77 research outputs found
Maximum speed of hypervelocity stars ejected from binaries
The recent detection of hypervelocity stars (HVSs) as late-type B-stars and
HVS candidate G/K-dwarfs raises the important question of their origin. In this
Letter, we investigate the maximum possible velocities of such HVSs if they are
produced from binaries which are disrupted via an asymmetric supernova
explosion. We find that HVSs up to ~770 and ~1280 km/s are possible in the
Galactic rest frame from this scenario for these two subclasses of HVSs,
respectively. We conclude that whereas a binary origin cannot easily explain
all of the observed velocities of B-type HVSs (in agreement with their proposed
central massive black hole origin) it can indeed account for the far majority
(if not all) of the recently detected G/K-dwarf HVS candidates.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, including appendix, in press, MNRAS Letters
(Updated and a comment added on the spin axis of SN-induced HVSs
Five and a half roads to form a millisecond pulsar
In this review I discuss the characteristics and the formation of all classes
of millisecond pulsars (MSPs). The main focus is on the stellar astrophysics of
X-ray binaries leading to the production of fully recycled MSPs with white
dwarf (WD) or substellar semi-degenerate companions. Depending on the nature of
the companion star MSPs are believed to form from either low-mass X-ray
binaries (LMXBs) or intermediate-mass X-ray binaries (IMXBs). For each of these
two classes of X-ray binaries the evolutionary status of the donor star -- or
equivalently, the orbital period -- at the onset of the Roche-lobe overflow
(RLO) is the determining factor for the outcome of the mass-transfer phase and
thus the nature of the MSP formed. Furthermore, the formation of binary MSPs is
discussed in context of the (P,P_dot)-diagram, as well as new interpretations
of the Corbet diagram. Finally, I present new models of Case A RLO of IMXBs in
order to reproduce the two solar mass pulsar PSR J1614-2230.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures (color). Invited review at ESO workshop
"Evolution of Compact Binaries", March 2011, Vina del Mar (Chile), ASP Conf.
Series. Fig.7 is available in high resolution on reques
Recycled Pulsars: Spins, Masses and Ages
Recycled pulsars are mainly characterized by their spin periods, B-fields and
masses. All these quantities are affected by previous interactions with a
companion star in a binary system. Therefore, we can use these quantities as
fossil records and learn about binary evolution. Here, I briefly review the
distribution of these observed quantities and summarize our current
understanding of the pulsar recycling process.Comment: Brief summary of invited review talk @ MODEST-16. 4 pages, 3 figures.
To appear in: "Cosmic-Lab: Star Clusters as Cosmic Laboratories for
Astrophysics, Dynamics and Fundamental Physics", F.R Ferraro & B. Lanzoni
eds, Mem. SAIt, Vol 87, n.
Tossing Black Hole Spin Axes
The detection of double black hole (BH+BH) mergers provides a unique
possibility to understand their physical properties and origin. To date, the
LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network of high-frequency gravitational wave observatories
have announced the detection of more than 85 BH+BH merger events (Abbott et al.
2022a). An important diagnostic feature that can be extracted from the data is
the distribution of effective inspiral spins of the BHs. This distribution is
in clear tension with theoretical expectations from both an isolated binary
star origin, which traditionally predicts close-to aligned BH component spins
(Kalogera 2000; Farr et al. 2017), and formation via dynamical interactions in
dense stellar environments that predicts a symmetric distribution of effective
inspiral spins (Mandel & O'Shaughnessy 2010; Rodriguez et al. 2016b). Here it
is demonstrated that isolated binary evolution can convincingly explain the
observed data if BHs have their spin axis tossed during their formation process
in the core collapse of a massive star, similarly to the process evidently
acting in newborn neutron stars. BH formation without spin-axis tossing,
however, has difficulties reproducing the observed data - even if alignment of
spins prior to the second core collapse is disregarded. Based on simulations
with only a minimum of assumptions, constrains from empirical data can be made
on the spin magnitudes of the first- and second-born BHs, thereby serving to
better understand massive binary star evolution prior to the formation of BHs.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, 1 table, ApJ accepted version (minor edits
Millisecond Pulsars in Close Binaries
In this Habilitationsschrift (Habilitation thesis) I present my research
carried out over the last four years at the Argelander Institute for Astronomy
(AIfA) and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR). The thesis
summarizes my main findings and has been written to fulfill the requirements
for the Habilitation qualification at the University of Bonn. Although my work
is mainly focused on the topic of millisecond pulsars (MSPs), there is a fairly
broad spread of research areas ranging from the formation of neutron stars
(NSs) in various supernova (SN) events, to their evolution, for example, via
accretion processes in binary and triple systems, and finally to their possible
destruction in merger events. The thesis is organized in the following manner:
A general introduction to neutron stars and millisecond pulsars is given in
Chapter 1. A selection of key papers published in 2011-2014 are presented in
Chapters 2-10, ordered within five main research areas (ultra-stripped SNe in
close binaries, massive NSs in close binaries, spin-up of MSPs, formation of a
triple MSP, accretion-induced collapse of white dwarfs). In Chapter 11, I give
a summary and highlight ongoing projects and further outlook. Slight
differences (typos or minor language editing) may in some cases appear in
comparison with the actual journal versions of the published papers. Hence, for
citing these papers please refer to the journals.Comment: 267 pages, 99 figures, Habilitation thesis, University of Bon
Comment on "A non-interacting low-mass black hole -- giant star binary system"
Thompson et al. (Reports, 1 November 2019, p. 637, Science) interpreted the
unseen companion of the red giant star 2MASS J05215658+4359220 as most likely a
black hole. We argue that if the red giant is about one solar mass, its
companion can be a close binary consisting of two main-sequence stars. This
would explain why no X-ray emission is detected from the system.Comment: 3 pages, Author version of Technical Comment published in Science on
8 May, 202
Novel modelling of ultra-compact X-ray binary evolution - stable mass transfer from white dwarfs to neutron stars
Tight binaries of helium white dwarfs (He WDs) orbiting millisecond pulsars
(MSPs) will eventually "merge" due to gravitational damping of the orbit. The
outcome has been predicted to be the production of long-lived ultra-compact
X-ray binaries (UCXBs), in which the WD transfers material to the accreting
neutron star (NS). Here we present complete numerical computations, for the
first time, of such stable mass transfer from a He WD to a NS. We have
calculated a number of complete binary stellar evolution tracks, starting from
pre-LMXB systems, and evolved these to detached MSP+WD systems and further on
to UCXBs. The minimum orbital period is found to be as short as 5.6 minutes. We
followed the subsequent widening of the systems until the donor stars become
planets with a mass of ~0.005 Msun after roughly a Hubble time. Our models are
able to explain the properties of observed UCXBs with high helium abundances
and we can identify these sources on the ascending or descending branch in a
diagram displaying mass-transfer rate vs. orbital period.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, MNRAS Letters, in pres
Evolution towards and beyond accretion-induced collapse of massive white dwarfs and formation of millisecond pulsars
Millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are generally believed to be old neutron stars
(NSs), formed via type Ib/c core-collapse supernovae (SNe), which have been
spun up to high rotation rates via accretion from a companion star in a
low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB). In an alternative formation channel, NSs are
produced via the accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of a massive white dwarf (WD)
in a close binary. Here we investigate binary evolution leading to AIC and
examine if NSs formed in this way can subsequently be recycled to form MSPs
and, if so, how they can observationally be distinguished from pulsars formed
via the standard core-collapse SN channel in terms of their masses, spins,
orbital periods and space velocities. Numerical calculations with a detailed
stellar evolution code were used for the first time to study the combined pre-
and post-AIC evolution of close binaries. We investigated the mass transfer
onto a massive WD in 240 systems with three different types of non-degenerate
donor stars: main-sequence stars, red giants, and helium stars. When the WD is
able to accrete sufficient mass (depending on the mass-transfer rate and the
duration of the accretion phase) we assumed it collapses to form a NS and we
studied the dynamical effects of this implosion on the binary orbit.
Subsequently, we followed the mass-transfer epoch which resumes once the donor
star refills its Roche lobe and calculated the continued LMXB evolution until
the end. We demonstrate that the final properties of these MSPs are, in
general, remarkably similar to those of MSPs formed via the standard
core-collapse SN channel. However, the resultant MSPs created via the AIC
channel preferentially form in certain orbital period intervals. Finally, we
discuss the link between AIC and young NSs in globular clusters. Our
calculations are also applicable to progenitor binaries of SNe Ia under certain
conditions. [Abridged]Comment: 26 pages, 20 figures, 2 tables. A few references added. A&A in pres
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