296 research outputs found
Eccentricities of Double Neutron Star Binaries
Recent pulsar surveys have increased the number of observed double neutron
stars (DNS) in our galaxy enough so that observable trends in their properties
are starting to emerge. In particular, it has been noted that the majority of
DNS have eccentricities less than 0.3, which are surprisingly low for binaries
that survive a supernova explosion that we believe imparts a significant kick
to the neutron star. To investigate this trend, we generate many different
theoretical distributions of DNS eccentricities using Monte Carlo population
synthesis methods. We determine which eccentricity distributions are most
consistent with the observed sample of DNS binaries. In agreement with
Chaurasia & Bailes (2005), assuming all double neutron stars are equally as
probable to be discovered as binary pulsars, we find that highly eccentric,
coalescing DNS are less likely to be observed because of their accelerated
orbital evolution due to gravitational wave emission and possible early
mergers. Based on our results for coalescing DNS, we also find that models with
vanishingly or moderately small kicks (sigma < about 50 km/s) are inconsistent
with the current observed sample of such DNS. We discuss the implications of
our conclusions for DNS merger rate estimates of interest to ground-based
gravitational-wave interferometers. We find that, although orbital evolution
due to gravitational radiation affects the eccentricity distribution of the
observed sample, the associated upwards correction factor to merger rate
estimates is rather small (typically 10-40%).Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted by ApJ. Figures reduced and some content
changed, references adde
A New Way to Detect Massive Black Holes in Galaxies: The Stellar Remnants of Tidal Disruption
We point out that the tidal disruption of a giant may leave a luminous
(10^35-10^39 ergs/s), hot (10-100 eV) stellar core. The ``supersoft'' source
detected by Chandra at the center of M31 may be such a core; whether or not it
is, the observations have shown that such a core is detectable, even in the
center of a galaxy. We therefore explore the range of expected observational
signatures and how they may be used to (1) test the hypothesis that the M31
source is a remnant of tidal stripping and (2) discover evidence of black holes
and disruption events in other galaxies.Comment: Four pages with 1 figure. Appeared in ApJL (2001, 551, L37
Equipotential Surfaces and Lagrangian points in Non-synchronous, Eccentric Binary and Planetary Systems
We investigate the existence and properties of equipotential surfaces and
Lagrangian points in non-synchronous, eccentric binary star and planetary
systems under the assumption of quasi-static equilibrium. We adopt a binary
potential that accounts for non-synchronous rotation and eccentric orbits, and
calculate the positions of the Lagrangian points as functions of the mass
ratio, the degree of asynchronism, the orbital eccentricity, and the position
of the stars or planets in their relative orbit. We find that the geometry of
the equipotential surfaces may facilitate non-conservative mass transfer in
non-synchronous, eccentric binary star and planetary systems, especially if the
component stars or planets are rotating super-synchronously at the periastron
of their relative orbit. We also calculate the volume-equivalent radius of the
Roche lobe as a function of the four parameters mentioned above. Contrary to
common practice, we find that replacing the radius of a circular orbit in the
fitting formula of Eggleton (1983) with the instantaneous distance between the
components of eccentric binary or planetary systems does not always lead to a
good approximation to the volume-equivalent radius of the Roche-lobe. We
therefore provide generalized analytic fitting formulae for the
volume-equivalent Roche lobe radius appropriate for non-synchronous, eccentric
binary star and planetary systems. These formulae are accurate to better than
1% throughout the relevant 2-dimensional parameter space that covers a dynamic
range of 16 and 6 orders of magnitude in the two dimensions.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, 2 Tables, Accepted by the Astrophysical Journa
Evolution of Neutron-Star, Carbon-Oxygen White-Dwarf Binaries
At least one, but more likely two or more, eccentric neutron-star,
carbon-oxygen white-dwarf binaries with an unrecycled pulsar have been
observed. According to the standard scenario for evolving neutron stars which
are recycled in common envelope evolution we expect to observe \gsim 50 such
circular neutron star-carbon oxygen white dwarf binaries, since their formation
rate is roughly equal to that of the eccentric binaries and the time over which
they can be observed is two orders of magnitude longer, as we shall outline. We
observe at most one or two such circular binaries and from that we conclude
that the standard scenario must be revised. Introducing hypercritical accretion
into common envelope evolution removes the discrepancy by converting the
neutron star into a black hole which does not emit radio waves, and therefore
would not be observed.Comment: 25 pages, 1 figure, accepted in Ap
The Galactic Population of Low- and Intermediate-Mass X-ray Binaries
(abridged) We present the first study that combines binary population
synthesis in the Galactic disk and detailed evolutionary calculations of low-
and intermediate-mass X-ray binaries (L/IMXBs). We show that the formation
probability of IMXBs with initial donor masses of 1.5--4 Msun is typically >~5
times higher than that of standard LMXBs, and suggest that the majority of the
observed systems may have descended from IMXBs. Distributions at the current
epoch of the orbital periods, donor masses, and mass accretion rates have been
computed, as have orbital-period distributions of BMPs. Several significant
discrepancies between the theoretical and observed distributions are discussed.
The orbital-period distribution of observed BMPs strongly favors cases where
the envelope of the neutron-star progenitor is more easily ejected during the
common-envelope phase. However, this leads to a >~100-fold overproduction of
the theoretical number of luminous X-ray sources relative to the total observed
number of LMXBs. X-ray irradiation of the donor star may result in a dramatic
reduction in the X-ray active lifetime of L/IMXBs, thus possibly resolving the
overproduction problem, as well as the long-standing BMP/LMXB birthrate
problem.Comment: 12 pages, emulateapj, submitted to Ap
The Role of Helium Stars in the Formation of Double Neutron Stars
We have calculated the evolution of 60 model binary systems consisting of
helium stars in the mass range of M_He= 2.5-6Msun with a 1.4Msun neutron star
companion to investigate the formation of double neutron star systems.Orbital
periods ranging from 0.09 to 2 days are considered, corresponding to Roche lobe
overflow starting from the helium main sequence to after the ignition of carbon
burning in the core. We have also examined the evolution into a common envelope
phase via secular instability, delayed dynamical instability, and the
consequence of matter filling the neutron star's Roche lobe. The survival of
some close He-star neutron-star binaries through the last mass transfer episode
(either dynamically stable or unstable mass transfer phase) leads to the
formation of extremely short-period double neutron star systems (with
P<~0.1days). In addition, we find that systems throughout the entire calculated
mass range can evolve into a common envelope phase, depending on the orbital
period at the onset of mass transfer. The critical orbital period below which
common envelope evolution occurs generally increases with M_He. In addition, a
common envelope phase may occur during a short time for systems characterized
by orbital periods of 0.1-0.5 days at low He-star masses (~ 2.6-3.3Msun).
The existence of a short-period population of double neutron stars increases
the predicted detection rate of inspiral events by ground-based
gravitational-wave detectors and impacts their merger location in host galaxies
and their possible role as gamma-ray burst progenitors. We use a set of
population synthesis calculations and investigate the implications of the
mass-transfer results for the orbital properties of DNS populations.Comment: 30 pages, Latex (AASTeX), 1 table, 8 figures. To appear in ApJ, v592
n1 July 20, 200
The Evolution of Relativistic Binary Progenitor Systems
Relativistic binary pulsars, such as B1534+12 and B1913+16 are characterized
by having close orbits with a binary separation of ~ 3 R_\sun. The progenitor
of such a system is a neutron star, helium star binary. The helium star, with a
strong stellar wind, is able to spin up its compact companion via accretion.
The neutron star's magnetic field is then lowered to observed values of about
10^{10} Gauss. As the pulsar lifetime is inversely proportional to its magnetic
field, the possibility of observing such a system is, thus, enhanced by this
type of evolution. We will show that a nascent (Crab-like) pulsar in such a
system can, through accretion-braking torques (i.e. the "propeller effect") and
wind-induced spin-up rates, reach equilibrium periods that are close to
observed values. Such processes occur within the relatively short helium star
lifetimes. Additionally, we find that the final outcome of such evolutionary
scenarios depends strongly on initial parameters, particularly the initial
binary separation and helium star mass. It is, indeed, determined that the
majority of such systems end up in the pulsar "graveyard", and only a small
fraction are strongly recycled. This fact might help to reconcile theoretically
expected birth rates with limited observations of relativistic binary pulsars.Comment: 24 pages, 10 Postscript figures, Submitted to The Astrophysical
Journa
On a mechanism for enhancing magnetic activity in tidally interacting binaries
We suggest a mechanism for enhancing magnetic activity in tidally interacting
binaries. We suppose that the deviation of the primary star from spherical
symmetry due to the tidal influence of the companion leads to stellar pulsation
in its fundamental mode. It is shown that stellar radial pulsation amplifies
torsional Alfv{\'e}n waves in a dipole-like magnetic field, buried in the
interior, according to the recently proposed swing wave-wave interaction
(Zaqarashvili 2001). Then amplified Alfv{\'e}n waves lead to the onset of
large-scale torsional oscillations, and magnetic flux tubes arising towards the
surface owing to magnetic buoyancy diffuse into the atmosphere producing
enhanced chromospheric and coronal emission.Comment: Accepted in Ap
Search for an Near-IR Counterpart to the Cas A X-ray Point Source
We report deep near-infrared and optical observations of the X-ray point
source in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant, CXO J232327.9+584842. We have
identified a J=21.4 +/- 0.3 mag and Ks=20.5 +/- 0.3 mag source within the
1-sigma error circle, but we believe this source is a foreground Pop II star
with Teff=2600-2800 K at a distance of ~2 kpc, which could not be the X-ray
point source. We do not detect any sources in this direction at the distance of
Cas A, and therefore place 3-sigma limits of R >~ 25 mag, F675W >~ 27.3 mag, J
>~ 22.5 mag and Ks >~ 21.2 mag (and roughly H >~ 20 mag) on emission from the
X-ray point source, corresponding to M_{R} >~ 8.2 mag, M_{F675W} >~ 10.7 mag,
M_{J} >~ 8.5 mag, M_{H} >~ 6.5 mag, and M_{Ks} >~ 8.0 mag, assuming a distance
of 3.4 kpc and an extinction A_{V}=5 mag.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures. Accepted by Ap
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
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