Close Binary Systems Research Articles

Two evolved close binary stars: GALEX J015054.4+310745 and the central star of the planetary nebula Hen 2-84

ABSTRACT As part of a survey to find close binary systems among central stars of planetary nebula, we present two newly discovered binary systems. GALEX J015054.4+310745 is identified as the central star of the possible planetary nebula Fr 2-22. We find it to be a single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 0.2554435(10) d. We support the previous identification of GALEX J015054.4+310745 as an sdB star and provide physical parameters for the star from spectral modelling. We identify its undetected companion as a likely He white dwarf. Based on this information, we find it unlikely that Fr 2-22 is a true planetary nebula. In addition, the central star of the true planetary nebula Hen 2-84 is found to be a photometric variable, likely due to the irradiation of a cool companion. The system has an orbital period of 0.485645(30) d. We discuss limits on binary parameters based on the available light-curve data. Hen 2-84 is a strongly shaped bipolar planetary nebula, which we now add to the growing list of axially or point-symmetric planetary nebulae with a close binary central star.

The ionised and molecular mass of post-common-envelope planetary nebulae

Context. Most planetary nebulae (PNe) show beautiful, axisymmetric morphologies despite their progenitor stars being essentially spherical. Close binarity is widely invoked to help eject an axisymmetric nebula, after a brief phase of engulfment of the secondary within the envelope of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star, known as the common envelope (CE). The evolution of the AGB would thus be interrupted abruptly, with its still quite massive envelope being rapidly ejected to form the PN, which a priori would be more massive than the PN coming from a single version of the same star. Aims. We aim to test this hypothesis by investigating the ionised and molecular masses of a sample consisting of 21 post-CE PNe, roughly one-fifth of the known total population of these objects, and to compare them to a large sample of ‘regular’ (i.e. not known to arise from close-binary systems) PNe. Methods. We gathered data on the ionised and molecular content of our sample from the literature, and carried out molecular observations of several previously unobserved objects. We derived the ionised and molecular masses of the sample by means of a systematic approach, using tabulated, dereddened Hβ fluxes to find the ionised mass, and 12CO J = 2–1 and J = 3–2 observations to estimate the molecular mass. Results. There is a general lack of molecular content in post-CE PNe. Our observations only reveal molecule-rich gas around NGC 6778, which is distributed into a low-mass, expanding equatorial ring lying beyond the ionised broken ring previously observed in this nebula. The only two other objects showing molecular content (from the literature) are NGC 2346 and NGC 7293. Once we derive the ionised and molecular masses, we find that post-CE PNe arising from single-degenerate (SD) systems are just as massive, on average, as members of the ‘regular’ PNe sample, whereas post-CE PNe arising from double-degenerate systems are considerably more massive, and show substantially higher linear momentum and kinetic energy than SD systems and ‘regular’ PNe. Reconstruction of the CE of four objects, for which a wealth of data on the nebulae and complete orbital parameters are available, further suggests that the mass of SD nebulae actually amounts to a very small fraction of the envelope of their progenitor stars. This leads to the uncomfortable questions of where the rest of the envelope is and why we cannot detect it in the stars’ vicinity, raising serious doubts about our understanding of these intriguing objects.

On the Angular Momentum Transport Efficiency within the Star Constrained from Gravitational-wave Observations

Abstract The LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration (LIGO/Virgo) have recently reported in GWTC-2.1 eight additional candidate events with a probability of astrophysical origin greater than 0.5 in the LIGO/Virgo’s deeper search on O3a running. In GWTC-2.1, the majority of the effective inspiral spins (χ eff) show magnitudes consistent with zero, while two (GW190403-051519 and GW190805-211137) of the eight new events have χ eff > 0 (at 90% credibility). We note that GW190403-051519 was reported with χ eff = 0.70 − 0.27 + 0.15 and mass ratio q = 0.25 − 0.11 + 0.54 . Assuming a uniform prior probability between 0 and 1 for each black hole’s dimensionless spin magnitude, GW190403-051519 was reported with the dimensionless spin of the more massive black hole, χ 1 = 0.92 − 0.22 + 0.07 . This is the fastest black hole ever measured in all current gravitational-wave events. If the immediate progenitor of GW190403-051519 is a close binary system composed of a black hole and a helium star, which can be the natural outcome of the classical isolated binary evolution through the common envelope phase, this extremely high spin challenges, at least in that case, the existence of an efficient angular momentum transport mechanism between the stellar core and the radiative envelope of massive stars, as for instance predicted by the Tayler–Spruit dynamo or its revised version by Fuller et al.

Progress in investigations of highly evolved close binary systems

Progress in investigations of highly evolved close binary systems

On The Evolution of The Visually Close Binary System Hip42455

On The Evolution of The Visually Close Binary System Hip42455

THE 3-D NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF THE SMALL RADIUS ACCRETION DISK FORMATION IN MICROQUASAR CYG X-1. THE CASE OF THE HIGH RESOLUTION GRID IN THE VERTICAL DIRECTION

The present paper is devoted to small radius accretion disk formation in microquasar CYG X-1. The results show that in the case of the strong wind action on a disk the disk radius is about of 20 ÷ 30 per sent of accretor’s Roche lobe radius (it is about of 0.08 of orbital separation) instead of the standard disk radius equal to 80 ÷ 85 per sent of accretor’s Roche lobe radius (the last magnitude is a disk radius equal to 0.22 of orbital separation). In the present paper we try to resolve the problem that is arising in the case of microquasars when we investigate the accretion disk formation in these objects. Indeed, since the microquasars are the massive close binary systems (MCBS) in which the donor is massive stars of O-B class the strong wind is blowing from these stars. In this case the problem is arising: what is the situation in which an accretion disk in microqausars is formed. By the other words, it means what are the processes and the matter that are responsible for an accretion disk formation in microquasars: is this matter from one-point stream only or a disk is formed from the donor’s wind in essential or one is formed from both processes simul- taneously. This question is not idle since one is strong affects on ON-OFF state generations in the precession mechanism model. Since this mechanism is strong depending from the magnitude of the disk centre density and all the parameters affecting on it are very important for calculations. The matter configuration in the vicinity of one-point is one of these parameters that strong affects on ON-OFF state production and disk structure and the central disk density. By this reason we have investigated in the present paper how the disk structure is depending from the wind configuration in the vicinity of one-point.

THE 3-D NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF THE DEPENDENCE OF THE DISK STRUCTURE FROM THE WIND CONFIGURATION IN ONE-POINT IN MICROQUASAR CYG X-1. THE CASE OF THE HIGH RESOLUTION GRID IN THE VERTICAL DIRECTION

The present paper is devoted to the investigation how the disk structure is depending from the one-point wind one in microquasar CYG X-1. The results show that when the region in which the wind is absent in the vicinity of one-point has the size less or equal to 0.07 the disk radius is very small, order of 0.08 in units of orbital separation. When this size is increased to 0.115 the disk radius becomes to be of standard size to be equal to 0.22 in units of orbital separation. By the other words these results show that the disk structure is strong depending from many factors including and the donor’s wind configuration in the vicinity of one-point. This configuration is inherent to microquasars only. Indeed, since microqausars are the massive close binary systems; the donor in these systems is massive star from which the strong radiation- driving wind is blowing. On the other hand, in microquasars accretion disks are present and it means that one-point stream is also present in microqausars. It in turn means that the matter configuration in the vicinity of one-point is very complicated since the high mass loss rate donor’s wind and one-point stream must be existing in the vicinity of one-point simultaneously. This situation maybe resolved when we suppose that the central source in an accretion disk will influence on the donor’s atmosphere structure in the vicinity of one-point and in turn will be result in the break of wind in the vicinity of one-point. This finally will be means that one-point stream will be existing in one-point without a wind and it, flowing in the accretor’s Roche lobe, will be result in an accretion disk forma- tion. Here one problem is arising: what is the configuration of wind in the extended vicinity of one-point and from what the parameters this configuration is depending and haw this configuration will be results to the disk structure change. We good understand that this situation is arising in the case of microquasars only and we try to resolve this problem in the present paper.

Populations of Ultraluminous X-ray Sources in Galaxies: Origin and Evolution

A model of the population of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) in binary systems with black hole (BH) accretors is constructed by hybrid population synthesis and is compared with the model of the population of ULXs with magnetized neutron stars (NSs) that can be observed as pulsating ULXs (Kuranov et al. 2020). A model of the formation of BHs whereby their mass is determined by the mass of the CO core immediately before its collapse ( $$M_{\mathrm{CO}}$$ ) and ‘‘delayed’’ and ‘‘rapid’’ collapse models (Fryer et al. 2012) are considered. The possible transiency of ULXs due to accretion disk instability is taken into account. The parameters and evolution of ULXs in galaxies with a constant star formation rate (SFR) and in those with an old stellar population after an instantaneous star formation burst are computed. The maximum number of ULXs with BHs ( $${\sim}10$$ ) is reached in galaxies with a stationary $$SFR=10M_{\odot}$$ yr $${}^{-1}$$ $${\sim}1$$ Gyr after the beginning of star formation. ULXs observed after the end of star formation are close binary systems in which BHs and/or NSs formed before the end of star formation, while long-lived donors with a mass $${\sim}M_{\odot}$$ continue to overflow their Roche lobes after its end or have filled their Roche lobes even later. Several Gyr after the end of star formation the number of ULXs in galaxies with a mass $$M_{G}=10^{10}M_{\odot}$$ is no more than 0.1, most of them are ULXs with NSs. Persistent sources with a Roche-lobe-overflowing optical star dominate in ULXs with NSs, irrespective of the adopted star formation model. The transient sources are an order of magnitude fewer. The ULXs accreting from the stellar wind of the optical component are an order of magnitude fewer than the sources with accretion via Roche lobe overflow.

Stellar Chromospheric Variability

Cool stars with convective envelopes of spectral types F and later tend to exhibit magnetic activity throughout their atmospheres. The presence of strong and variable magnetic fields is evidenced by photospheric starspots, chromospheric plages and coronal flares, as well as by strong Ca ii H+K and Hα emission, combined with the presence of ultraviolet resonance lines. We review the drivers of stellar chromospheric activity and the resulting physical parameters implied by the observational diagnostics. At a basic level, we explore the importance of stellar dynamos and their activity cycles for a range of stellar types across the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. We focus, in particular, on recent developments pertaining to stellar rotation properties, including the putative Vaughan–Preston gap. We also pay specific attention to magnetic variability associated with close binary systems, including RS Canum Venaticorum, BY Draconis, W Ursae Majoris and Algol binaries. At the present time, large-scale photometric and spectroscopic surveys are becoming generally available, thus leading to a resurgence of research into chromospheric activity. This opens up promising prospects to gain a much improved understanding of chromospheric physics and its wide-ranging impact.

Spin-orbit misalignment from triple-star common envelope evolution

Abstract I study a triple star common envelope evolution (CEE) of a tight binary system that is spiraling-in inside a giant envelope and launches jets that spin-up the envelope with an angular momentum component perpendicular to the orbital angular momentum of the triple star system. This occurs when the orbital plane of the tight binary system and that of the triple star system are inclined to each other, so the jets are not along the triple star orbital angular momentum. The merger of the tight binary stars also tilts the envelope spin direction. If the giant is a red supergiant (RSG) star that later collapses to form a black hole (BH) the BH final spin is misaligned with the orbital angular momentum. Therefore, CEE of neutron star (NS) or BH tight binaries with each other or with one main sequence star (MSS) inside the envelope of an RSG, where the jets power a common envelope jets supernova (CEJSN) event, might end with a NS/BH-NS/BH close binary system with spin-orbit misalignment. Such binaries can later merge to be gravitational waves sources. I list five triple star scenarios that might lead to spin-orbit misalignments of NS/BH-NS/BH binary systems, two of which predict that the two spins be parallel to each other. In the case of a tight binary system of two MSSs inside an asymptotic giant branch star the outcome is an additional non-spherical component to the mass loss with the formation of a ‘messy’ planetary nebula.

An accreting white dwarf displaying fast transitional mode switching

Accreting white dwarfs are often found in close binary systems with orbital periods ranging from tens of minutes to several hours. In most cases, the accretion process is relatively steady, with significant modulations only occurring on time-scales of ~days or longer. Here, we report the discovery of abrupt drops in the optical luminosity of the accreting white dwarf binary system TW Pictoris by factors up to 3.5 on time-scales as short as 30 minutes. The optical light curve of this binary system obtained by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) clearly displays fast switches between two distinct intensity modes that likely track the changing mass accretion rate onto the white dwarf. In the low mode, the system also displays magnetically-gated accretion bursts, which implies that a weak magnetic field of the white dwarf truncates the inner disk at the co-rotation radius in this mode. The properties of the mode switching observed in TW Pictoris appear analogous to those observed in transitional millisecond pulsars, where similar transitions occur, although on timescales of ~tens of seconds. Our discovery establishes a previously unrecognised phenomenon in accreting white dwarfs and suggests a tight link to the physics governing magnetic accretion onto neutron stars.

Effect of tides on the orbital evolution of the redback system PSR 1723–2837

ABSTRACT The standard model of stellar evolution in close binary systems assumes that during mass transfer episodes, the system is in a synchronized and circularized state. Remarkably, the redback system PSR J1723–2837 has an orbital period derivative $\dot{P}_{\rm orb}$ too large to be explained by this model. Motivated by this fact, we investigate the action of tidal forces in between two consecutive mass transfer episodes for a system under irradiation feedback, which is a plausible progenitor for PSR J1723–2837. We base our analysis on Hut’s treatment of equilibrium tidal evolution, generalized by considering the donor as a two layers object that may not rotate as a rigid body. We also analyse three different relations for the viscosity with the tidal forcing frequency. We found that the large value measured for $\dot{P}_{\rm orb}$ can be reached by systems where the donor star rotates slower (by few per cent) than the orbit just after mass transfer episodes. Van Staden & Antoniadis have observed this object and reported a lack of synchronism, opposite to that required by the Hut’s theory to account for the observed $\dot{P}_{\rm orb}$. Motivated by this discrepancy, we analyse photometric data obtained by the spacecraft Kepler second mission K2, with the purpose of identifying the periods present in PSR J1723–2837. We notice several periods close to those of the orbit and the rotation. The obtained periods pattern reveals the presence of a more complex phenomenology, which would not be well described in the frame of the weak friction model of equilibrium tides.

Impact of magnetic braking on high-mass close binary formation

ABSTRACT Combining numerical simulations and analytical modelling, we investigate whether close binary systems form by the effect of magnetic braking. Using magnetohydrodynamics simulations, we calculate the cloud evolution with a sink, for which we do not resolve the binary system or binary orbital motion to realize long-term time integration. Then, we analytically estimate the binary separation using the accreted mass and angular momentum obtained from the simulation. In unmagnetized clouds, wide binary systems with separations of >100 au form, in which the binary separation continues to increase during the main accretion phase. In contrast, close binary systems with separations of <100 au can form in magnetized clouds. Since the efficiency of magnetic braking strongly depends on both the strength and configuration of the magnetic field, they also affect the formation conditions of a close binary. In addition, the protostellar outflow has a negative impact on close binary formation, especially when the rotation axis of the prestellar cloud is aligned with the global magnetic field. The outflow interrupts the accretion of gas with small angular momentum, which is expelled from the cloud, while gas with large angular momentum preferentially falls from the side of the outflow on to the binary system and widens the binary separation. This study shows that a cloud with a magnetic field that is not parallel to the rotation axis is a favourable environment for the formation of close binary systems.

Optical Transients from Fast Radio Bursts Heating Companion Stars in Close Binary Systems

Abstract Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are bright radio transients with short durations and extremely high brightness temperatures, and their physical origins are still unknown. Recently, a repeating source, FRB 20200120E, was found in a globular cluster in the very nearby M81 galaxy. The associated globular cluster has an age of ∼9.13 Gyr, and hosts an old population of stars. In this work, we consider that an FRB source is in a close binary system with a low-mass main-sequence star as its companion. Due to the large burst energy of the FRB, when the companion star stops the FRB, its surface would be heated by the radiation-induced shock, and make reemission. For a binary system with a solar-like companion star and an orbital period of a few days, we find that the reemission is mainly at an optical band, with delays of a few seconds after the FRB. Its luminosity is several times larger than the solar luminosity, and the duration is about hundreds of seconds. Such a transient might be observable in a future multiwavelength follow-up observation for Galactic FRB sources.

Neutrino pair annihilation (nu {bar{nu }}rightarrow e^-e^+) in the presence of quintessence surrounding a black hole

Quintessence fields, introduced to explain the speed-up of the Universe, might affect the geometry of spacetime surrounding black holes, as compared to the standard Schwarzschild and Kerr geometries. In this framework, we study the neutrino pairs annihilation into electron-positron pairs (nu {bar{nu }}rightarrow e^-e^+) near the surface of a neutron star, focusing, in particular, on the Schwarzschild-like geometry in presence of quintessence fields. The effect of the latter is to increase the photon-sphere radius (R_{ph}), increasing in such a way the maximum energy deposition rate near to R_{ph}. The rate turns out to be several orders of magnitude greater than the rate computed in the framework of General Relativity. These results might provide a rising in the GRBs energy emitted from a close binary neutron star system and might be used to constraints the parameters of the quintessence model. Finally we theoretically study the effects of rotation on the neutrino energy deposition.

New Blue and Red Variable Stars in NGC 247

Abstract Images recorded with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini South are combined with archival images from other facilities to search for variable stars in the southern half of the nearby disk galaxy NGC 247. Fifteen new periodic and nonperiodic variables are identified. These include three Cepheids with periods <25 days, four semiregular variables, one of which shows light variations similar to those of R CrB stars, five variables with intrinsic visible/red brightnesses and colors that are similar to those of luminous blue variables (LBVs), and three fainter blue variables, one of which may be a noneclipsing close binary system. The S Doradus instability strip defines the upper envelope of a distinct sequence of objects on the (i, g−i) color–magnitude diagram (CMD) of NGC 247. The frequency of variability of an amplitude ≥0.1 magnitude in the part of the CMD that contains LBVs over the seven-month period when the GMOS images were recorded is ∼0.2. The light curve of the B[e] supergiant J004702.18–204739.9, which is among the brightest stars in NGC 247, is also examined. Low-amplitude variations on day-to-day timescales are found, coupled with a systematic trend in mean brightness over a six-month time interval.

Planet migration in accretion discs in binary systems

AbstractWe model evolution of exoplanets of S-type in close binary systems at the stage when the companion starts to lose mass via a slow stellar wind. At this stage an accretion disc is formed around the planets’ host. Detailed structure of such discs is calculated in quasi-stationary and non-stationary approaches. We model migration of planets embedded in these discs.

Asynchronous Stars in Close Binary Systems

Asynchronous Stars in Close Binary Systems

Physical and geometrical parameters of CVBS XIV: the two nearby systems HIP 19206 and HIP 84425

Data release 2 (DR2) from the Gaia mission was of great help in precise determination of fundamental parameters of Close Visual Binary and Multiple Systems (CVBMSs), especially masses of their components, which are crucial parameters in understanding formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. This article presents the complete set of fundamental parameters for two nearby close visual binary systems (CVBSs), which are HIP 19206 and HIP 84425. We utilised a combination of two methods; the first one is Tokovinin’s dynamical method to solve the orbit of the system and to estimate orbital elements and the dynamical mass sum, and the second one is Al-Wardat’s method for analysing CVBMSs to estimate the physical parameters of the individual components. The latest method employs grids of Kurucz line-blanketed plane parallel model atmospheres to build synthetic Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs) of the individual components. Trigonometric parallax measurements given by Gaia DR2 and Hipparcos catalogues are used to analyse the two systems. The difference in these measurements yielded slight discrepancies in the fundamental parameters of the individual components, especially masses. So, a new dynamical parallax is suggested in this work based on the most convenient mass sum as given by each of the two methods. The new dynamical parallax for the system HIP 19205 of 22.97 ± 0.95 mas coincides well with the trigonometric one reported recently (in December 2020) by Gaia EDR3 of 22.3689 ± 0.4056 mas. The positions of the components of the two systems on the evolutionary tracks and isochrones are plotted, which suggest that all components are solar-type main sequence stars. Their most probable formation and evolution scenarios are also discussed.

The magnetic system SMSS J1606−1000 as a period bouncer

ABSTRACT We report the discovery of a rare close binary system, SMSS J160639.78−100010.7, comprising a magnetic white dwarf with a field of about 30 MG and a brown dwarf. We measured an orbital period of 92 min which is consistent with the photometric period. Minimum and maximum light occur at the orbital quadratures Φ = 0.25 and 0.75, respectively, and cannot be caused by reflection on the brown dwarf, but, instead, by a spot on the synchronously rotating magnetic white dwarf. The brown dwarf does not fill its Roche lobe and the system may be in a low-accretion state or, more likely, in a detached state following episodes of mass transfer. SMSS J160639.78−100010.7 is the nearest known magnetic white dwarf plus brown dwarf system.