Binary Cepheids: Separations and Mass Ratios in $5 ,M_ odot$ Binaries

2013

The Astronomical Journal, 2013

Cepheids provide approaches to determining binary parameters which are often complementary to those for main sequence massive and intermediate mass stars. Specifically, we are using high resolution imaging, radial velocities, and X-ray studies to determine binary characteristics. Among the results are that they have both a high frequency of binary systems, and also a high proportion of triple systems.

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2006

We present our findings based on a detailed analysis for the binaries of the Hyades, in which the masses of the components are well known. We fit the models of components of a binary system to the observations so as to give the observed total V and B − V of that system and the observed slope of the main-sequence in the corresponding parts. According to our findings, there is a very definite relationship between the mixing-length parameter and the stellar mass. The fitting formula for this relationship can be given as α = 9.19(M/M ⊙ − 0.74) 0.053 − 6.65, which is valid for stellar masses greater than 0.77M ⊙. While no strict information is gathered for the chemical composition of the cluster, as a result of degeneracy in the colour-magnitude diagram, by adopting Z = 0.033 and using models for the components of 70 Tau and θ 2 Tau we find the hydrogen abundance to be X = 0.676 and the age to be 670 Myr. If we assume that Z = 0.024, then X = 0.718 and the age is 720 Myr. Our findings concerning the mixing length parameter are valid for both sets of the solution. For both components of the active binary system V818 Tau, the differences between radii of the models with Z = 0.024 and the observed radii are only about 4 percent. More generally, the effective temperatures of the models of low mass stars in the binary systems studied are in good agreement with those determined by spectroscopic methods.

The Astronomical Journal, 2006

We report on the results of a survey for radial velocity variability in a heterogeneous sample of very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. One distinguishing characteristic of the survey is its timespan, which allows an overlap between spectroscopic binaries and those which can be found by high angular-resolution imaging. Despite our relatively low velocity precision, we are able to place a new constraint on the total binary fraction in these objects, which suggests that they are more likely the result of extending the same processes at work at higher masses into this mass range, rather than a distinct mode of formation. Our basic result is that there are 6 ± 2 out of 53, or 11 +0.07 −0.04 % spectroscopic binaries in the separation range 0-6 AU, nearly as many as resolved binaries. This leads to an estimate of an upper limit of 26 ± 10% for the binary fraction of VLM objects (it is an upper limit because of the possible overlap between the spectroscopic and resolved populations). A reasonable estimate for the very low-mass binary fraction is 20 − 25%.

The Astrophysical Journal, 2001

Pre-main sequence and main-sequence binary systems are observed to have periods, P , ranging from one day to 10 10 days and eccentricities, e, ranging from 0 to 1. We pose the problem if stellar-dynamical interactions in very young and compact star clusters may broaden an initially narrow period distribution to the observed width. N -body computations of extremely compact clusters containing 100 and 1000 stars initially in equilibrium and in cold collapse are preformed. In all cases the assumed initial period distribution is uniform in the narrow range 4.5 ≤ log 10 P ≤ 5.5 (P in days) which straddles the maximum in the observed period distribution of late-type Galactic-field dwarf systems. None of the models lead to the necessary broadening of the period distribution, despite our adopted extreme conditions that favour binary-binary interactions. Stellar-dynamical interactions in embedded clusters thus cannot, under any circumstances, widen the period distribution sufficiently. The wide range of orbital periods of very young and old binary systems is therefore a result of cloud fragmentation and immediate subsequent magneto-hydrodynamical processes operating within the multiple proto-stellar system.

The Astronomical Journal, 2015

We have examined high accuracy radial velocities of Cepheids to determine the binary frequency. The data are largely from the CORAVEL spectrophotometer and the Moscow version, with a typical uncertainty of ≤ 1 km s −1 , and a time span from 1 to 20 years. A systemic velocity was obtained by removing the pulsation component using a high order Fourier series. From this data we have developed a list of stars showing no orbital velocity larger than ±1 km s −1 . The binary fraction was analyzed as a function of magnitude, and yields an apparent decrease in this fraction for fainter stars. We interpret this as incompleteness at fainter magnitudes, and derive the preferred binary fraction of 29 ± 8% ( 20 ± 6% per decade of orbital period) from the brightest 40 stars. Comparison of this fraction in this period range (1-20 years) implies a large fraction for the full period range. This is reasonable in that the high accuracy velocities are sensitive to the longer periods and smaller orbital velocity amplitudes in the period range sampled here. Thus the Cepheid velocity sample provides a sensitive detection in the period range between short period spectroscopic binaries and resolved companions. The recent identification of δ Cep as a binary with very low amplitude and high eccentricity underscores the fact that the binary fractions we derive are lower limits, to which other low amplitude systems will probably be added. The mass ratio (q) distribution derived from ultraviolet observations of the secondary is consistent with a flat distribution for the applicable period range (1 to 20 years).

2020

Wide hot subdwarf B (sdB) binaries with main-sequence companions are outcomes of stable mass transfer from evolved red giants. The orbits of these binaries show a strong correlation between their orbital periods and mass ratios. The origins of this correlation have, so far, been lacking a conclusive explanation. We aim to find a binary evolution model which can explain the observed correlation. Radii of evolved red giants, and hence the resulting orbital periods, strongly depend on their metallicity. We have performed a small but statistically significant binary population synthesis study with the binary stellar evolution code MESA. We have used a standard model for binary mass loss and a standard Galactic metallicity history. The resulting sdBs were selected based on the same criteria as used in observations and then compared with the observed population. We have achieved an excellent match to the observed period - mass ratio correlation without explicitly fine-tuning any parameter...

Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2011

Context. We have known for a long time that many of the measured white dwarf (WD) masses in cataclysmic variables (CVs) significantly exceed the mean mass of single WDs. This was thought to be related to observational biases, but recent high-precision measurements of WD masses in a great number of CVs are challenging this interpretation. A crucial question in this context is whether the high WD masses seen among CVs are already imprinted in the mass distribution of their progenitors, i.e. among detached postcommon-envelope binaries (PCEBs) that consist of a WD and a main-sequence star. Aims. We review the measured WD masses of CVs, determine the WD-mass distribution of an extensive sample of PCEBs that are representative for the progenitors of the current CV population (pre-CVs) and compare both distributions. Methods. We calculate the CV formation time of the PCEBs in our sample by determining the post common-envelope (CE) and the main-sequence evolution of the binary systems and define a pre-CV to be a PCEB that evolves into a semi-detached configuration with stable mass transfer within less than the age of the Galaxy. Possible observational biases affecting the WD-mass distribution for the pre-CV and the CV samples are discussed.

The Astronomical Journal, 2007

Context. Accurate physical properties of eclipsing stars provide important constraints on models of stellar structure and evolution, especially when combined with spectroscopic information on their chemical composition. Empirical calibrations of the data also lead to accurate mass and radius estimates for exoplanet host stars. Finally, accurate data for unusual stellar subtypes, such as Am stars, also help to unravel the cause(s) of their peculiarities. Aims. We aim to determine the masses, radii, effective temperatures, detailed chemical composition and rotational speeds for the Am-type eclipsing binaries SW CMa (A4-5m) and HW CMa (A6m) and compare them with similar normal stars. Methods. Accurate radial velocities from the Digital Speedometers of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics were combined with previously published uvby photometry to determine precise physical parameters for the four stars. A detailed abundance analysis was performed from high-resolution spectra obtained with the Nordic Optical Telescope (La Palma). Results. We find the masses of the (relatively evolved) stars in SW CMa to be 2.10 and 2.24 M ⊙ , with radii of 2.50 and 3.01 R ⊙ , while the (essentially zero-age) stars in HW CMa have masses of 1.72 and 1.78 M ⊙ , radii of 1.64 and 1.66 R ⊙ -all with errors well below 2%. Detailed atmospheric abundances for one or both components were determined for 14 elements in SW CMa ([Fe/H] = +0.49/+0.61 dex) and 16 in HW CMa ([Fe/H] = +0.33/+0.32 dex); both abundance patterns are characteristic of metallic-line stars. Both systems are well fit by current stellar evolution models for assumed bulk abundances of [Fe/H] = +0.05 and +0.23, respectively ([α/Fe] = 0.0), and ages of ∼700 Myr and 160 Myr.