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At least 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

EVOLUTION OF CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES AND RELATED BINARIES CONTAINING A WHITE DWARF

We present a binary evolution study of cataclysmic variables (CVs) and related systems with white dwarf (WD) accretors, including for example, AM CVn systems, classical novae, supersoft X-ray sources (SXSs), and systems with giant donor stars. Our approach intentionally avoids the complications associated with population synthesis algorithms, thereby allowing us to present the first truly comprehensive exploration of all of the subsequent binary evolution pathways that zero-age CVs might follow (assuming fully non-conservative, Roche-lobe overflow onto an accreting WD) using the sophisticated binary stellar evolution code MESA. The grid consists of 56,000 initial models, including 14 WD accretor masses, 43 donor-star masses (0.1–4.7 M {sub ⊙}), and 100 orbital periods. We explore evolution tracks in the orbital period and donor-mass ( P {sub orb}– M {sub don}) plane in terms of evolution dwell times, masses of the WD accretor, accretion rate, and chemical composition of the center and surface of the donor star. We report on the differences among the standard CV tracks, those with giant donor stars, and ultrashort period systems. We show where in parameter space one can expect to find SXSs, present a diagnostic to distinguish among different evolutionary paths to forming AM CVn binaries, quantify how the minimum orbital period in CVs depends on the chemical composition of the donor star, and update the P {sub orb}( M {sub wd}) relation for binaries containing WDs whose progenitors lost their envelopes via stable Roche-lobe overflow. Finally, we indicate where in the P {sub orb}– M {sub don} the accretion disks will tend to be stable against the thermal-viscous instability, and where gravitational radiation signatures may be found with LISA.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

The effect of variability on X-ray binary luminosity functions: multiple-epoch observations of NGC 300 with Chandra

We have obtained three epochs of Chandra ACIS-I observations (totaling ∼184 ks) of the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 300 to study the logN–logS distributions of its X-ray point-source population down to ∼2 × 10{sup −15} erg s{sup −1} cm{sup −2} in the 0.35–8 keV band (equivalent to ∼10{sup 36} erg s{sup −1}). The individual epoch logN–logS distributions are best described as the sum of a background active galactic nucleus (AGN) component, a simple power law, and a broken power law, with the shape of the logN–logS distributions sometimes varying between observations. The simple power law and AGN components produce a good fit for “persistent” sources (i.e., with fluxes that remain constant within a factor of ∼2). The differential power-law index of ∼1.2 and high fluxes suggest that the persistent sources intrinsic to NGC 300 are dominated by Roche-lobe-overflowing low-mass X-ray binaries. The variable X-ray sources are described by a broken power law, with a faint-end power-law index of ∼1.7, a bright-end index of ∼2.8–4.9, and a break flux of ∼8×10{sup −15} erg s{sup −1} cm{sup −2} (∼4 × 10{sup 36} erg s{sup −1}), suggesting that they are mostly outbursting, wind-fed high-mass X-ray binaries, although the logN–logS distribution of variable sources likely also contains low-mass X-ray binaries. We generate model logN–logS distributions for synthetic X-ray binaries and constrain the distribution of maximum X-ray fluxes attained during outburst. Our observations suggest that the majority of outbursting X-ray binaries occur at sub-Eddington luminosities, where mass transfer likely occurs through direct wind accretion at ∼1%–3% of the Eddington rate.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Constraining Formation Models of Binary Black Holes with Gravitational-wave Observations

Gravitational waves (GWs) from binary black hole (BBH) mergers provide a new probe of massive-star evolution and the formation channels of binary compact objects. By coupling the growing sample of BBH systems with population synthesis models, we can begin to constrain the parameters of such models and glean unprecedented knowledge about the inherent physical processes that underpin binary stellar evolution. In this study, we apply a hierarchical Bayesian model to mass measurements from a synthetic GW sample to constrain the physical prescriptions in population models and the relative fraction of systems generated from various channels. We employ population models of two canonical formation scenarios in our analysis—isolated binary evolution involving a common-envelope phase and dynamical formation within globular clusters—with model variations for different black hole natal kick prescriptions. We show that solely with chirp mass measurements, it is possible to constrain natal kick prescriptions and the relative fraction of systems originating from each formation channel with O(100) of confident detections. This framework can be extended to include additional formation scenarios, model parameters, and measured properties of the compact binary.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Quasi-periodicity of Supermassive Binary Black Hole Accretion Approaching Merger

In this paper we continue the first ever study of magnetized mini-disks coupled to circumbinary accretion in a supermassive binary black hole (SMBBH) approaching merger reported in Bowen et al. We extend this simulation from 3 to 12 binary orbital periods. We find that relativistic SMBBH accretion acts as a resonant cavity, where quasi-periodic oscillations tied to the frequency at which the black hole's (BH's) orbital phase matches a nonlinear m = 1 density feature, or "lump," in the circumbinary accretion disk permeate the system. Here, the rate of mass accretion onto each of the mini-disks around the BHs is modulated at the beat frequency between the binary frequency and the lump's mean orbital frequency, i.e., ${{\rm{\Omega }}}_{\mathrm{beat}}={{\rm{\Omega }}}_{\mathrm{bin}}-{\bar{{\rm{\Omega }}}}_{\mathrm{lump}}$, while the total mass accretion rate of this equal-mass binary is modulated at two different frequencies, $\gtrsim {\bar{{\rm{\Omega }}}}_{\mathrm{lump}}$ and $\approx 2{{\rm{\Omega }}}_{\mathrm{beat}}$. The instantaneous rotation rate of the lump itself is also modulated at two frequencies close to the modulation frequencies of the total accretion rate, ${\bar{{\rm{\Omega }}}}_{\mathrm{lump}}$ and $2{{\rm{\Omega }}}_{\mathrm{beat}}$. Because of the compact nature of the mini-disks in SMBBHs approaching merger, the inflow times within the mini-disks are comparable to the period on which their mass supply varies, so that their masses—and the accretion rates they supply to their BHs—are strongly modulated at the same frequency. In essence, the azimuthal symmetry of the circumbinary disk is broken by the dynamics of orbits near a binary, and this m = 1 asymmetry then drives quasi-periodic variation throughout the system, including both accretion and disk-feeding. In SMBBHs approaching merger, such time variability could introduce distinctive, increasingly rapid, fluctuations in their electromagnetic emission.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Long-term Evolution of Tightly Packed Stellar Black Holes in AGN Disks: Formation of Merging Black Hole Binaries via Close Encounters

We study the long-term evolution of two or more stellar black holes (BHs) on initially separated but unstable circular orbits around a supermassive BH (SMBH). Such a close-packed orbital configuration can naturally arise from BH migrations in the AGN disk. Dynamical instability of the orbits leads to recurring close encounters between two BHs, during which the BH separation r p becomes less than the Hill radius R H . In rare very close encounters, a tight merging BH binary can form with the help of gravitational wave emission. We use N-body simulations to study the time evolution of close encounters of various degrees of closeness. For a typical "SMBH+2BH" system, the averaged cumulative number of close encounters (with r p ≲ R H ) scales approximately as ∝ t 0.5 . The minimum encounter separation r p follows a cumulative distribution P( p ) ∝ r p for r p « R H . We obtain a semi-analytical expression for the averaged rate of binary captures that lead to BH mergers. Our results suggest that close-packed BHs in AGN disks may take a long time (≳10 7 orbits around the SMBH) to experience a sufficiently close encounter and form a bound binary. This time can be shorter if the initial BH orbits are highly aligned. The BH binary mergers produced in this scenario have high eccentricities when entering the LIGO band and broad distribution of orbital inclinations relative to the original AGN disk. We explore the effects of the gas disk and find that simple gas drags on the BHs do not necessarily lead to an enhanced BH binary capture rate.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Rapid orbital decay in detached binaries: evidence for circumbinary disks

Some short-period, detached binary systems have recently been reported as experiencing very rapid orbital decay, much faster than is expected from the angular-momentum loss caused by gravitational radiation alone. As these systems contain fully convective stars, magnetic braking is not believed to be operative, making the large orbital-period derivative puzzling. Here, we explore whether a resonant interaction between the binary and a surrounding circumbinary (CB) disk could account for the observed orbital decay. Our calculations indicate that the observed orbital-period derivatives in seven detached binaries can be produced by the resonant interaction between the binary and a CB disk if the latter has a mass in the range of 10{sup −4}--10{sup −2} M{sub ⊙}, which is of the same order as the inferred disk mass (∼2.4×10{sup −4} M{sub ⊙}) in the post-common-envelope binary NN Ser.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Properties and Astrophysical Implications of the 150 M ⊙ Binary Black Hole Merger GW190521

The gravitational-wave signal GW190521 is consistent with a binary black hole (BBH) merger source at redshift 0.8 with unusually high component masses, 85-14+21 M o˙ and 66-18+17 M ⊙ , compared to previously reported events, and shows mild evidence for spin-induced orbital precession. The primary falls in the mass gap predicted by (pulsational) pair-instability supernova theory, in the approximate range 65-120 M ⊙ . The probability that at least one of the black holes in GW190521 is in that range is 99.0%. The final mass of the merger (142-16+28 M ⊙ ) classifies it as an intermediate-mass black hole. Under the assumption of a quasi-circular BBH coalescence, we detail the physical properties of GW190521's source binary and its post-merger remnant, including component masses and spin vectors. Three different waveform models, as well as direct comparison to numerical solutions of general relativity, yield consistent estimates of these properties. Tests of strong-field general relativity targeting the merger-ringdown stages of the coalescence indicate consistency of the observed signal with theoretical predictions. We estimate the merger rate of similar systems to be 0.13-0.11+0.30 Gpc -3 yr -1 . We discuss the astrophysical implications of GW190521 for stellar collapse and for the possible formation of black holes in the pair-instability mass gap through various channels: via (multiple) stellar coalescences, or via hierarchical mergers of lower-mass black holes in star clusters or in active galactic nuclei. We find it to be unlikely that GW190521 is a strongly lensed signal of a lower-mass black hole binary merger. We also discuss more exotic possible sources for GW190521, including a highly eccentric black hole binary, or a primordial black hole binary.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Unified Picture of Short and Long Gamma-Ray Bursts from Compact Binary Mergers

Abstract The recent detections of the ∼10 s longγ-ray bursts (GRBs) 211211A and 230307A followed by softer temporally extended emission (EE) and kilonovae point to a new GRB class. Using state-of-the-art first-principles simulations, we introduce a unifying theoretical framework that connects binary neutron star (BNS) and black hole–NS (BH–NS) merger populations with the fundamental physics governing compact binary GRBs (cbGRBs). For binaries with large total masses,M tot ≳ 2.8M ⊙ , the compact remnant created by the merger promptly collapses into a BH surrounded by an accretion disk. The duration of the pre-magnetically arrested disk (MAD) phase sets the duration of the roughly constant power cbGRB and could be influenced by the disk mass,M d . We show that massive disks (M d ≳ 0.1M ⊙ ), which form for large binary mass ratiosq≳ 1.2 in BNS orq≲ 3 in BH–NS mergers, inevitably produce 211211A-like long cbGRBs. Once the disk becomes MAD, the jet power drops with the mass accretion rate as M ̇ ∼ t − 2 , establishing the EE decay. Two scenarios are plausible for short cbGRBs. They can be powered by BHs with less massive disks, which form for otherqvalues. Alternatively, for binaries withM tot ≲ 2.8M ⊙ , mergers should go through a hypermassive NS (HMNS) phase, as inferred for GW170817. Magnetized outflows from such HMNSs, which typically live for ≲1 s, offer an alternative progenitor for short cbGRBs. The first scenario is challenged by the bimodal GRB duration distribution and the fact that the Galactic BNS population peaks at sufficiently low masses that most mergers should go through an HMNS phase.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
NASA NTRS1983

International Ultraviolet Explorer observations of the peculiar variable spectrum of the eclipsing binary R Arae

The eclipsing binary system R Arae = HD 149730 is a relatively bright southern system with an orbital period of about 4.4 days. It is a single-lined spectroscopic binary. The spectral class of the primary component is B9 Vp. The system was included in a study of mass flow and evolution in close binary systems using the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite (IUE). Four spectra in the wavelength range from 1150 to 1900 A were obtained with the far-ultraviolet SWP camera, and six spectra in the range from 1900 to 3200 range were obtained with the mid-ultraviolet LWR camera. The close binary R Arae exhibits very unusual ultraviolet spectra. It appears that no other close binary system, observed with any of the orbiting satellites, shows outside-eclipse ultraviolet continuum flux variations of this nature.

Mccluskey, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Variable, optically thick, hot plasma observed in interacting binaries

Recent International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) observations of two interacting binaries, R Arae and HD 207739 are reported. The ultraviolet spectra indicate the presence of optically-thick, variable hot plasma in those binary systems. These two binaries may belong to a class of binaries that are currently undergoing a rarely observed and probably short-lived phase in their evolution. Their properties are compared with those of two other interacting binaries, U Cephei and Beta Lyrae.

Kondo, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Detection of binaries with projected separations as large as 0.1 parsec

Repeated, accurate radial velocity measurements have been made of the 19 candidate wide binary stellar pairs of Bahcall and Soneira. There are 16 unambiguous cases of which six pairs are physical binaries. Projected separations of the binaries are estimated using the observed angular separations and well-determined spectroscopic parallaxes. The projected separations vary from about 0.002 pc to 0.08 pc. This validation of the statistical techniques used in identifying the candidate wide binaries opens up the possibility of large-scale systematic studies of the characteristics of wide binaries.

Latham, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Angular momentum transfer by gravitational torques and the evolution of binary protostars

The efficiency of angular momentum transport by gravitational torques is investigated semianalytically for two idealized models. The first model, a rotating ellipsoid embedded within another ellipsoid, is compared with numerical results for the fission instability of a radpidly-rotating polytrope. The fission instability is aborted by the rapid transfer of angular momentum outward by gravitational torques. The global rates of angular momentum transfer by gravitational torques in rotating gas clouds such as the presolar nebula are shown to be comparable to the rates assumed to be appropriate for transfer by turbulent stresses. The second model is a binary system embedded within a rotating ellipsoid. The binary orbital angular momentum decreases significantly when the phase angle with the ellipsoid is constant; the binary separation may then decrease by a factor of 100 within about an orbital period. For a variable phase angle, little secular loss of orbital angular momentum occurs. Binaries which form in the isothermal regime of the theory of hierarchical fragmentation will not undergo orbital decay, whereas very close binaries composed of nonisothermal fragments may decay and merge into single objects.

Boss, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

On the evolution of tidal capture X-ray binaries - 4U 2127+12 (M15) to 4U 1820-30 (NGC 6624)

A new evolutionary scenario for X-ray binaries in globular clusters, which begins with a tidal capture of a main-sequence star by a neutron star and ends with a white dwarf-neutron star system, is presented. For tidal captures of main-sequence stars into orbits too wide to begin mass transfer immediately, the subsequent evolution of the secondary can lead to a common envelope binary similar to what the 9 hr X-ray binary 4U 2127+12 in M15 is suspected to be. If the common envelope is thick enough, it may cause the neutron star and the white dwarf core of the secondary to spiral in, producing a detached white dwarf-neutron star system. Subsequently, gravitational radiation losses may evolve this into the configuration seen in the 11 minute X-ray binary 4U 1820-30 in NGC 6624. This model appears more likely on statistical grounds than formation by collision of a neutron star and a red giant. In some circumstances, the latter process may result in unstable mass transfer, which would result in coalescence rather than a binary system like 4U 1820-30.

Bailyn, Charles D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Radial velocity studies and absolute parameters of contact binaries. II - OO Aquilae

New high-precision radial velocities of the contact binary OO Aql have been obtained using the cross-correlation technique. The orbital elements have been corrected for proximity effects, using an analysis of published light curves of the system. The spectroscopically determined mass ratio of 0.843 is in excellent agreement with the photometrically determined value. OO Aql thus has one of the largest mass ratios observed for a contact binary. In contrast to almost all other contact binaries of G spectral type, the primary minimum is due to a transit by the less massive component, and thus the system is classified as an A-type contact binary. Absolute parameters are determined for OO Aql, which indicate that the primary component, although similar to the Sun in mass, is significantly more evolved. An age of about 8 Gyr and a metal abundance of one-half that of the Sun are determined. It seems that the system may have only recently evolved into contact, as suggested by Mochnacki, and that it is an important object for studies of the structure and evolution of contact binaries.

Hrivnak, Bruce J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

X-ray-selected candidates for the RS CVn and W UMa classes of binary stars

X-ray luminosity, spectral type, radial-velocity variation, rotationally broadened line profile, and Ca II H and K line emission data are used to identify 12 new candidates for the RS CVn class and seven new candidates for the W UMa class from spectroscopic binaries which are contained in the Einstein Extended Medium Sensitivity Survey. Under the assumption that the candidates are genuine members of each class, local space density estimates of 4.47 + or - 1.19 x 10 to the -4th/cu pc for RS CVn binaries and 8.47 + or - 3.00 x 10 to the -5th/cu pc for W UMa binaries are found. Although the density estimate for the W UMa binaries is shown to be consistent with previous estimates obtained from optically selected samples, the estimate for the RS CVn binaries is more than an order of magnitude greater than previously determined space densities.

Fleming, Thomas A.↗
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 NTRS1991

Design of optimal binary phase and amplitude filters for maximization of correlation peak sharpness

Current binary-phase filters used for optical correlation are usually assumed to have uniform amplitude transmission. Here, a new type of filter is studied, the binary-phase-and-amplitude filter. If binary phase values of 0 and pi are assumed, the amplitude transmittance values of this type of filter can be optimized to maximize the peak sharpness. For a polarization-encoded binary-phase filter this can be translated into optimization of the rotation angle of the output polarizer following the filter-spatial-light modulator. An analytic expression is presented for the optimum polarizer angle and thus for the optimum binary-phase-and-amplitude filter design.

Downie, John D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The rate of neutron star binary mergers in the universe - Minimal predictions for gravity wave detectors

Of the many sources which gravitational wave observatories might see, merging neutron star binaries are the most predictable. Their waveforms at the observable frequencies are easy to calculate. And three systems which will merge in less than a Hubble time have already been observed as binary pulsars: two in the disk of the Galaxy, and one in a globular cluster. From the lifetimes and positions of these, a lower limit to the merger rate in the Galaxy and globular cluster system are inferred with confidence. Taking the merger rate in other galaxies to scale with the star formation rate, the merger rate expected in the local universe is computed. An ultraconservative lower limit to the rate gives three per year within 1 Gpc. The best estimate, still conservative in that it considers only systems like those already observed, gives three per year within 200 Mpc. An upper limit of three mergers per year within 23/h Mpc is set by the rate of Type Ib supernovae. The rates of black hole binary mergers and black hole-neutron star binary mergers are model-dependent, but could be comparable to the given rate of neutron-star binary mergers.

Phinney, E. S.↗