Formation of binary systems and protoplanetary discs: A unified approach

We develop a new thermodynamic approach to the problem of the last stages of star formation, when a collapsing fragment evolves adiabatically into its final state: single protostar, surrounded or not by protoplanetary disc, or binary system. In this context, we point out the crucial role of the angular momentum transfer: a very efficient mechanism tends to form double stars with small mass secondaries, while a total decoupling yields twin binaries. Intermediate assumptions allow the birth of both kinds of binary systems, as well as the formation of not very massive protoplanetary discs. Discs of larger mass, which would be required to produce protoplanetary systems as a consequence of dynamical instabilities, do not form under any circumstances. A representation of the outcomes as functions of the corresponding initial conditions on the usual – plane gives well definite regions for single stars, protoplanetary discs, unbalanced systems and twin binaries. On this ground, a preliminary estimate of the percentage of stars surrounded by planetary systems is possible. A particular numerical simulation confirms the bimodality of the mass ratio distribution as well as the main features of the – plane partition. A few suggestions about non-adiabatic effects are also given. Our thermodynamic approach, supported by the numerical one and by the analysis of the observational statistics, allow to define a first unitary sketch for the formation of binary systems and protoplanetary discs.