33 research outputs found
A New Formation Channel for Double Neutron Stars Without Recycling: Implications for Gravitational Wave Detection
We report on a new evolutionary path leading to the formation of close double
neutron stars (NS), with the unique characteristic that none of the two NS ever
had the chance to be recycled by accretion. The existence of this channel stems
from the evolution of helium-rich stars (cores of massive NS progenitors),
which has been neglected in most previous studies of double compact object
formation. We find that these non-recycled NS-NS binaries are formed from bare
carbon-oxygen cores in tight orbits, with formation rates comparable to or
maybe even higher than those of recycled NS-NS binaries. On the other hand,
their detection probability as binary pulsars is greatly reduced (by about
1000) relative to recycled pulsars, because of their short lifetimes. We
conclude that, in the context of gravitational-wave detection of NS-NS inspiral
events, this new type of binaries calls for an increase of the rate estimates
derived from the observed NS-NS with recycled pulsars, typically by factors of
1.5-3 or even higher.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters; 5 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables.
Two new paragraphs and one formula adde
VIRGO sensitivity to binary coalescences and the Population III black hole binaries
We analyze the properties of VIRGO detector with the aim of studying its
ability to search for coalescing black hole binaries. We focus on the remnants
of the Population III stars, which currently should be massive black holes
(), some of them bound in binary systems. The
coalescence of such binaries due to emission of gravitational waves may be
currently observable. We use a binary population synthesis to model the
evolution of Population III binaries. We calculate the signal to noise ratios
of gravitational waves emitted by the system in each of the coalescence phase:
inspiral, merger and ringdown, and provide simple formulae for the signal to
noise ratio as a function of masses of the binaries. We estimate the detection
rates for the VIRGO interferometer and also compare them with the estimates for
the current LIGO. We show that these expected rates are similar to, or larger
than the expected rates from coalescences of Population I and II compact object
binaries.Comment: sumbitted to A&
The Supernova Gamma-Ray Burst Connection
The chief distinction between ordinary supernovae and long-soft gamma-ray
bursts (GRBs) is the degree of differential rotation in the inner several solar
masses when a massive star dies, and GRBs are rare mainly because of the
difficulty achieving the necessary high rotation rate. Models that do provide
the necessary angular momentum are discussed, with emphasis on a new single
star model whose rapid rotation leads to complete mixing on the main sequence
and avoids red giant formation. This channel of progenitor evolution also gives
a broader range of masses than previous models, and allows the copious
production of bursts outside of binaries and at high redshifts. However, even
the production of a bare helium core rotating nearly at break up is not, by
itself, a sufficient condition to make a gamma-ray burst. Wolf-Rayet mass loss
must be low, and will be low in regions of low metallicity. This suggests that
bursts at high redshift (low metallicity) will, on the average, be more
energetic, have more time structure, and last longer than bursts nearby. Every
burst consists of three components: a polar jet (~0.1 radian), high energy,
subrelativistic mass ejection (~1 radian), and low velocity equatorial mass
that can fall back after the initial explosion. The relative proportions of
these three components can give a diverse assortment of supernovae and high
energy transients whose properties may vary with redshift.Comment: 10 pages, to appear in AIP Conf. Proc. "Gamma Ray Bursts in the Swift
Era", Eds. S. S. Holt, N. Gehrels, J. Nouse
Rotational velocities of the giants in symbiotic stars: III. Evidence of fast rotation in S-type symbiotics
We have measured the projected rotational velocities (vsini) in a number of
symbiotic stars and M giants using high resolution spectroscopic observations.
On the basis of our measurements and data from the literature, we compare the
rotation of mass-donors in symbiotics with vsini of field giants and find that:
(1) the K giants in S-type symbiotics rotate at vsini>4.5 km/s, which is 2-4
times faster than the field K giants;
(2) the M giants in S-type symbiotics rotate on average 1.5 times faster than
the field M giants. Statistical tests show that these differences are highly
significant: p-value < 0.001 in the spectral type bins K2III-K5III,
M0III-M6III, and M2III-M5III;
(3) our new observations of D'-type symbiotics also confirm that they are
fast rotators.
As a result of the rapid rotation, the cool giants in symbiotics should have
3-30 times larger mass loss rates. Our results suggest also that bipolar
ejections in symbiotics seem to happen in objects where the mass donors rotate
faster than the orbital period.
All spectra used in our series of papers can be obtained upon request from
the authors.Comment: MNRAS (accepted), 7 pages, 5 figure
Birthrates and delay times of Type Ia supernovae
Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) play an important role in diverse areas of
astrophysics, from the chemical evolution of galaxies to observational
cosmology. However, the nature of the progenitors of SNe Ia is still unclear.
In this paper, according to a detailed binary population synthesis study, we
obtained SN Ia birthrates and delay times from different progenitor models, and
compared them with observations. We find that the Galactic SN Ia birthrate from
the double-degenerate (DD) model is close to those inferred from observations,
while the birthrate from the single-degenerate (SD) model accounts for only
about 1/2-2/3 of the observations. If a single starburst is assumed, the
distribution of the delay times of SNe Ia from the SD model is a weak
bimodality, where the WD + He channel contributes to the SNe Ia with delay
times shorter than 100Myr, and the WD + MS and WD + RG channels to those with
age longer than 1Gyr.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, accepted by Science in China Series G (Dec.30,
2009
Discovery of the first symbiotic star in NGC6822
We report the discovery of the first symbiotic star (V=21.6, K_S=15.8 mag) in
the Local Group dwarf irregular galaxy NGC6822. This star was identified during
a spectral survey of Ha emission-line objects using the Southern African Large
Telescope (SALT) during its performance-verification phase. The observed strong
emission lines of HI and HeII suggest a high electron density and T* < 130 000
K for the hot companion. The infrared colours allow us to classify this object
as an S-type symbiotic star, comprising a red giant losing mass to a compact
companion. The red giant is an AGB carbon star, and a semi-regular variable,
pulsating in the first overtone with a period of 142 days. Its bolometric
magnitude is M_bol=-4.4 mag.
We review what is known about the luminosities of extragalactic symbiotic
stars, showing that most, possibly all, contain AGB stars. We suggest that a
much larger fraction of Galactic symbiotic stars may contain AGB stars than was
previously realised.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted to MNRA
Evolution of the number of accreting white dwarfs with shell nuclear burning and of occurrence rate of SN Ia
We analyze temporal evolution of the number of accreting white dwarfs with
shell hydrogen burning in semidetached and detached binaries. We consider a
stellar system in which star formation lasts for 10 Gyr with a constant rate,
as well as a system in which the same amount of stars is formed in a single
burst lasting for 1 Gyr. Evolution of the number of white dwarfs is confronted
to the evolution of occurrence rate of events that usually are identified with
SN Ia or accretion-induced collapses, i.e. with accumulation of Chandrasekhar
mass by a white dwarf or a merger of a pair of CO white dwarfs with total mass
not lower than the Chandrasekhar one. In the systems with a burst of star
formation, at 10 Gyr observed supersoft X-ray sources, most probably, are
not precursors of SN Ia. The same is true for an overwhelming majority of the
sources in the systems with constant star formation rate. In the systems of
both kinds mergers of white dwarfs is the dominant SN Ia scenario. In symbiotic
binaries, accreting CO-dwarfs do not accumulate enough mass for SN Ia
explosion, while ONeMg-dwarfs finish their evolution by an accretion-induced
collapse with formation of a neutron star.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, accepted by Astronomy Letter
Rotational velocities of the giants in symbiotic stars: I. D'-type symbiotics
We have measured the rotational velocities (v.sini) of the mass donors in a
number of D'--type symbiotic stars, using the cross-correlation function
method. Four from five D' symbiotic stars with known v.sini, appeared to be
very fast rotators compared with the catalogues of v.sini for the corresponding
spectral types. At least three of these stars rotate at a substantial fraction
(>=0.5) of the critical velocity. This means that at least in D'-type
symbiotics the cool components rotate faster than isolated giants. If these
binary stars are synchronized, their orbital periods should be relatively short
(4-60 days). We also briefly discuss the possible origin of the rapid rotation
and its connection with mass loss and dust formation.Comment: 6 pages, to be submitted soo
Population synthesis of double neutron stars
Using the StarTrack binary population synthesis code we model the population
of double neutron stars in the Galaxy. We include a detailed treatment of the
spin evolution of each pulsar due to processes such as spin-down and spin-up
during accretion events as well as magnetic field decay. We also model the
spatial distribution of double neutron stars by including their natal kicks and
subsequent propagation in the Galactic gravitational potential. This synthetic
pulsar population is compared to the observed sample of double neutron stars
taking into account the selection effects of detection in the radio band, to
determine the most likely evolutionary parameters. With these parameters we
determine the properties of the double neutron star binaries detectable in
gravitational waves by the high frequency interferometers LIGO and VIRGO. In
particular, we discuss the distributions of chirp masses and mass ratios in
samples selected by their radio or gravitational wave emission.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA