Evolution of massive close binaries and formation of neutron stars and black holes

Main results of computations of evolution for massive close binaries (10M +9.4M , 16M +15M , 32M +30M , 64M +60M ) up to oxygen exhaustion in the core are described. Mass exchange starting in core hydrogen, shell hydrogen and core helium burning stages was studied. Computations were performed assuming both the Ledoux and Schwarzschild stability criteria for semiconvection. The influence of UFI-neutrino emission on evolution of close binaries was investigated. The results obtained allow to outline the following evolutionary chain: two detached Main-Sequence stars — mass exchange — Wolf-Rayet star or blue supergiant plus main sequence star — explosion of the initially more massive star appearing as a supernova event — collapsed or neutron star plus Main-Sequence star, that may be observed as a runaway star — mass exchange leading to X-rays emission — collapsed or neutron star plus WR-star or blue supergiant — second explosion of supernova that preferentially disrupts the system and gives birth to two single high spatial velocity pulsars.Numerical estimates concerning the number and properties of WR-stars, pulsars and X-ray sources are presented. The results are in favour of the existence of UFI-neutrino and of the Ledoux criterion for describing semiconvection. Properties of several well-known X-ray sources and the binary pulsar are discussed on base of evolutionary chain of close binaries.     

Evolution of massive close binaries

The evolution of a binary system with components of 10M and 8M is computed through a case B of mass exchange. It is found that after the end of core helium burning, a second stage of mass transfer from the primary occurs. Carbon ignition is prohibited by the large neutrino losses in the degenerated core. The primary remnant, a 1.12M star, ends as a white dwarf. A comparison with the 10M single evolution is made.This research is supported by the National Foundation of Collective Fundamental Research of Belgium (F.K.F.O.) under No. 10303.     

Advanced evolutionary phase of a first-generation star

The theoretical evolution of a first-generation star of 3M after the core helium-exhaustion phase has been investigated. The star displays the character of a double shell burning model. Shell hydrogenburning produces energy mostly by the p-p chain reaction. CN-cycle reaction is only operating in the inner edge regions where sufficient amount of carbon is formed by the 3-reactions. Hence, the shell burning time of the star is longer than that of normal stars, thus lengthening the total evolutionary lifetime of the first-generation stars.Prior to carbon-burning phase, the mass of the complete hydrogen-exhausted region is 1.14M and that of complete helium-exhausted region is 0.83M . A carbon-oxygen core of about 0.87M has developed within the star in which the ratio of carbon to oxygen is about 0.85, but decreases down to a value of 0.50 near the boundary of the core.     

Polar Plumes and Inter-plume regions as observed by SUMER on SOHO

We present observations of Ovi 1032 Å line profiles obtained with the SUMER instrument on SOHO extending from the solar disk to 1.5 R above the limb in the north polar coronal hole. Variations of the intensity and linewidth in the polar plume and inter-plume regions are investigated. We find an anti-correlation between the intensity and the linewidth in the plume and inter-plume regions with detailed plume structures been seen out to 1.5 R . Possible implications regarding the magnetic topologies of these two regions and related heating mechanisms are discussed. The Ovi linewidth measurements are combined with UVCS output to provide an overview of its variations with height extending up to 3.5 R . We find a linear increase of the linewidth from 1 to 1.2 R , then a plateau followed by a sharp increase around 1.5 R .     

The parameters of planetary nebulae and their central stars derived from observations

On the basis of data on planetary nebula (PN) central star temperatures obtained by measurements in the ultraviolet (UV) range, the empirical calibration dependence between the number of Lyman photons emitted by a central starS and PN diameterD, is constructed. The temperatures of 118 PN central stars are estimated with this dependence. It is shown that the central star masses are distributed in a wide interval from 0.5 to 1.2M . About 60% of all stars have masses <0.6M , about 25% have masses >0.6M and the remainder have masses 0.6M . The averaged empirical tracks of evolution of low-mass (<0.6M ) and massive (>0.6M ) central stars differing considerably from each other are constructed. It is shown that the majority of central stars may possess hot chromospheres (T>2×10⁵ K) which spread for several tens of radii of the central star. The PN originates as a result of ionization of the matter ejected by a red giant at the superwind stage. The cause for this ionization is the UV radiation of the PN central star.     

Three-component fluid model of the universe of critical density

A three-component fluid model of the Universe during the recombination era is analysed for = _c ( _c is the critical density). In addition to the well-known instability of the Jeans mode at 10⁹ M , we find two more unstable modes at 10¹² M .     

The product of the globular cluster collapse

In this paper we calculate the number of close binaries formed during the evolution process of a globular cluster core. The globular cluster core is assumed to contain a massive black hole at its center. We show that the central black hole can drive binaries formation in the core and the rate of binaries formation depends on the mass of the black hole at its center. When the massM of the black hole is between 10² M and 3×10³ M , there will be a few binaries formed. When the mass of the black hole is 4×10³ M M6×10³ M , the number of binary star formation will suddenly increase with a jump to the maximum value 58. When the mass of the black hole is 7×10³ M M9×10³ M , the number of binary star will immediately decrease. Whether cluster X-ray is produced mainly by the central black hole or by binaries in the core depends on the mass of the central black hole. Therefore, two cases arise: namely, black hole accretion domination and binaries radiation domination. We do think that we cannot exclude the possibility of the existence of a central black hole even when binary radiation characteristics have been observed in globular cluster X-ray sources.     

A Molecular Ring in the Liner Ngc 5218

High resolution OVRO CO 1–0 observations of the inner 30 in the LINER galaxy NGC 5218 reveal the presence of a double centrally peaked molecular concentration with extensions out to a radius of 12. The molecular mass detected is 2.4 × 10⁹ M and the gas surface density is high, 3000 M pc square in the inner 500 pc. The SFR is 2–3 M yr^–1 and the SFE is 13, which are low or moderate values for that gas surface density. We interpret the inner feature as a rotating molecular ring with a radius of 200 pc. We furthermore suggest that the LINER activity in NGC 5218 is not caused by an aging starburst, but by a buried AGN.     

Interferometer observations of the solar brightness distribution at 8.6 mm wavelength

The brightness distribution of the quiet Sun at 8.6 mm wavelength is synthesized from off-meridian observations using an eight element east-west interferometer with a maximum base line of 16.38 m (1913). The observed brightness distribution is practically flat from the disk center to the optical limb. The effective radius of the nearly uniform component is 1.01 R . If the limb brightening is present, the brightening located between 0.95 R and 1.01 R , and the total flux density of the limb brightening is less than 1% of the total flux density of the Sun. In addition to the nearly uniform component there exists a coronal component just outside the optical limb.     

Hidden mass in the solar neighborhood

It is suggested that the minimum mass of a star at the time of its formation is approximately 0.01M . Making use of this fact and the stellar mass functionF(M) M ^–, it is found that the hidden mass (or the missing mass) in the solar neighborhood may be explained by the presence of a large number of invisible stars of very low mass (0.01M M<0.07M ).     

Apparent radii and other parameters for 416 B5 V-F5 V stars of the catalogue of the geneva observatory

Apparent radius, visual brightness, effective temperature and absolute radius for 416 B5 v-F5 v stars of the catalogue of the Geneva Observatory (Rufener, 1976) have been determined.Twenty-eight stars, anomalous in log versus (m _v)₀ diagrams, have been singled out. A good correlation for seven stars, in common with the list of Hanbury Brownet al. (1974), has been found. Similar parameters determined for 279 B5 v-F5 v stars of two preceding papers (Fracassiniet al., 1973, 1975) have allowed us to determine the averaged diagrams logq _v/q, logR/R and logT _e versus (B-V)₀ for 695 B5 v-F5 v stars.Moreover, in the present paper a good correlation logq _v/q versus logR/R and careful relation M _v=–7.40logR/R +3.31 for B5 v-F5 v stars have been determined. Plain correlations between logR/R and blanketing parameterm ₂ for some spectral types seem to point out that there arereal differences in the absolute radii of stars of thesame spectral type, in agreement with recent researches on the HR diagram (Houck and Fesen, 1978).Systematic differences between double (spectroscopic and visual) and single stars are found. In particular, the averaged relation m ₂ versus logR/R shows that A2 v-F5 v double stars may have a higher metallicity indexm ₂ and smaller absolute radii than single stars. Finally, the diagram logv sini versus logR/R confirms some properties of binary systems found by other researchers (Huang, 1966; Plavec, 1970; Levato, 1974; Kitamura and Kondo, 1978).Thesis for the degree in Applied Physics.     

Relativistic isentropic stellar models

Relativistic, isentropic, homogeneous models are constructed by a method that automatically detects instabilities, and evolutionary tracks of central conditions are shown on a (T, ) diagram. Models heavier than 20M become unstable because of pair creation. Iron photodisintegration causes instability in the mass range between 1.5M and 20M . General relativistic effects bring about the onset of instability in models of 1.2–1.5M when the central density is about 10¹⁰ g/cm³. Lighter models become white dwarfs. It is pointed out that general relativistic instability will prevent the formation of neutron stars through hydrostatic evolution and may be relevant in setting off low-mass supernovae.     

An Apparent Gap in Stellar Mass Distributions at ≈ 0.7 M⊙ and a Possible Explanation

Mass functions for samples of white dwarf stars and for a largeheterogeneous sample of nearby stars appear to have unexplained deficitsin the 0.70 M to 0.75 M range. The existence, ornon-existence, of this anomaly constitutes a definitive test of afractal cosmological model that inherently predicts a gap in stellarmass functions at 0.73 M .     

Nature of the symbiotic binary V 1329 Cyg

The published photometric and spectroscopic data of the symbiotic binary V 1329 Cyg are interpreted. It is shown, that V 1329 Cyg is an eclipsing binary with an elliptical orbit orbit (e=0.28). The cooler component fills up the Roche-lobe at periastron. A model of moving gaseous structures in the system is proposed and their influence on the radial velocity curve is shown. The following characteristics of the system are derived: the cooler component is an M6 giant with mass 7.9M , radius 339R and luminosityM _bol=–5.42, the hot component is a white dwarf surrounded by an accretion disk. The mean distance between the components is 842R and in periastron it decreases to 605R .     

Red spectroscopy of IP Pegasi

Time resolved spectroscopy of the dwarf nova IP Pegasi in the range 7670–8320Å shows absorption lines originating from the cool secondary. A radial velocity curve for this component has been derived by cross-correlation with a normal M star. The curve has semi-amplitude K₂=288.3±4 km s^–1, and is slightly distorted. This distortion is equivalent to an orbit with an apparent eccentricity of 0.075±0.024. The mass function of the primary is 0.394±0.016M. From this we derive constraints on the component masses of 0.621<1.14M and 0.172<0.71M. The red star has a radius in the range 0.322<0.51R and is probably on the main sequence.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986     

Massive accretion disks

Recent high resolution near infrared (HST-NICMOS) and mm-interferometric imaging have revealed dense gas and dust accretion disks in nearby ultra-luminous galactic nuclei. In the best studied ultraluminousIR galaxy, Arp 220, the 2m imaging shows dust disks in both of the merging galactic nuclei and mm-CO line imaging indicates molecular gasmasses 10⁹M for each disk. The two gas disks in Arp 220 are counterrotating and their dynamical masses are 2×10⁹ M , that is, only slightly largerthan the gas masses. These disks have radii 100 pc and thickness 10-50 pc. The high brightness temperatures of the CO lines indicatethat the gas in the disks has area filling factors 25-50% and mean densitiesof 10⁴ cm^-3. Within these nuclear disks, the rate of massive star formation is undoubtedly prodigious and, given the high viscosity of the gas, there will also be high radial accretion rates, perhaps 10 M yr ^-1. If this inflow persists to very small radii, it is enough to feed even the highest luminosity AGNs.     

80 MHz observations of a moving type IV solar burst,March 1, 1969

The 80 MHz emission from a moving type IV source has been observed as the source moved from 2 to 51/4 R from the centre of the Sun. The emission came from a plasma cloud ejected in association with an extensive solar prominence. The cloud appeared to move with a speed ( 270 km/sec) approximating the local Alfvén velocity in the corona. At 2 R the emission was from a single unpolarized source, while at 5 R it was from two sources strongly circularly polarized in opposite senses. The physical conditions inside and outside the source and the emission mechanisms are discussed.     

The distribution of interstellar matter in NGC 654

The young cluster NGC 654 is studied using UBV photographic photometry with a view to determining the distribution of interstellar matter in a region where star formation recently occurred.NGC 654 is found to be enclosed in a shell of interstellar matter of mass 1500M . The mass of all stars in the cluster is 4000M .     

Population synthesis in starburst galaxies: Mkn 710

Evolutionary population synthesis models have been built to study the properties of the starforming processes taking place in starburst regions. BothZ andZ /10 stellar evolutionary tracks have been used to take into account that starburst galaxies are generally metal deficient. A very small time step allows us to follow the evolution of the cluster even during very short phases. Three parameters have been synthesized: the ratio of the Siiv (1400 Å) andCiv (1550 Å) UV absorption lines, that characterize the predominant massive stars in the cluster, the ratio of the WR_bump over the H luminosity, tracer of WR stars and the FIR luminosity, directly related to the extinction due to dust in the cluster. The predictions have been compared with observations of the burst taking place in the galaxy Mkn 710. The burst age is 5–6 Myr. The stars seem to have formed simultaneously with a mass spectrum whose slope is in the range (1,2) for massive stars. The upper mass limit has to be 60M . We have performed a systematic study of a sample of 17 starburst galaxies searching for differences in the star formation process that may be related to different metallicities or morphological types.Based on observations with the International Ultraviolet Explorer collected at the Villafranca Satellite Tracking Station of the European Space Agency.     

Structure of close binaries

Internal models have been obtained for uniformly rotating synchronous close binary systems using a modified double approximation scheme. We have considered primaries of 10M , 5M , and 2M with mass ratios of 0.0 to 1.0 in steps of 0.1, and some results are given for a 1M primary with a mass ratio of 1.0. A maximum luminosity reduction of 2.3% was found for a 10M primary with a mass ratio of 1.0 and 7.7% for a mass ratio of 0.0. The corresponding values for 5M are 2.0% and 7.0%, and for 2M they are 1.6% and 5.3%, respectively. These values were not found to be sensitive to small changes in composition. The maximum equatorial velocity varies from 399 km s^–1 for 2M to 567 km s^–1 for 10M when the mass ratio is zero, but these velocities decrease by 200–300 km s^–1 if the mass ratio is unity. The effect of gravity darkening on the apparent position of the primary in the theoretical H-R diagram was investigated. It was determined that an unresolved close binary of unit mass ratio can lie up to 0.9 magnitudes (depending on inclination) above the main sequence, whereas if the effects of distortion are ignored this number is at most 0.75 magnitudes. There seems to be some observational support for the larger value. Two models of the secondaries are given and their dimensions are compared with their critical Roche lobes.