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Results for “BINARY STAR”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Binary star orbits from speckle interferometry. 5: A combined speckle/spectroscopic study of the O star binary 15 Monocerotis

We report on the discovery of a speckle binary companion to the O7 V (f) star 15 Monocerotis. A study of published radial velocities in conjunction with new measurements from Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) and IUE suggests that the star is also a spectroscopic binary with a period of 25 years and a large eccentricity. Thus, 15 Mon is the first O star to bridge the gap between the spectroscopic and visual separation regimes. We have used the star's membership in the cluster NGC 2264 together with the cluster distance to derive masses of 34 and 19 solar mass for the primary and secondary, respectively. Several of the He I line profiles display a broad shallow component which we associate with the secondary, and we estimate the secondary's classification to be O9.5 Vn. The new orbit leads to several important predictions that can be tested over the next few years.

Gies, Douglas R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Gamma-ray bursts as the death throes of massive binary stars

We propose that gamma-ray bursts are created in the mergers of double neutron star binaries and black hole neutron star binaries at cosmological distances. Two different processes provide the electromagnetic energy for the bursts: neutrino-antineutrino annihilation into electron-position pairs during the merger, and magnetic flares generated by the Parker instability in a postmerger differentially rotating disk. In both cases, an optically thick fireball of size less than or approximately equal to 100 km is initially created, which expands ultrarelativistically to large radii before radiating. The scenario is only qualitative at this time, but it eliminates many previous objections to the cosmological merger model. The strongest bursts should be found close to, but not at the centers of, galaxies at redshifts of order 0.1, and should be accompanied by bursts of gravitational radiation from the spiraling-in binary which could be detected by LIGO.

Narayan, Ramesh↗
DOE OSTI2025

Black hole-neutron star binaries near neutron star disruption limit in the mass regime of event GW230529

In May 2023, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) Collaboration reported the likely black hole-neutron star (BHNS) merger GW230529_181500. The signal was observed with high significance in only one detector, limiting constraints on the black hole spin and motivating our study of disruption in this mass regime. That event is expected to be the merger of a 2.5–4.5 M ⊙ primary with a secondary compact object of mass between 1.2–2.0 M ⊙ . This makes it the first BHNS merger with a significant potential for the production of electromagnetic (EM) counterparts, and provides further evidence for compact objects existing within the suspected lower mass gap. To produce post-merger EM transients, the component of the black hole spin aligned with the orbital angular momentum must be sufficiently high, allowing the neutron star to be tidally disrupted. The disrupting BHNS binary may then eject a few percent of a solar mass of matter, leading to an observable kilonova driven by radioactive decays in ejecta, and/or a compact-binary gamma-ray burst (cbGRB) resulting from the formation of an accretion disk and relativistic jet. Determining which mergers lead to disruption of the neutron star is necessary to predict the prevalence of EM signals from BHNS mergers, yet most BHNS simulations so far have been performed far from the minimum spin required for tidal disruption. Here, we use the Spectral Einstein Code to explore the behavior of BHNS mergers in a mass range consistent with GW230529_181500 close to that critical spin, and compare our results against the mass remnant model currently used by the LVK Collaboration to predict the probability of tidal disruption. Furthermore, our numerical results reveal the emergence of non-zero accretion disks even below the predicted NS disruption limit, of low mass but capable of powering cbGRBs. Our results also demonstrate that the remnant mass model underpredicts the disk mass for the DD2 equation of state, while they are within expected modeling errors for SFHo. The disruption limit itself, however, is not found to significantly differ from the predictions of the analytical model, unless remnant masses M rem ≲ 0.001 M ⊙ prove interesting observationally. In all of our simulations, any kilonova signal would be dim and most likely dominated by post-merger disk outflows.

GW230529_181500↗
NASA NTRS1986

Radio emission from binary stars

Radio emission from binary star systems; characteristics of the binary systems inferred from the radio observations; and the reasons for the activity are reviewed. Binary stars with two main sequence stars, with one normal star and a white dwarf, and those containing a neutron star or a black hole are described. Energy may be directly available as matter falls into the potential well of a compact object. Electromagnetic induction effects may occur due to relative motions of magnetic fields and matter. By enforcing rapid rotation, binaries can induce strong dynamo action and hence generate free energy in the form of intense, complex, evolving magnetic fields. Whatever the source of energy, the observations at radio and X-ray wavelengths demonstrate that electrons are accelerated to high energies (mildly relativistic and, ultrarelativistic). Observed or inferred radio brightness temperatures range up to 10 to the 15th power K or more, implying coherent emission for sources brighter than 10 billion K.

Dulk, George A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A 6 centimeter radio survey of short-period active binary stars

Thirteen binaries with periods in the range of 0.2-2.0 days have been observed at 6 cm wavelength with the VLA. Eight out of these thirteen systems were detected, of which seven are RS Canum Venaticorum systems and one is an Algol system, with observed fluxes in the range of 0.3-5.0 mJy. The individual characteristics of the detected sources are briefly discussed. As a group, relative to active binaries of longer orbital periods, the short-period active binaries have a slightly lower mean radio luminosity. There is also a clear correlation of high radio luminosity with high X-ray luminosity evident in these short-period systems, although a functional dependence cannot be determined from noncontemporary data.

Drake, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Binary stars - Formation by fragmentation

Theories of binary star formation by capture, separate nuclei, fission and fragmentation are compared, assessing the success of theoretical attempts to explain the observed properties of main-sequence binary stars. The theory of formation by fragmentation is examined, discussing the prospects for checking the theory against observations of binary premain-sequence stars. It is concluded that formation by fragmentation is successful at explaining many of the key properties of main-sequence binary stars.

Boss, Alan P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Close binary stars in globular clusters

Although close binary stars are thought theoretically to play a major role in globular cluster dynamics, virtually no non-degenerate close binaries are known in clusters. We review the status of observations in this area, and report on two new programs which are finally yielding candidate systems suitable for further study. One of the objects, a close eclipsing system in omega Cen, is also a big straggler, thus finally proving firm evidence that globular cluster blue stragglers really are binary stars.

Margon, Bruce↗
NASA NTRS2003

Terrestrial Planet Formation Around Close Binary Stars

Most stars reside in multiple star systems; however, virtually all models of planetary growth have assumed an isolated single star. Numerical simulations of the collapse of molecular cloud cores to form binary stars suggest that disks will form within such systems. Observations indirectly suggest disk material around one or both components within young binary star systems. If planets form at the right places within such circumstellar disks, they can remain in stable orbits within the binary star systems for eons. We are simulating the late stages of growth of terrestrial planets around close binary stars, using a new, ultrafast, symplectic integrator that we have developed for this purpose. The sum of the masses of the two stars is one solar mass, and the initial disk of planetary embryos is the same as that used for simulating the late stages of terrestrial planet growth within our Solar System and in the Alpha Centauri wide binary star system. Giant planets &are included in the simulations, as they are in most simulations of the late stages of terrestrial planet accumulation in our Solar System. When the stars travel on a circular orbit with semimajor axis of up to 0.1 AU about their mutual center of mass, the planetary embryos grow into a system of terrestrial planets that is statistically identical to those formed about single stars, but a larger semimajor axis and/or a significantly eccentric binary orbit can lead to significantly more dynamically hot terrestrial planet systems.

Lissauer, Jack J.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Terrestrial Planet Formation in Binary Star Systems

Most stars reside in multiple star systems; however, virtually all models of planetary growth have assumed an isolated single star. Numerical simulations of the collapse of molecular cloud cores to form binary stars suggest that disks will form within such systems. Observations indirectly suggest disk material around one or both components within young binary star systems. If planets form at the right places within such circumstellar disks, they can remain in stable orbits within the binary star systems for eons. We are simulating the late stages of growth of terrestrial planets within binary star systems, using a new, ultrafast, symplectic integrator that we have developed for this purpose. We show that the late stages of terrestrial planet formation can indeed take place in a wide variety of binary systems and we have begun to delineate the range of parameter space for which this statement is true. Results of our initial simulations of planetary growth around each star in the alpha Centauri system and other 'wide' binary systems, as well as around both stars in very close binary systems, will be presented.

Lissauer, Jack J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Radio emission from binary stars

This paper reviews the radio emission from binary star systems - the emission processes that occur, the characteristics of the binary systems inferred from the radio observations, and the reasons for the activity. Several classes of binary stars are described including those with two main sequence stars, those with one normal star and a white dwarf, and those containing a neutron star or a black hole.

Dulk, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Changes in the orbital periods of close binary stars

A number of close binary stars show erratic changes in their orbital periods on time scales of order 5-10 yr. Recently it has been proposed that the period changes are the result of changes in the quadrupole moment of one star, caused in turn by an alteration of the internal structure of that star. Magnetic pressure, which either distorts the shape of the star or changes its tidally induced quadrupole moment, is suggested as the driving force behind the alteration. Here, the amount of energy required to distort one component of a binary and match the observed period changes is estimated. The rate at which energy is produced or lost is governed by the thermal time scale of the star, and the estimates indicate that the observed period changes would take at least 1000 yr for the tidal quadrupole mechanism, and of order 60 yr to match a period change in V471 Tau which took only 4 yr.

Marsh, T. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Possible explanation for nonthermal radio noise from binary stars.

Radio emission from the binary stars alpha-Sco, beta-Per, and beta-Lyr is interpreted as due to the mass exchange between the components. The electrons in the inflowing stream excite plasma waves near the surface of the receptor star, and these waves generate radio emission. Crude predictions of radio frequency, intensity, and timescales of variation seem compatible with current observations.

Jones, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Contact binary stars. I - An X-ray survey

X-ray emission from a contact binary star was first detected by the HEAO 1 satellite in 1977. Spectroscopic observations of 44i Boo and VW Cep by IUE established the presence of high-temperature chromospheric and transition region emission lines in the spectra of these stars. The HEAO 1 and IUE results implied that the processes causing X-ray emission from VW Cep might be similar to those energizing the solar corona, and that X-ray emission might be a common occurrence among contact binary stars. A series of observations of these stars was, therefore, conducted with the aid of the HEAO 2 (Einstein) Observatory. The present investigation is concerned with the results of these observations, giving attention to their implications with respect to the nature of contact binary stars. The results are compared with similar HEAO 2 studies of coronal X-ray sources in the local region of the Galaxy, in the Hyades, and other rapidly rotating systems.

Cruddace, R. G.↗