Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Aug 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007iaus..240..300o&link_type=abstract
Binary Stars as Critical Tools & Tests in Contemporary Astrophysics, Proceedings of IAU Symposium #240, held 22-25 August, 2006
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
3
Scientific paper
Loosely bound, "fragile" binary stars, whose separations may reach ˜0.1 pc, are like open clusters with two coeval components. They provide a largely overlooked avenue for the investigation of many astrophysical questions. For example, the orbital distribution of fragile binaries with two long-lived main sequence components provides limits on the cumulative effects of the Galactic environment. In pairs where one component is evolved, the orbits have been amplified by post-main-sequence mass loss, potentially providing useful constraints on the initial-to-final mass relation for white dwarfs. The nearly featureless spectra of cool white dwarfs usually provide little information about intrinsic radial velocity, full space motion, population membership, metallicity, etc. However, distant main sequence companions provide benchmarks against which those properties can be determined. In addition, the cooling ages of white dwarf components provide useful limits on the ages of their main sequence companions, independent of other stellar age determination methods. This talk will summarize how fragile binaries provide useful leverage on these and other problems of interest.
Johnston Kyle B.
Oswalt Terry D.
Rudkin Merissa
Vaccaro Todd
Valls-Gabaud David
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