Mass transfer in eccentric binaries: the new oil-on-water smoothed particle hydrodynamics technique

To measure the onset of mass transfer in eccentric binaries, we have developed a two-phase smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) technique. Mass transfer is important in the evolution of close binaries, and a key issue is to determine the separation at which mass transfer begins. The circular case is well understood and can be treated through the use of the Roche formalism. To treat the eccentric case, we use a newly developed two-phase system. The body of the donor star is made up from high-mass water particles, whilst the atmosphere is modelled with low-mass oil particles. Both sets of particles take part fully in SPH interactions. To test the technique, we model circular mass-transfer binaries containing a  0.6 M_⊙  donor star and a  1 M_⊙  white dwarf; such binaries are thought to form cataclysmic variable (CV) systems. We find that we can reproduce a reasonable CV mass-transfer rate, and that our extended atmosphere gives a separation that is too large by approximately 16 per cent, although its pressure scale height is considerably exaggerated. We use the technique to measure the semimajor axis required for the onset of mass transfer in binaries with a mass ratio of   q = 0.6  and a range of eccentricities. Comparing to the value obtained by considering the instantaneous Roche lobe at pericentre, we find that the radius of the star required for mass transfer to begin decreases systematically with increasing eccentricity.     

Be Stars in Binaries

A brief review of Be stars in binaries is presented. Attention is paid to systems, where the Be phenomenon is clearly connected to the duplicity, but is not a simple consequence of mass transfer.     

On evolution of contact eclipsing binaries

It is shown that during contact eclipsing binaries evolution under the influence of stellar wind, magnetic stellar wind and with matter transfer by gas flow, in binary stellar systems there may take place a process of star merger (low mass stars) within 10⁵–10⁷ yr and a fast increase of distance between stars of massive binaries. W UMa-type stars are a finite evolutionary stage of very close and low mass binary pairs. As for contact systems of early spectral types (CE-systems), they are more varied in evolution.     

Are the W Ursae Majoris-type systems EK Comae Berenices and UX Eridani surrounded by circumstellar matter?

The variations of the orbital periods of two nearly neglected W UMa-type eclipsing binaries, EK Comae Berenices and UX Eridani, are presented through a detailed analysis of the O–C diagrams. It is found that the orbital period of EK Com is decreasing and the period of UX Eridani is increasing, and several sudden jumps have occurred in the orbital periods of both binaries. We analyze the mechanism(s), which might underlie the changes of the orbital periods of both systems, and obtain some new results. The long-term decrease of the orbital period of EK Comae Berenices might be caused by the decrease of the orbital angular momentum due to a magnetic stellar wind (MSW) or by mass transfer from the more massive to the less massive component. The secular increase in the orbital period of UX Eridani might be caused by mass transfer from the less massive to the more massive star. The possible mechanisms, which underlie the sudden changes in the orbital periods of the close binary systems are as the followings: (1) the variations of the structure due to the variation of the magnetic field; (2) the rapid mass exchange between the close binaries and their circumstellar matter. Finally, the evolutionary status of the systems EK Comae Berenices and UX Eridani is discussed.     

Late stages of the evolution of close binaries

Close binaries can evolve through various ways of interaction into compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes). Massive binary systems (mass of the primaryM ₁ larger than 14 to 15M ₀) are expected to leave, after the first stage of mass transfer a compact component orbiting a massive star. These systems evolve during subsequent stages into massive X-ray binaries. Systems with initial large periode evolve into Be X-ray binaries.Low mass X-ray sources are probably descendants of lower mass stars, and various channels for their production are indicated. The evolution of massive close binaries is examined in detail and different X-ray stages are discussed. It is argued that a first X-ray stage is followed by a reverse extensive mass transfer, leading to systems like SS 433, Cir X1. During further evolution these systems would become Wolf-Rayet runaways. Due to spiral in these system would then further evolve into ultra short X-ray binaries like Cyg X-3.Finally the explosion of the secondary will in most cases disrupt the system. In an exceptional case the system remains bound, leading to binary pulsars like PSR 1913+16. In such systems the orbit will shrink due to gravitational radiation and finally the two neutron stars will coalesce. It is argued that the millisecond pulsar PSR 1937+214 could be formed in this way.A complete scheme starting from two massive ZAMS stars, ending with a millisecond pulsar is presented.Paper presented at the Lembang-Bamberg IAU Colloquium No. 80 on Double Stars: Physical Properties and Generic Relations, held at Bandung, Indonesia 3–7 June, 1983.     

Orbital separation amplification in fragile binaries with evolved components

The secular stellar mass loss causes an amplification of the orbital separation in fragile, common proper motion, binary systems with separations of the order of 1000 A.U. In these systems, companions evolve as two independent coeval stars as they experience negligible mutual tidal interactions or mass transfer. We present models for how post-main sequence mass-loss statistically distorts the frequency distribution of separations in fragile binaries. These models demonstrate the expected increase in orbital separation resulting from stellar mass-loss, as well as a perturbation of associated orbital parameters. Comparisons between our models and observations resulting from the Luyten survey of wide visual binaries, specifically those containing MS and white-dwarf pairs, demonstrate a good agreement between the calculated and the observed angular separation distribution functions.     

Observations of binaries and evolutionary implications

Comparison of the characteristics of groups of stars in various evolutionary phases and the study of individual systems allow to make estimates of the parameters governing mass loss and mass transfer. Observations enable us in a few cases to determine geometric models for binaries during or after the mass transfer phase (disks, rings, common envelopes, symbiotics, interacting binaries, compact components).From spectra taken at different phases, radial velocity curves can be derived and masses and radii can be determined. In special cases spectra in different spectral ranges (visual, UV, X-ray) are required for the determination of the radial velocities of the two components (for X-ray binaries, for systems with hot and cool components). Information on parameters related to the mass transfer process enables us to consider non conservative evolution — i.e. the computation of evolutionary sequences with the assumption that mass and angular momentum not only are transferred from one of the components towards the other one, but that also mass and angular momentum can leave the system. Careful and detailed analysis of the observations allows in certain cases to determine the parameters governing this mass and angular momentum loss, and for contact phases, to determine the degree of contact.Paper presented at the Lembang-Bamberg IAU Colloquium No. 80 on Double Stars: Physical Properties and Generic Relations, held at Bandung, Indonesia, 3–7 June, 1983.     

Accretion and evolution in close binaries

The discovery of X-ray binary systems in the 1960's opened up stellar evolution theory by revealing further endpoints in addition to white dwarfs. This review summarises recent progress in studies of stellar-evolutionary processes that lead to X-ray binaries themselves, the mass transfer rates that power them, and the accretion processes which convert this into electromagnetic radiation. Particular attention is paid to the topics of mass transfer fluctuations and of the accretion by magnetic compact stars.     

Low resolution spectroscopy of selected Algol systems

The analysis of spectroscopic data for 30 Algol-type binaries is presented. All these systems are short period Algols having primaries with spectral types B and A. Dominant spectral lines were identified for the spectra collected and their equivalent widths were calculated. All the spectra were examined to understand presence of mass transfer, a disk or circumstellar matter and chromospheric emission. We also present first spectroscopic and period study for few Algols and conclude that high resolution spectra within and outside the primary minimum are needed for better understanding of these Algol type close binaries.     

Massive stars

We describe the present state of massive star research seen from the viewpoint of stellar evolution, with special emphasis on close binaries. Statistics of massive close binaries are reasonably complete for the Solar neighbourhood. We defend the thesis that within our knowledge, many scientific results where the effects of binaries are not included, have an academic value, but may be far from reality. In chapter I, we summarize general observations of massive stars where we focus on the HR diagram, stellar wind mass loss rates, the stellar surface chemistry, rotation, circumstellar environments, supernovae. Close binaries can not be studied separately from single stars and vice versa. First, the evolution of single stars is discussed (chapter I). We refer to new calculations with updated stellar wind mass loss rate formalisms and conclusions are proposed resulting from a comparison with representative observations. Massive binaries are considered in chapter II. Basic processes are briefly described, i.e. the Roche lobe overflow and mass transfer, the common envelope process, the spiral-in process in binaries with extreme mass ratio, the effects of mass accretion and the merging process, the implications of the (asymmetric) supernova explosion of one of the components on the orbital parameters of the binary. Evolutionary computations of interacting close binaries are discussed and general conclusions are drawn. The enormous amount of observational data of massive binaries is summarized. We separately consider the non-evolved and evolved systems. The latter class includes the semi-detached and contact binaries, the WR binaries, the X-ray binaries, the runaways, the single and binary pulsars. A general comparison between theoretical evolution and observations is combined with a discussion of specially interesting binaries: the evolved binaries HD 163181, HD 12323, HD 14633, HD 193516, HD 25638, HD 209481, Per and Sgr; the WR+OB binary V444 Cyg; the high mass X-ray binaries Vela X-1, Wray 977, Cyg X-1; the low mass X-ray binaries Her X-1 and those with a black hole candidate; the runaway Pup, the WR+compact companion candidates Cyg X-3, HD 50896 and HD 197406. We finally propose an overall evolutionary model of massive close binaries as a function of primary mass, mass ratio and orbital period. Chapter III deals with massive star population synthesis with a realistic population of binaries. We discuss the massive close binary frequency, mass ratio and period distribution, the observations that allow to constrain possible asymmetries during the supernova explosion of a massive star. We focuss on the comparison between observed star numbers (as a function of metallicity) and theoretically predicted numbers of stellar populations in regions of continuous star formation and in starburst regions. Special attention is given to the O-type star/WR star/red supergiant star population, the pulsar and binary pulsar population, the supernova rates. Received 17 July 1998     

A Model for Contact Binary Systems

A model for contact binary systems is presented, which incorporates the following special features: a) The energy exchange between the components is based on the understand-ing that the energy exchange is due to the release of potential, kinetic and thermal energies of the exchanged mass. b) A special form of mass and angular momentum loss occurring in contact binaries is losses via the outer Lagrangian point. c) The effects of spin, orbital rota-tion and tidal action on the stellar structure as well as the effect of meridian circulation on the mixing of the chemical elements are considered. d) The model is valid not only for low-mass contact binaries but also for high-mass contact binaries. For illustration, we used the model to trace the evolution of a massive binary system consisting of one 12M and one 5M star. The result shows that the start and end of the contact stage fall within the semi-detached phase during which the primary continually transfers mass to the secondary. The time span of the contact stage is short and the mass transfer rate is very large. Therefore, the contact stage can be regarded as a special part of the semi-detached phase with a large mass transfer rate. Both mass loss through the outer Lagrangian point and oscillation between contact and semi-contact states can occur during the contact phase, and the effective temperatures of the primary and the secondary are almost equal.     

活动双星的X射线冕活动

本文介绍了ＲＯＳＡＴ卫星对活动双星的观测及其观测性质,并比较活动双星的冕活动与同光谱带单层的不同,探讨次星的存在和质量转移对双量活动性的影响。     

Close binary systems before and after mass transfer: A comparison of observations and theory

From a search through the literature 174 close binaries with known absolute dimensions have been sampled. Distinction is made between systems before and after mass exchange. Mass, period and mass ratio distributions and relations of the group of unevolved binaries (i.e., prior to mass exchange) are transformed into corresponding distributions and relations of evolved binaries. The transformations are based upon theM _1f=g(M _1f) relation derived from an extended set of published theoretical computations of the evolution of close binaries. From this relation the following characteristics of the system after mass exchange are computed:M _1f,M _2f (andq _f),P _f. Five different modes of mass transfer were applied for the computation of the values ofP _f andM _2f. The variation of the period was calculated using the formalism given by Vanbeverenet al. (1979). The results are compared to the observations of binary systems after mass exchange, and are discussed together with an analysis of the effect of several selection effects present in the distributions. The main conclusion is that, during mass exchange in close binaries, more than 50% of the mass is lost to the system in the process of transfer, removing a large amount of angular momentum.This research is supported by the National Foundation of Collective Fundamental Research of Belgium (F.K.F.O.) under No. 2.9009.79.     

Orbital period changes of contact binary systems: direct evidence for thermal relaxation oscillation theory

Orbital period changes of ten contact binary systems (S Ant, ε CrA, EF Dra, UZ Leo, XZ Leo, TY Men, V566 Oph, TY Pup, RZ Tau and AG Vir) are studied based on the analysis of their     curves. It is discovered that the periods of the six systems, S Ant, ε CrA, EF Dra, XZ Leo, TY Men and TY Pup, show secular increases. For UZ Leo, its secular period increase rate is revised. For the three systems, V566 Oph, RZ Tau and AG Vir, weak evidence is presented that a periodic oscillation (with periods of 20.4, 28.5 and 40.9 yr respectively) is superimposed on a secular period increase. The cyclic period changes can be explained by the presence of an unseen third body in the three systems. All the sample stars studied are contact binaries with     .
Furthermore, orbital period changes of 27 hot contact binaries have been checked. It is found that, apart from AW UMa with the lowest mass ratio     , none shows an orbital period decrease. The relatively weak magnetic activity in the hotter contact binaries means little angular momentum loss (AML) from the systems via magnetic stellar winds. The period increases of these W UMa binaries can be explained by mass transfer from the secondary to the primary components, which is in agreement with the prediction of the thermal relaxation oscillation (TRO) models. This suggests that the evolution of a hotter W UMa star is mainly controlled by TRO. On the other hand, for a cooler W UMa star     , its evolution may be TRO plus AML, which coincides with the recent results of Qian.     

Magnetic activity and evolution of Algol-type stars – II

We examine the possibility of probing dynamo action in mass-losing stars, components of Algol-type binaries. Our analysis is based on the calculation of non-conservative evolution of these systems. We model the systems U Sge and β Per where the more massive companion fills its Roche lobe at the main sequence (case AB) and where it has a small helium core (early case B) respectively. We show that to maintain evolution of these systems at the late stages which are presumably driven by stellar 'magnetic braking', an efficient mechanism for producing large-scale surface magnetic fields in the donor star is needed. We discuss the relevance of dynamo operation in the donor star to the accelerated mass transfer during the late stages of evolution of Algol-type binaries. We suggest that the observed X-ray activity in Algol-type systems may be a good indicator of their evolutionary status and internal structure of the mass-losing stellar components.     

First period analyses of five neglected Algol-type eclipsing binaries: TT And, V342 Aql, RW Cap, BZ Cas and TW Lac

We present the first study of the orbital period variations of five neglected Algol-type eclipsing binaries TT And, V342 Aql, RW Cap, BZ Cas and TW Lac, using their O–C diagrams gathered from all available times of eclipse minima. These O–C diagrams indicate that short term periodic variations superimposed on secular period increases as expected in mass transferring Algols. However, due to short time coverage of the data, the secular period increase is not clear in the case of BZ Cas and V342 Aql. The secular period increase is interpreted in terms of the combined effect of mass transfer between the components of the system and the mass loss by a stellar wind from the system. The mass transfer rates from the less massive secondary components to the more massive primaries for non-conservative cases would be about 10⁻⁷M/yr and 10⁻⁸M/yr for RW Cap and V342 Aql, respectively, and 10⁻⁹M/yr for TT And and TW Lac. Therefore, the Algol systems RW Cap and V342 Aql have the largest mass transfer rate, which could be in Case AB type, while those of the Algol systems TT And and TW Lac display the slow mass transfer rate and they could be in Case B type. The sinusoidal forms of the orbital period variations of all five Algol systems can be due to either by the light-time effects due to unseen components in these systems, or by the cyclic magnetic activity effects of the cool secondary components. The possible third bodies in all five Algol binaries would have masses larger than one solar mass. If these hypothetical large massive third bodies were normal stars, they should be detectable. Therefore, new photometric and spectroscopic observations of these systems and careful analyses of those data are required. Otherwise, the cyclic magnetic activity effects of the secondary components could be the basis of a working hypothesis in explaining the cyclic period variations of these systems.     

A source of high-velocity white dwarfs

We investigate whether the recently observed population of high-velocity white dwarfs can be derived from a population of binaries residing initially within the thin disc of the Galaxy. In particular, we consider binaries where the primary is sufficiently massive to explode as a Type II supernova. A large fraction of such binaries are broken up when the primary then explodes as a supernova, owing to the combined effects of the mass loss from the primary and the kick received by the neutron star on its formation. For binaries where the primary evolves to fill its Roche lobe, mass transfer from the primary leads to the onset of a common envelope phase during which the secondary and the core of the primary spiral together as the envelope is ejected. Such binaries are the progenitors of X-ray binaries if they are not broken up when the primary explodes. For those systems that are broken up, a large number of the secondaries receive kick velocities ∼100–200 km s⁻¹ and subsequently evolve into white dwarfs. We compute trajectories within the Galactic potential for this population of stars and relate the birth rate of these stars over the entire Galaxy to those seen locally with high velocities relative to the local standard of rest (LSR) . We show that for a reasonable set of assumptions concerning the Galactic supernova rate and the binary population, our model produces a local number density of high-velocity white dwarfs compatible with that inferred from observations. We therefore propose that a population of white dwarfs originating in the thin disc may make a significant contribution to the observed population of high-velocity white dwarfs.     

BV observations of W UMa-type binaries: CK Boo,BI CVn,and AH Vir

Photoelectric BV observations of W UMa-type binaries CK Boo, BI CVn, and AH Vir are presented, and light curve variations and shifts of minima are discussed in the context of stellar activity and mass transfer. The O–C increments in three systems were found to be 0.08, 0.80, and 0.60 s per revolution, respectively. The new ephemeris for the future observations were also found.     

The pulse-period distribution of binary X-ray pulsars

The pulse-period distribution of binary X-ray pulsars has been considered. A gap in this distribution, in the period rangeP10 s toP100s has been explained in terms of the character of mass transfer in the X-ray binary systems. It is shown that this gap arises because the rotating magnetised neutron stars in these systems are slowed down by accretion torques, either toP10 s when the mass transfer is by means of Roche-lobe overflow in low mass binaries, or toP100 s by stellar winds in massive binaries. The gap is maintained as the slow pulsars (P>100 s) in their spin-up phase cross the gap in a time short compared to their life-time, because of the increase in mass transfer with the evolution of the normal star.