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Results for “close binary systems”

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 NTRS1981

Evolution of close binary systems: Observational aspects

Detached close binary systems define the main sequence band satisfactorily, but very little is known about the masses of giants and supergiants. High dispersion international ultraviolet explorer satellite observations promise an improvement, since blue companions are now frequently found to late type supergiants. Mu Sagittaril and in particular Xi Aurigae are discussed in more detail. The barium star abundance anomaly appears to be due to mass transfer in interacting systems. The symbiotic stars are another type of binary systems containing late type giants; several possible models for the hotter star and for the type of interaction are discussed. The W Serpentis stars appear to be Algols in the rapid phase of mass transfer, but a possible link relating them to the symbiotics is also indicated. Evidence of hot circumstellar plasmas has now been found in several ordinary Algols; there may exist a smooth transition between very quiescent Algols and the W Serpentis stars. Beta Lyrae is discussed in the light of new spectrophotometric results.

Plavec, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Mass flow in close binary systems

The manner of mass flow in close binary systems is examined with a special view to the role of the so-called critical Roche (or Jacobian) lobe, taking into consideration relevant physical conditions such as radiation pressure that may affect the restricted three-body problem treatment. The mass does not necessarily flow from component one to component two through the L1 point to form a gaseous ring surrounding the latter. These considerations are applied to X-ray binaries with early-type optical components, such as Cyg X-1 (HDE 226868) and 3U 1700 - 37 (HD 153919). In the two bright close binary systems Beta Lyr and UW CMa, which are believed to be undergoing dynamic mass transfer, recent Copernicus observations show that the gas giving rise to the prominent ultraviolet emission lines surrounds the entire binary system rather than merely component two. Implications of these observations are also discussed.

Kondo, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The galactic space frequency of close binary systems

An investigation of the galactic space frequency of close binary systems and other stars with high angular momentum is made on the basis of several criteria for the binary nature of a star. Within an accessible range of 3 kpc around the sun, which includes parts of three spiral arms, there occurs no significant variation (to within a factor of about 2) in the space frequencies of B-type radial-velocity variables, M-type supergiants with blue companions, and Be stars. Implications of this result for the problems of the origin of close binary systems, the distribution of angular momentum in the Galaxy, and the relative numbers of blue and red supergiants are discussed.

Stothers, R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Hydrodynamic instability and coalescence of close binary systems

The meaning of hydrodynamic instability of close binary systems is clarified, and the resulting large (but finite) value of the radial infall velocity near the end of the coalescence is estimated. Emphasis is placed on the case where the orbital decay is driven by gravitational radiation. A simple calculation of the orbital decay is presented for a simple generic model of a close binary.

Lai, Dong↗
NASA NTRS1991

On the detectability of pulsars in close binary systems

The limitations of standard pulse searches in close binary systems are quantitively investigated. An efficiency factor gamma is introduced to describe the ease with which binary pulsars can be found, and the results of calculations of gamma as a function of pulsar spin period and binary orbital period are presented for both standard pulse searches and for searches using sophisticated acceleration codes. Two strategies are suggested which maximize the probability of finding pulsars in close binaries, and empirical relations between the optimum observation time and the parameters of a binary orbit are given.

Johnston, Helen M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Equilibrium, stability, and orbital evolution of close binary systems

We present a new analytic study of the equilibrium and stability properties of close binary systems containing polytropic components. Our method is based on the use of ellipsoidal trial functions in an energy variational principle. We consider both synchronized and nonsynchronized systems, constructing the compressible generalizations of the classical Darwin and Darwin-Riemann configurations. Our method can be applied to a wide variety of binary models where the stellar masses, radii, spins, entropies, and polytropic indices are all allowed to vary over wide ranges and independently for each component. We find that both secular and dynamical instabilities can develop before a Roche limit or contact is reached along a sequence of models with decreasing binary separation. High incompressibility always makes a given binary system more susceptible to these instabilities, but the dependence on the mass ratio is more complicated. As simple applications, we construct models of double degenerate systems and of low-mass main-sequence star binaries. We also discuss the orbital evoltuion of close binary systems under the combined influence of fluid viscosity and secular angular momentum losses from processes like gravitational radiation. We show that the existence of global fluid instabilities can have a profound effect on the terminal evolution of coalescing binaries. The validity of our analytic solutions is examined by means of detailed comparisons with the results of recent numerical fluid calculations in three dimensions.

Lai, Dong↗
NASA NTRS1994

A general catalogue of close binary systems

A comprehensive catalog of close binary stars to be used for the study of the fundamental properties of stars and for the exploration and elucidation of evolutionary processes in those systems, is presented. Spectroscopic binaries, variable stars, suspected variable stars, and interacting binaries are included in the scope of the catalog.

Webbink, Ronald F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Tidal evolution in close binary systems.

Mathematical outline of the theory of tidal evolution in close binary systems of secularly constant total momentum. Following a general outline of the problem the basic expressions for the energy and momenta of close binaries consisting of components of arbitrary internal structure are established, and the maximum and minimum values of the energy (kinetic and potential) which such systems can attain for a given amount of total momentum are investigated. These results are compared with the actual facts encountered in binaries with components whose internal structure (and, therefore, rotational momenta) are known from evidence furnished by the observed rates of apsidal advance. The results show that all such systems whether of detached or semidetached type - disclose that more than 99% of their total momenta are stored in the orbital momentum. The sum of the rotational momenta of the constituent components amounts to less than 1% of the total -a situation characteristic of a state close to the minimum energy for given total momentum.

Kopal, Z.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Colliding stellar winds in O-type close binary systems

A study of the stellar wind properties of O-type close binary systems is presented. The main objective of this program was to search for colliding winds in four systems, AO Cas, iota Ori, Plaskett's star, and 29 UW CMa, through an examination of high dispersion UV spectra from IUE and optical spectra of the H alpha and He I lambda 6678 emission lines.

Gies, Douglas R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The role of rotation in close binary systems of high mass.

A quantitative confrontation of theory and observation of massive close binary systems is presented in order to evaluate the role of axial rotation in the evolution of the individual stellar components as well as of the system as a whole. The detached systems are essentially unevolved, and possess components in approximately uniform rotation. The semidetached systems are definitely evolved, having suffered a heavy mass exchange before the stage of hydrogen exhaustion at the center of the original primary, and often possess mass-gaining components in fast nonuniform rotation. Except in the case of wide systems, tidal friction eventually reinduces synchronism of rotation in both components and both components evolve inhomogeneously. Spin-down times of the envelope and core, total rotational angular momenta, and effects of spin-orbit interaction are calculated.

Stothers, R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Evolution of rotationally and tidally distorted low-mass, close binary systems - Implications for the minimum orbital period of cataclysmic variables

A (1 + 0.4) solar mass close binary system consisting of a compact primary and a red dwarf secondary has been evolved numerically. Such a binary system should effectively model cataclysmic variables for which a minimum orbital period cutoff of about 81 minutes has been observed. The influence of gravitational radiation losses which drive Roche lobe overflow has been studied, and the effects of rotational and tidal distortion have also been incorporated in the calculation. The evolution of the He-3 abundance, which has been suggested as a possible explanation for the upper limit of the apparent orbital period gap exhibited by cataclysmic variables, is also considered. It is found that both the distortional effects and the He-3 chemical profile can play an important role in determining the subsequent evolution of these systems. Specifically, when distortion is included, the theoretical minimum orbital period is increased by about 10 percent, yielding better agreement with observations.

Nelson, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The chromospheric rotation activity relation in late type close binary systems

The IUE data on 36 late type close binary stars are presented. It is shown that the chromospheric and TR line fluxes increase with decreasing stellar rotation period, though not as rapidly as does the X-ray flux. There is an increasing dependence upon rotation with increasing line temperature. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that there exists a critical rotation rate, which depends on temperature, below which the emission flux is independent of rotation and above which it increases linearly with increasing angular velocity omega.

Walter, F. M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Tidal evolution in close binary systems. II.

The aim of the present investigation is to determine the explicit forms of differential equations which govern secular perturbations of the orbital elements of close binary systems in the plane of the orbit (i.e., of the semi-major axis, eccentricity, and longitude of the periastron) arising from the lag of dynamical tides due to viscosity of stellar material. The results obtained are exact for any value of orbital eccentricity comprised between zero and unity, and include the effects produced by the second, third and fourth-harmonic dynamical tides, as well as by axial rotation with arbitrary inclination of the equator to the orbital plane.

Kopal, Z.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Period-activity relations in close binary systems

The question as to whether the amount of activity observed in stars with the same fundamental stellar parameters depends on rotational velocity is considered in view of close binary systems, making use of their orbital rather than their rotational period. It is noted that the main sequence G star binaries lie systematically lower than the K subgiants for the same rotational periods, so that relations including a variety of spectral classes cannot be used to directly deduce correlations between magnetic fields and activity without suitable correction. The behavior of the present sample suggests that activity increases with later spectral type and with evolution off the main sequence. The chromosphere shows a minor reaction to rotational velocity increase.

Basri, G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

M5 V101 - A close binary system in a globular cluster

Spectrophotometric and photographic observations of the large amplitude variable V101 in the globular cluster M5 show it to have the characteristics of a dwarf nova. In particular, a spectrum obtained with the Hale 5 m reflector of the object in quiescence (V approximately equal to 20) shows strong, broad Balmer and He I emission. It is suggested that M5 V101 is the strongest case for the existence of close binary systems in globular clusters.

Margon, B.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dust supply to close binary systems

Binary systems can be born surrounded by circumbinary discs. The gaseous disc around either of the two stellar companions can have its life extended by the supply of mass arriving from the circumbinary disc. The objective of this study is to investigate the gravitational interactions exerted by a compact and eccentric binary system on the circumbinary and circumprimary discs, and the resulting transport of gas and solids between the disc components. We assume that the gas in the system behaves as a fluid, and we model its evolution by means of high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations. Dust grains are modelled as Lagrangian particles that interact with the gas and the stars. Our models indicate that significant fluxes of gas and dust proceed from the circumbinary disc towards the circumprimary disc. For the applied system parameters, grains of certain sizes are segregated outside the tidal gap generated by the stars. Consequently, the size distribution of the transported dust is not continuous, but presents a gap in the millimetre size range. In close binaries, the lifetime of an isolated circumprimary disc is found to be short, ~10 5 years, because of its low mass. However, because of the influx of gas from beyond the tidal gap, the disc around the primary star can survive much longer, ~10 6 years, as long as gas accretion from the circumbinary disc continues. The supply of solids and the extended lifetime of a circumbinary disc also aids in the possible formation of giant planets. Compared to close binary systems without a circumbinary disc, we expect a higher frequency of singleplanet or multiple-planet systems. Additionally, a planetesimal or debris belt can form in the proximity of the truncation radius of the circumprimary disc and/or around the location of the exterior edge of the tidal gap.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗