Thermal Timescale Mass Transfer Rates in Intermediate-Mass X-ray Binaries

Thermal timescale mass transfer generally occurs in close binaries where the donor star is more massive than the accreting star. The mass transfer rates are usually estimated in terms of the Kelvin-Helmholtz timescale of the donor star. But recent investigations indicate that this method may overestimate the real mass transfer rates in accreting white dwarf or neutron star binary systems. We have systematically investigated the thermal-timescale mass transfer processes in intermediate-mass X-ray binaries, by calculating binary evolution sequences with various initial donor masses and orbital periods. From the calculated results we find that on average the mass transfer rates are lower than traditional estimates by a factor of $\sim 4$.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, and 2 tables, accepted for publication in A&

U-spin analysis of CP violation in B−B^- decays into three charged light pseudoscalar mesons

We carry out a $U$-spin symmetry analysis for CP violation in $B^-$ decays into three light $\pi^-\pi^-\pi^+$, $\pi^- K^-K^+$, $K^-K^-K^+$ and $K^- \pi^-\pi^+$ mesons. We clarify some subtle points in constructing decay amplitudes with $U=0$ formed by the two negatively charged light mesons in the final states. $U$-spin conserving momentum independent and momentum dependent decay amplitudes, and $U$-spin violating decay amplitudes due to quark mass difference are constructed.Comment: RevTex 12 pages wit no figur