotational lever arm. In particular, most of the black-hole candidates need not involve companions more massive than a neutron star.The solar-wind problem is reconsidered. An extrapolation to Wolf-Rayet stars suggests that their winds are centrifugally driven. Their mass-loss rates tend to have been overestimated.Seemingly single (massive) stars can hide a (compact) companion.     

Gravitational radiation and spiralling time of close binary systems (III)

Twenty-seven typical binary systems have been investigated to study their power-output by gravitational radiation (P _B ) and spiralling time (₀) relation. It was found that these binary systems form two distinct groups. New relations have been given betweenP _B and ₀ for each group.