Abstract
The formation of close, doubly compact binary systems from close massive binaries is considered. Massive X-ray binaries are shown to be possible progenitors of these systems. The recent observation of the binary pulsar indicates that doubly compact binary systems may exist. Reasonable scenarios can be developed in which at least one of the compact stars, in many cases, is a black hole. In general, these objects have evolved to separations less than 10 R/sub sun/, and thus their orbits decay (within 10/sup 10/ yr) via the emission of gravitational radiation. Black-hole-neutron-star collisions may therefore be possible in these systems. A model for the tidal disruption of a neutron star by the black hole in these systems is constructed, and shows that mass ejection to infinity from 1.3 M/sub sun/ neutron stars (a reasonable value suggested by evolutionary calculations) spiraling into black holes with masses less than 8--17 M/sub sun/ is possible, this range depending upon the neutron star equation of state. For much larger black hole masses, the neutron star breakup occurs inside the Schwarzschild radius of the neutron star. A statistical estimate for the frequency of black-hole-neutron-star collisions is given, and possible implications for nucleosynthesis and antineutrino emission aremore » discussed. (AIP)« less
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