Formation \& Evolution of Very Close and Contact Binaries |
| TYPE | Astrophysics Seminar |
| Speaker: | Ludmilla Kisseleva-Eggelton |
| Affiliation: | Expression college, CA |
| Organizer: | Hagai Perets |
| Date: | 18.04.2013 |
| Time: | 11:30 - 12:30 |
| Location: | Lidow 620 |
| Abstract: | A surprising number of apparently unrelated processes are necessary (but we believe also sufficient) for understanding the formation, structure, evolution and long-term end-points of contact binaries. The important processes are (a) hierarchical contraction and fragmentation in a star-formation region, (b) gravitational scattering of some systems off others, producing triples with short-period sub-binaries, (c) Kozai cycles and tidal friction, (d) magnetic braking also with tidal friction, (e) energy transport within a contact envelope, (f) thermal relaxation oscillations, and finally (g) a Darwin instability that leads to a merger such as one observed in 2008. |