scholarly journals Substellar Secondaries in Zero-Age Cataclysmic Variables

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 89-91
Author(s):  
M. Politano

AbstractThe present-day formation of cataclysmic variables (CVs) with brown dwarf (BD) secondaries is investigated using a population synthesis technique. Results from the latest, detailed models for BDs have been incorporated into the population synthesis code. We find that zero-age CVs (ZACVs) with BD secondaries have orbital periods in the range 46 min to 2.5 hrs, and that they comprise 18% of the total, present-day ZACV population. Consequently, we find that 15% of the present-day ZACV population should have orbital periods shorter than the observed orbital period minimum for CVs. We also investigate the dependence of the present-day formation rate of CVs with BD secondaries on the assumed value of the common envelope efficiency parameter, αCE, for three different assumed mass ratio distributions in ZAMS binaries. We find that the common envelope process must be extremely inefficient (αCE < 0.1) in order for CVs with BD secondaries not to be formed. Finally, we find that the progenitor binaries of ZACVs with BD secondaries have ZAMS orbital separations < 3 AU and ZAMS primary masses between ~1-10 M⊙ , with ~75% of the primary masses less than ~ 1.6 M⊙. Interestingly, these ranges in orbital separation and primary mass place the majority of the progenitor binaries within the so-called “brown dwarf desert.”

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-45
Author(s):  
S. Zharikov ◽  
G. Tovmassian

We discussed features of Cataclysmic Variables at the period minimum. In general, most of them must be WZ Sge-type objects. Main characteristics of the prototype star (WZ Sge) are discussed. A part of WZ Sge-type objects has evolved past the period limit and formed the bounce back systems. We also explore conditions and structure of accretion disks in such systems. We show that the accretion disk in a system with extreme mass ratio grows in size reaching a 2:1 resonance radius and are relatively cool. They also become largely optically thin in the continuum, contributing to the total flux less than the stellar components of the system. In contrast, the viscosity and the temperature in spiral arms formed at the outer edge of the disk are higher and their contribution in continuum plays an increasingly important role. We model such disks and generate light curves which successfully simulate the observed double-humped light curves in the quiescence.


1989 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 155-159
Author(s):  
R. E. Taam

AbstractThe current understanding of the common envelope binary phase of evolution is presented. The results obtained from the detailed computations of the hydrodynamical evolution of this phase demonstrate that the deposition of energy by the double core via frictional processes is sufficiently rapid to drive a mass outflow, primarily in the equatorial plane of the binary system. Specifically, recent calculations suggest that large amounts of mass and angular momentum can be lost from the binary system in a such a phase. Since the time scale for mass loss at the final phase of evolution is much shorter than the orbital decay time scale of the companion, the tranformation of binary systems from long orbital periods (> month) to short orbital periods (< day) is likely. The energy efficiency factor for the process is estimated to lie in the range between 0.3 and 0.6.


2020 ◽  
Vol 497 (3) ◽  
pp. 4022-4029
Author(s):  
L A Almeida ◽  
E S Pereira ◽  
G M Borges ◽  
A Damineli ◽  
T A Michtchenko ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Eclipse timing variation analysis has become a powerful method to discover planets around binary systems. We applied this technique to investigate the eclipse times of GK Vir. This system is a post-common envelope binary with an orbital period of 8.26 h. Here, we present 10 new eclipse times obtained between 2013 and 2020. We calculated the O−C diagram using a linear ephemeris and verified a clear orbital period variation (OPV) with a cyclic behaviour. We investigated if this variation could be explained by the Applegate mechanism, the apsidal motion, or the light travel time (LTT) effect. We found that the Applegate mechanism would hardly explain the OPV with its current theoretical description. We obtained using different approaches that the apsidal motion is a less likely explanation than the LTT effect. We showed that the LTT effect with one circumbinary body is the most likely cause for the OPV, which was reinforced by the orbital stability of the third body. The LTT best solution provided an orbital period of ∼24 yr for the outer body. Under the assumption of coplanarity between the external body and the inner binary, we obtained a Jupiter-like planet around the GK Vir. In this scenario, the planet has one of the longest orbital periods, with a full observational baseline, discovered so far. However, as the observational baseline of GK Vir is smaller than twice the period found in the O−C diagram, the LTT solution must be taken as preliminary.


2017 ◽  
Vol 468 (3) ◽  
pp. 3109-3122 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. van Roestel ◽  
P. J. Groot ◽  
D. Levitan ◽  
T. A. Prince ◽  
S. Bloemen ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Alejandro Vigna-Gómez ◽  
Morgan MacLeod ◽  
Coenraad J. Neijssel ◽  
Floor S. Broekgaarden ◽  
Stephen Justham ◽  
...  

Abstract Close double neutron stars (DNSs) have been observed as Galactic radio pulsars, while their mergers have been detected as gamma-ray bursts and gravitational wave sources. They are believed to have experienced at least one common envelope episode (CEE) during their evolution prior to DNS formation. In the last decades, there have been numerous efforts to understand the details of the common envelope (CE) phase, but its computational modelling remains challenging. We present and discuss the properties of the donor and the binary at the onset of the Roche lobe overflow (RLOF) leading to these CEEs as predicted by rapid binary population synthesis models. These properties can be used as initial conditions for detailed simulations of the CE phase. There are three distinctive populations, classified by the evolutionary stage of the donor at the moment of the onset of the RLOF: giant donors with fully convective envelopes, cool donors with partially convective envelopes, and hot donors with radiative envelopes. We also estimate that, for standard assumptions, tides would not circularise a large fraction of these systems by the onset of RLOF. This makes the study and understanding of eccentric mass-transferring systems relevant for DNS populations.


2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S276) ◽  
pp. 495-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo A. Almeida ◽  
Francisco Jablonski

AbstractQS Vir is an eclipsing cataclysmic variable with 3.618 hrs orbital period. This system has the interesting characteristics that it does not show mass transfer between the components through the L1 Lagrangian point and shows a complex orbital period variation history. Qian et al. (2010) associated the orbital period variations to the presence of a giant planet in the system plus angular momentum loss via magnetic braking. Parsons et al. (2010) obtained new eclipse timings and observed that the orbital period variations associated to a hypothetical giant planet disagree with their measurements and concluded that the decrease in orbital period is part of a cyclic variation with period ~16 yrs. In this work, we present 28 new eclipse timings of QS Vir and suggest that the orbital period variations can be explained by a model with two circumbinary bodies. The best fitting gives the lower limit to the masses M1 sin(i) ~ 0.0086 M⊙ and M2 sin(i) ~ 0.054 M⊙; orbital periods P1 ~ 14.4 yrs and P2 ~ 16.99 yrs, and eccentricities e1 ~ 0.62 and e2~0.92 for the two external bodies. Under the assumption of coplanarity among the two external bodies and the inner binary, we obtain a giant planet with ~0.009 M⊙ and a brown dwarf with ~ 0.056 M⊙ around the eclipsing binary QS Vir.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bogensberger ◽  
Fraser Clarke ◽  
Anthony Eugene Lynas-Gray

AbstractSeveral post-common envelope binaries have slightly increasing, decreasing or oscillating orbital periods. One of several possible explanations is light travel-time changes, caused by the binary centre-of-mass being perturbed by the gravitational pull of a third body. Further studies are necessary because it is not clear how a third body could have survived subdwarf progenitor mass-loss at the tip of the Red Giant Branch, or formed subsequently. Thirty-nine primary eclipse times for V470 Cam were secured with the Philip Wetton Telescope during the period 2016 November 25


2020 ◽  
Vol 635 ◽  
pp. A97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone S. Bavera ◽  
Tassos Fragos ◽  
Ying Qin ◽  
Emmanouil Zapartas ◽  
Coenraad J. Neijssel ◽  
...  

Context. After years of scientific progress, the origin of stellar binary black holes is still a great mystery. Several formation channels for merging black holes have been proposed in the literature. As more merger detections are expected with future gravitational-wave observations, population synthesis studies can help to distinguish between them. Aims. We study the formation of coalescing binary black holes via the evolution of isolated field binaries that go through the common envelope phase in order to obtain the combined distributions of observables such as black-hole spins, masses and cosmological redshifts of mergers. Methods. To achieve this aim, we used a hybrid technique that combines the parametric binary population synthesis code COMPAS with detailed binary evolution simulations performed with the MESA code. We then convolved our binary evolution calculations with the redshift- and metallicity-dependent star-formation rate and the selection effects of gravitational-wave detectors to obtain predictions of observable properties. Results. By assuming efficient angular momentum transport, we are able to present a model that is capable of simultaneously predicting the following three main gravitational-wave observables: the effective inspiral spin parameter χeff, the chirp mass Mchirp and the cosmological redshift of merger zmerger. We find an excellent agreement between our model and the ten events from the first two advanced detector observing runs. We make predictions for the third observing run O3 and for Advanced LIGO design sensitivity. We expect approximately 80% of events with χeff <  0.1, while the remaining 20% of events with χeff ≥ 0.1 are split into ∼10% with Mchirp <  15 M⊙ and ∼10% with Mchirp ≥ 15 M⊙. Moreover, we find that Mchirp and χeff distributions are very weakly dependent on the detector sensitivity. Conclusions. The favorable comparison of the existing LIGO/Virgo observations with our model predictions gives support to the idea that the majority, if not all of the observed mergers, originate from the evolution of isolated binaries. The first-born black hole has negligible spin because it lost its envelope after it expanded to become a giant star, while the spin of the second-born black hole is determined by the tidal spin up of its naked helium star progenitor by the first-born black hole companion after the binary finished the common-envelope phase.


2002 ◽  
Vol 187 ◽  
pp. 331-336
Author(s):  
L. Li ◽  
Z. Han ◽  
F. Zhang

AbstractA detailed study of the periods and light curves of binaries AK Her, AP Leo, AB And and AM Leo is presented. Based on the study of the O – C curves, we find that the period variation of each system contains several components with different frequencies, and we suggest that the periodical variations in the periods are likely influenced by different mechanisms. Based on the study of the light curve changes, we find that the light curves exhibit two kinds of variations: rapid variations and long-term variations. We investigate the physical mechanisms which may underlie the variations of the period and the light curve of each system and obtain some new conclusions. According to the characteristics of the rapid light variation in these systems, we suggest that the rapid change in the light curve is probably caused by pulsation of the common envelope, and that the mechanism(s) causing the pulsation may be mass transfer through the inner Lagrangian point L1 or its variation. Finally, the evolutionary trends of these systems are discussed, and we suggest that these systems may be progenitors of cataclysmic variables.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S282) ◽  
pp. 517-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. De Marco ◽  
J.-C. Passy ◽  
F. Herwig ◽  
C. L. Fryer ◽  
M.-M. Mac Low ◽  
...  

AbstractThe common envelope interaction between a giant star and a stellar or substellar companion is at the origin of several compact binary classes, including the progenitors of Type Ia SN. A common envelope is also what will happen when the Sun expands and swallows its planets as far out as Jupiter. The basic idea and physics of the common envelope interaction has been known since the 1970s. However, the outcome of a common envelope interaction - what systems survive and what their parameters are - depends sensitively on the details of the engagement. To advance our knowledge of the common envelope interaction between stars and their stellar and substellar companions, we have carried out a series of simulations with Eulerian, grid-based and Lagrangian, smoothed particle hydrodynamics codes between a 0.88-M⊙, 85-R⊙, red giant branch star and companions in the mass range 0.1-0.9 M⊙. In this contribution, we will discuss the reliability of the techniques, the physics that is not included in the codes but is likely important, the state of the ejected common envelope, and the final binary separation. We also carry out a comparison with the observations. Finally, we discuss the common envelope efficiency parameter, α and the survival of planets.


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