scholarly journals Testing Pre-Main Sequence Models with Young Binaries

2001 ◽  
Vol 200 ◽  
pp. 472-482
Author(s):  
Francesco Palla

I will discuss several tests to gauge the accuracy of pre–main-sequence (PMS) models. Methods to determine the mass of young stars are overviewed, with emphasis on the information provided by double-lined, spectroscopic binary systems. A comparison of the dynamically determined masses with those estimated using the PMS models of Palla & Stahler (1999) is presented. Good agreement between empirical and theoretical masses is found. The analysis of the inferred ages from the isochrones shows a remarkable coevality within each binary system. A complete assessment of the accuracy of PMS tracks needs the identification of eclipsing systems of low-mass.

2001 ◽  
Vol 200 ◽  
pp. 169-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. McCaughrean

We summarise the results of recent optical and near-infrared imaging studies of the binary fraction among young low-mass stars in the dense Orion Trapezium Cluster. Over the separation range ∼ 30–500 AU and within the observational errors, there appears to be no excess of binary systems in the cluster relative to the main sequence field star population. Over the separation range ∼ 1000–5000 AU, the cluster is deficient in binaries relative to the field. Both results are in contrast to those found for the more distributed population of young stars in the Taurus-Auriga dark clouds, which is overabundant in binaries by roughly a factor of two. We briefly discuss possible origins for this difference and observational tests which may distinguish between them, and the implications these results have for our understanding of the typical environment where most young stars are born.


2018 ◽  
Vol 619 ◽  
pp. A138
Author(s):  
V. Perdelwitz ◽  
S. Czesla ◽  
J. Robrade ◽  
T. Pribulla ◽  
J. H. M. M. Schmitt

Context.Close binary systems provide an excellent tool for determining stellar parameters such as radii and masses with a high degree of precision. Due to the high rotational velocities, most of these systems exhibit strong signs of magnetic activity, postulated to be the underlying reason for radius inflation in many of the components. Aims.We extend the sample of low-mass binary systems with well-known X-ray properties. Methods.We analyze data from a singular XMM-Newton pointing of the close, low-mass eclipsing binary system BX Tri. The UV light curve was modeled with the eclipsing binary modeling tool PHOEBE and data acquired with the EPIC cameras was analyzed to search for hints of orbital modulation. Results.We find clear evidence of orbital modulation in the UV light curve and show that PHOEBE is fully capable of modeling data within this wavelength range. Comparison to a theoretical flux prediction based on PHOENIX models shows that the majority of UV emission is of photospheric origin. While the X-ray light curve does exhibit strong variations, the signal-to-noise ratio of the observation is insufficient for a clear detection of signs of orbital modulation. There is evidence of a Neupert-like correlation between UV and X-ray data.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 371-371
Author(s):  
S. Narusawa ◽  
A. Yamasaki ◽  
Y. Nakamura

Although the evolution of binary systems has been qualitatively interpreted with the evolutionary scenario, the quantitative interpretation of any observed system is still unsatisfactory due to the difficulty of the quantitative treatment of mass and angular momentum transfer/loss. To reach a true understanding of the evolution of binary systems, we have to accumulate more observational evidence. So far, we have observed several binaries that are short-period and noncontact, and found the existence of extremely small-mass systems. In the present paper, we study another short-period (P=0.659d), noncontact, eclipsing binary system, V392 Ori. We have made photometric and spectroscopic observations of V392 Ori. The light curves are found to vary, suggesting the existence of circumstellar matter around the system. Combining the photometric and spectroscopic results, we obtain parameters describing the system; we find the mass of the primary component is only 0.6Mʘ- undermassive for its spectral and luminosity class A5V, suggesting that a considerable amount of its original mass has been lost from the system during the course of evolution. The low-mass problem is very important for investigation of the evolution of close binary systems: largemass loss within and/or after the main-sequence will have a significant influence on the future evolution of binary systems.


2018 ◽  
Vol 619 ◽  
pp. A121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Casanova ◽  
Jordi José ◽  
Steven N. Shore

Context. Classical novae are explosive phenomena that take place in stellar binary systems. They are powered by mass transfer from a low-mass main sequence star onto either a CO or ONe white dwarf. The material accumulates for 104–105 yr until ignition under degenerate conditions, resulting in a thermonuclear runaway. The nuclear energy released produces peak temperatures of ∼0.1–0.4 GK. During these events, 10−7−10−3 M⊙ enriched in intermediate-mass elements, with respect to solar abundances, are ejected into the interstellar medium. However, the origin of the large metallicity enhancements and the inhomogeneous distribution of chemical species observed in high-resolution spectra of ejected nova shells is not fully understood. Aims. Recent multidimensional simulations have demonstrated that Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities that operate at the core-envelope interface can naturally produce self-enrichment of the accreted envelope with material from the underlying white dwarf at levels that agree with observations. However, such multidimensional simulations have been performed for a small number of cases and much of the parameter space remains unexplored. Methods. We investigated the dredge-up, driven by Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities, for white dwarf masses in the range 0.8–1.25 M⊙ and different core compositions, that is, CO-rich and ONe-rich substrates. We present a set of five numerical simulations performed in two dimensions aimed at analyzing the possible impact of the white dwarf mass, and composition, on the metallicity enhancement and explosion characteristics. Results. At the time we stop the simulations, we observe greater mixing (∼30% higher when measured in the same conditions) and more energetic outbursts for ONe-rich substrates than for CO-rich substrates and more massive white dwarfs.


1999 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 405-407
Author(s):  
L.G. Taff ◽  
John L. Hershey

The M dwarf L722-22 (= LHS 1047) was discovered to be a binary system by Ianna 20 years ago. The analysis of the ground- based data indicated a mass 0.06M⊙ for the secondary. This is below the nominal stellar mass limit of 0.08M⊙. The importance of potential “brown-dwarf” candidates, and the fact that the masses of both components place them near the end of the main sequence, made this system a prime object for further, intensive, study.This close (separation 0."3), faint (V = 11.m5, 14.m4) binary was near the limit for ground-based work. The residuals of an individual night’s photographic data were typically at the 50% level. Also, the photographic images are completely blended. The few one-dimensional speckle data points yielded a merged, asymmetric image profile. Finally, this system is too faint for HIPPARCOS. Our proposal for Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) observing was approved in 1992.


2003 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 257-260
Author(s):  
Nick Siegler ◽  
Laird M. Close ◽  
Eric E. Mamajek ◽  
Melanie Freed

We have used the adaptive optics system Hōkūpa'a at Gemini North to search for companions from a flux-limited (Ks > 12) survey of 30 nearby M6.0–M7.5 dwarfs. Our observations, which are sensitive to companions with separations > 0.1″ (~ 2.8 AU), detect 3 new binary systems. This implies an overall binary fraction of 9±4% for M6.0–M7.5 binaries. This binary frequency is somewhat less than the 19±7% measured for late M stars and ~ 20% for L stars, but is still statistically consistent. However, the result is significantly lower than the binary fractions observed amongst solar mass main sequence stars (~60%) and early M stars (~35%).


1992 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 235-243
Author(s):  
Alan H. Batten

It is often assumed that a binary begins to interact when one of its components makes contact with its Roche lobe, thus “switching on” a new evolutionary process. The example of Y Cygni is used to illustrate the view that the whole lifetime of a binary helps to determine whether or not its components will interact. Of particular importance is the interval between the formation of a binary and the arrival of its components on the main sequence, during which probably all binaries are interacting. Barring accidents, the properties of the components when they reach the main sequence will define the whole subsequent history of the system, including whether or not there will be subsequent phases of interaction triggered by contact with the Roche lobe. Like any other mechanical system a binary will tend towards the state of lowest energy consistent with the constraints on it. This it can do by losing mass, equalizing the component masses, or reducing its separation. We therefore expect systems to tend to small masses to mass-ratios of unity, or to coalesce into single stars. In any given system, probably all three tendencies exist, but one dominates. For example, W Ursae Majoris systems may be fusing into single stars. The rotation, chemical composition, and magnetic fields of the component stars may modify the evolution of a binary and be responsible for the variety of interacting systems that we observe. Most interacting pairs are losing mass to the interstellar medium, so a complete study of binary evolution must consider not only the dynamical, but also the chemical, effects of binary systems on the evolution of the Galaxy.


1984 ◽  
Vol 105 ◽  
pp. 419-420
Author(s):  
Alvaro Giménez

The study of apsidal motions in eclipsing binaries has proven to be one of the best methods to check the internal density concentrations of the stars predicted by theoretical models. During the main sequence phase, we have found a good agreement between the observed apsidal motion rates and computer-constructed stellar models provided that a realistic consideration is made of the evolution between the lower and upper borders of the main sequence (Giménez and García-Pelayo, 1982). An obvious extension of this work is a throughout study of the more evolved evolved systems beyond the TAMS where theoretical models are less accurate and empirical data from different sources are largely needed (see review paper by Zahn in this volume). A preliminary report on such a study is presented.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S243) ◽  
pp. 231-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérôme Bouvier

AbstractStar-disk interaction is thought to drive the angular momentum evolution of young stars. In this review, I present the latest results obtained on the rotational properties of low mass and very low mass pre-main sequence stars. I discuss the evidence for extremely efficient angular momentum removal over the first few Myr of pre-main sequence evolution and describe recent results that support an accretion-driven braking mechanism. Angular momentum evolution models are presented and their implication for accretion disk lifetimes discussed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S266) ◽  
pp. 264-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ant Whitworth ◽  
Dimitri Stamatellos ◽  
Steffi Walch ◽  
Murat Kaplan ◽  
Simon Goodwin ◽  
...  

AbstractWe argue that brown dwarfs (BDs) and planemos form by the same mechanisms as low-mass hydrogen-burning stars, but that as one moves to lower and lower masses, an increasing fraction of these objects is formed by fragmentation of the outer parts (R ≳ 100 AU) of protostellar accretion discs around more massive primary protostars, which in turn formed in their own very-low-mass prestellar cores. Numerical simulations of disc fragmentation with realistic thermodynamics show that low-mass objects are readily formed by fragmentation of short-lived massive, extended protostellar accretion discs. Such objects tend subsequently to be liberated into the field at low speed, due to mutual interactions with the primary protostar. Many (~20%) are in low-mass (M1 + M2 < 0.2M⊙) binary systems with semi-major axes a ~ 1 to 2 AU or ~200 AU and mass ratios q ≡ M2/M1 ≳ 0.7. Most of the brown dwarfs have sufficiently large attendant discs to sustain accretion and outflows. Most of the BDs that remain bound to the primary protostar have wide orbits (i.e., there is a BD desert), and these BDs also have a significantly higher probability of being in a BD/BD binary system than do the brown dwarfs that are liberated into the field (just as observed). In this picture, the multiplicity statistics and velocity dispersion of brown dwarfs are largely determined by the eigen evolution of a small-N system, born from a single prestellar core, rather than the larger-scale dynamics of the parent cluster. Consequently, many of the statistical properties of brown dwarfs should not differ very much from one star-formation region to another.


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