scholarly journals Fragile Binaries: Observational Leverage on Difficult Astrophysical Problems

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S240) ◽  
pp. 300-305
Author(s):  
T.D. Oswalt ◽  
K.B. Johnston ◽  
M. Rudkin ◽  
T. Vaccaro ◽  
D. Valls-Gabaud
Keyword(s):  
Binary Stars ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Age Determination ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Mass Relation ◽  
Space Motion ◽  
Sequence Components ◽  
Determination Methods ◽  
Cool White Dwarfs

AbstractLoosely bound,fragilebinary stars, whose separations may reach ∼ 0.1 pc, are like open clusters with two coeval components. They provide a largely overlooked avenue for the investigation of many astrophysical questions. For example, the orbital distribution of fragile binaries with two long-lived main-sequence components provides a sensitive test of the cumulative effects of the Galactic environment. In pairs where one component is evolved, the orbits have been amplified by post-main-sequence mass loss, potentially providing useful constraints on the initial-to-final mass relation for white dwarfs. The nearly featureless spectra of cool white dwarfs usually provide little information about intrinsic radial velocity, full space motion, population membership, metallicity, etc. However, distant main sequence companions provide benchmarks against which those properties can be determined. In addition, the cooling ages of white dwarf components provide useful limits on the ages of their main sequence companions, independent of other stellar age determination methods. This paper summarizes some of the ways fragile binaries provide useful leverage on these and other problems of interest.

scholarly journals Eclipsing binary stars as tests of stellar evolutionary models and stellar ages

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S258) ◽  
pp. 161-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keivan G. Stassun ◽  
Leslie Hebb ◽  
Mercedes López-Morales ◽  
Andrej Prša
Keyword(s):  
Binary Stars ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Eclipsing Binaries ◽  
Evolutionary Models ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Eclipsing Binary ◽  
Eclipsing Binary Stars ◽  
Sequence Components ◽  
Low Mass

AbstractEclipsing binary stars provide highly accurate measurements of the fundamental physical properties of stars. They therefore serve as stringent tests of the predictions of evolutionary models upon which most stellar age determinations are based. Models generally perform very well in predicting coeval ages for eclipsing binaries with main-sequence components more massive than ≈1.2 M⊙; relative ages are good to ~5% or better in this mass regime. Low-mass main-sequence stars (M < 0.8 M⊙) reveal large discrepancies in the model predicted ages, primarily due to magnetic activity in the observed stars that appears to inhibit convection and likely causes the radii to be 10–20% larger than predicted. In mass-radius diagrams these stars thus appear 50–90% older or younger than they really are. Aside from these activity-related effects, low-mass pre–main-sequence stars at ages ~1 Myr can also show non-coevality of ~30% due to star formation effects, however these effects are largely erased after ~10 Myr.

scholarly journals A million binaries from Gaia eDR3: sample selection and validation of Gaia parallax uncertainties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kareem El-Badry ◽  
Hans-Walter Rix ◽  
Tyler M Heintz
Keyword(s):  
White Dwarf ◽  
Binary Stars ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Mass Relation ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Public ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
The Masses

Abstract We construct from Gaia eDR3 an extensive catalog of spatially resolved binary stars within ≈ 1 kpc of the Sun, with projected separations ranging from a few au to 1 pc. We estimate the probability that each pair is a chance alignment empirically, using the Gaia catalog itself to calculate the rate of chance alignments as a function of observables. The catalog contains 1.3 (1.1) million binaries with &gt;90% (&gt;99%) probability of being bound, including 16,000 white dwarf – main sequence (WD+MS) binaries and 1,400 WD+WD binaries. We make the full catalog publicly available, as well as the queries and code to produce it. We then use this sample to calibrate the published Gaia DR3 parallax uncertainties, making use of the binary components’ near-identical parallaxes. We show that these uncertainties are generally reliable for faint stars (G ≳ 18), but are underestimated significantly for brighter stars. The underestimates are generally $\le 30\%$ for isolated sources with well-behaved astrometry, but are larger (up to ∼80%) for apparently well-behaved sources with a companion within ≲ 4 arcsec, and much larger for sources with poor astrometric fits. We provide an empirical fitting function to inflate published σϖ values for isolated sources. The public catalog offers wide ranging follow-up opportunities: from calibrating spectroscopic surveys, to precisely constraining ages of field stars, to the masses and the initial-final mass relation of white dwarfs, to dynamically probing the Galactic tidal field.

scholarly journals What Can Pre-Main Sequence Binary Star Populations Tell Us about Binary Formation Mechanisms?

2001 ◽  
Vol 200 ◽  
pp. 210-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Ghez
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Binary Stars ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Binary Star ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Primary Star ◽  
Binary Formation ◽  
Review Current ◽  
Made In

We review current observations of binary star populations with particular attention to what insight these populations can give us into the problem of how binary stars form. Significant progress has been made in the past few years, revealing variations as a function of site, primary star mass, and binary star separations. The variations in the binary star population with type of star formation site in comparison with the field, suggests that ∼30% of the field binaries formed in loose T associations and ∼70% formed in the dense progenitors of open clusters. Variations with mass and separation on the whole are well matched by the predictions of fragmentation followed by competitive accretion. However, there remains much work to be done on both the observational and theoretical end before a complete picture of binary star formation can be developed.

scholarly journals Modelling Early-type Stars in Eclipsing Binaries of Open Clusters: A New Method for Age Determination from the Ratio of Radii

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Yıldız
Keyword(s):  
Binary Systems ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Age Determination ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Eclipsing Binaries ◽  
Primary Star ◽  
Fundamental Properties ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
The Difference

AbstractBinary systems, in particular eclipsing binaries, are essential sources of knowledge of the fundamental properties of stars. The ages of binaries, members of open clusters, are constrained by their own fundamental properties and by those of the hosting cluster. The ages of eleven open clusters are here found by constructing models for the components of twelve eclipsing binaries. The difference between the ages we find and the ages of the clusters derived from isochrone fitting is up to 40%. For the binary system V497 Cep in NGC 7160, the difference is about 100%. Binary systems whose primary component is about to complete its main-sequence lifetime, such as V453 Cyg and V906 Sco, are the most suitable systems for age determination. Using model results for these stars, we derive an expression for sensitive and uncomplicated relative age determination of binary systems (age divided by the main-sequence lifetime of the primary star). The expression is given as a logarithm of radii ratio divided by a logarithm of mass ratio. Two advantages of this expression are that: (i) it is nearly independent of the assumed chemical composition of the models because of the appearance of the ratio of radii; and (ii) the ratios of radii and masses are observationally much more precise than their absolute values. We also derive another expression using luminosities rather than radii and compare results.

scholarly journals A Limit on the Space Density of Short-Period Binary White Dwarfs

1989 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 492-497
Author(s):  
Edward L. Robinson ◽  
Allen W. Shafter
Keyword(s):  
Orbital Period ◽  
Binary Stars ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Close Binaries ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Space Density ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Hot Subdwarfs ◽  
Orbital Periods

We infer that detached binary white dwarfs with orbital periods of a few hours exist because we observe both their progenitors and their descendents. The binary LB 3459 has an orbital period of 6.3 hr and contains a pair of hot subdwarfs that will eventually cool to become white dwarfs (Kilkenny, Hill, and Penfold 1981). L870-2 is a pair of white dwarfs and, given enough time, its 1.55 d orbital period will decay to shorter periods (Saffer, Liebert, and Olszewski 1988). GP Com, AM CVn, V803 Cen, and PG1346+082 are interacting binary white dwarfs with orbital periods between 1051 s for AM CVn and 46.5 min for GP Com (Nather, Robinson, and Stover 1981; Solheim et al. 1984; Wood et al. 1987; O’Donoghue and Kilkenny 1988). These ultrashort period systems must be descendents of detached pairs of white dwarfs. We also expect short-period binary white dwarfs to exist for theoretical reasons. All calculations of the evolution of binary stars show that main-sequence binaries can evolve to binary white dwarfs (e.g., Iben and Tutukov 1984). Among Population I stars, 1/2 to 2/3 of all main-sequence stars are binaries and about 20% of these binaries should become double white dwarfs with short orbital periods (Abt 1983, Iben and Tutukov 1986). Thus, about 1/10 of all white dwarfs could be close binaries (Paczynski 1985). Nevertheless, no detached binary white dwarfs with extremely short periods have yet been found.

scholarly journals Improved Constraints on the Initial-to-final Mass Relation of White Dwarfs Using Wide Binaries

2021 ◽  
Vol 923 (2) ◽  
pp. 181
Author(s):  
Manuel Barrientos ◽  
Julio Chanamé
Keyword(s):  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Mass Range ◽  
Mass Relation ◽  
Good Precision ◽  
Full Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Final Mass ◽  
Large Dispersion ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract We present observational constraints for the initial-to-final mass relation (IFMR) derived from 11 white dwarfs (WDs) in wide binaries (WBs) that contain a turnoff/subgiant primary. Because the components of WBs are coeval to a good approximation, the age of the WD progenitor can be determined from the study of its wide companion. However, previous works that used WBs to constrain the IFMR suffered from large uncertainties in the initial masses because their main-sequence primaries are difficult to age-date with good precision. Our selection of WBs with slightly evolved primaries avoids this problem by restricting to a region of parameter space where isochrone ages are significantly easier to determine with precision. The WDs of two of our originally selected binaries were found to be close double degenerates and are not used in the IFMR analysis. We obtained more precise constraints than existing ones in the mass range 1–2 M ⊙, corresponding to a previously poorly constrained region of the IFMR. Having introduced the use of turnoff/subgiant–WD binaries, the study of the IFMR is not limited anymore by the precision in initial mass, but now the pressure is on final mass, i.e., the mass of the WD today. Looking at the full data set, our results would suggest a relatively large dispersion in the IFMR at low initial masses. More precise determinations of the mass of the WD components of our targets are necessary for settling this question.

scholarly journals Binary Stars in Praesepe

1992 ◽  
Vol 135 ◽  
pp. 231-233
Author(s):  
Pavel Kroupa ◽  
Christopher A. Tout
Keyword(s):  
Binary Stars ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Equal Mass ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Independent Component ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Single Star ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Simple Models

AbstractIn open clusters the scatter about the single-star main sequence is usually negligible. However, unresolved binary systems are brighter and redder than single stars, and thus some ‘stars’ appear shifted away from the main sequence. We make very simple models of the Praesepe cluster, and find evidence that low-mass systems prefer independent component masses, whereas systems of higher mass than the sun appear to favour some correlation towards equal-mass components.

scholarly journals Flares in open clusters with K2

2021 ◽  
Vol 645 ◽  
pp. A42
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Ilin ◽  
Sarah J. Schmidt ◽  
Katja Poppenhäger ◽  
James R. A. Davenport ◽  
Martti H. Kristiansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Main Sequence ◽  
Open Cluster ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Mass Range ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Sequence Evolution ◽  
Mass Relation ◽  
Rotation Periods

Context. Magnetic fields are a key component in the main sequence evolution of low mass stars. Flares, energetic eruptions on the surfaces of stars, are an unmistakable manifestation of magnetically driven emission. The occurrence rates and energy distributions of flares trace stellar characteristics such as mass and age. However, before flares can be used to constrain stellar properties, the flaring-age-mass relation requires proper calibration. Aims. This work sets out to quantify the flaring activity of independently age-dated main sequence stars for a broad range of spectral types using optical light curves obtained by the Kepler satellite. Methods. Drawing from the complete K2 archive, we searched 3435 ∼80 day long light curves of 2111 open cluster members for flares using the open-source software packages K2SC to remove instrumental and astrophysical variability from K2 light curves, and AltaiPony to search and characterize the flare candidates. Results. We confirmed a total of 3844 flares on high probability open cluster members with ages from zero age main sequence (Pleiades) to 3.6 Gyr (M 67). We extended the mass range probed in the first study of this series to span from Sun-like stars to mid-M dwarfs. We added the Hyades (690 Myr) to the sample as a comparison cluster to Praesepe (750 Myr), the 2.6 Gyr old Ruprecht 147, and several hundred light curves from the late K2 Campaigns in the remaining clusters. We found that the flare energy distribution was similar in the entire parameter space, following a power law relation with exponent α ≈ 1.84−2.39. Conclusions. We confirm that flaring rates decline with age, and decline faster for higher mass stars. Our results are in good agreement with most previous statistical flare studies. We find evidence that a rapid decline in flaring activity occurred in M1–M2 dwarfs around the ages of the Hyades and Praesepe, when these stars spun down to rotation periods of about 10 d, while higher mass stars had already transitioned to lower flaring rates and lower mass stars still resided in the saturated activity regime. We conclude that some discrepancies between our results and flare studies that used rotation periods for their age estimates could be explained by sample selection bias toward more active stars, but others may point to the limitations of using rotation as an age indicator without additional constraints from stellar activity.

scholarly journals Infrared photometry of cool white dwarfs

1982 ◽  
Vol 198 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Wickramasinghe ◽  
D. A. Allen ◽  
M. S. Bessell
Keyword(s):  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Infrared Photometry ◽  
Cool White Dwarfs

scholarly journals Contribution of White Dwarfs to Cluster Masses

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 430-432
Author(s):  
Ted Von Hippel
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Evolution ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Solar Neighborhood ◽  
Current Evidence

The study of cluster white dwarfs (WDs) has been invigorated recently bythe Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Recent WD studies have been motivated by the new and independent cluster distance (Renzini et al. 1996), age (von Hippel et al. 1995; Richer et al. 1997), and stellar evolution (Koester & Reimers 1996) information that cluster WDs can provide. An important byproduct of these studies has been an estimate of the WD mass contribution in open and globular clusters. The cluster WD mass fraction is of importance for understanding the dynamical state and history of star clusters. It also bears an important connection to the WD mass fractions of the Galactic disk and halo. Current evidence indicates that the open clusters (e.g. von Hippel et al. 1996; Reid this volume) have essentially the same luminosity function (LF) as the solar neighborhood population. The case for the halo is less clear, despite the number of very good globular cluster LFs down to nearly 0.1 solar masses (e.g. Cool et al. 1996; Piotto, this volume), as the field halo LF is poorly known. For most clusters dynamical evolution should cause evaporation of the lowest mass members, biasing clusters to have flatter present-day mass functions (PDMFs) than the disk and halo field populations. Dynamical evolution should also allow cluster WDs to escape, though not in the same numbers as the much lower mass main sequence stars. The detailed connection between cluster PDMFs and the field IMF awaits elucidation from observations and the new combined N-body and stellar evolution models (Tout, this volume). Nevertheless, the WD mass fraction of clusters already provides an estimate for the WD mass fraction of the disk and halo field populations. A literature search to collect cluster WDs and a simple interpretive model follow. This is a work in progress and the full details of the literature search and the model will be published elsewhere.

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