On The Formation of Double White Dwarfs: Reevaluating How We Parametrise the Common Envelope Phase

Details On The Formation of Double White Dwarfs: Reevaluating How We Parametrise the Common Envelope Phase On The Formation of Double White Dwarfs: Reevaluating How We Parametrise the Common Envelope Phase

Sep 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011aspc..447..127w&link_type=abstract

Evolution of compact binaries. Proceedings of a workshop held at Hotel San Martín, Viña del Mar, Chile 6–11 May 2011. ASP Confe

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

One class of compact binaries of special interest is that of double white dwarfs (DWDs). For many of these systems, the exact nature of the evolutionary channels by which they form remains uncertain. The canonical explanation calls for the progenitor binary system to undergo two subsequent mass-transfer events, both of which are unstable and lead to a common envelope (CE) phase. However, it has been shown that if both CE events obey the standard αCE prescription, it is not possible to reproduce all of the observed systems. As an alternative prescription, the γ-formalism was proposed, which parametrises the fraction of angular momentum carried away with mass loss, in contrast to the αCE prescription, which parametrises energy loss. We demonstrate that the γ-prescription is also inadequate in describing the evolution of an arbitrary DWD binary; clearly we require a deeper understanding of the physical mechanisms underlying their formation. We then present a detailed model for the evolution of Red Giant - Main Sequence binaries during the first episode of mass transfer, and demonstrate that their evolution into DWDs need not arise through two phases of dynamical mass loss. Instead, the first episode of dramatic mass loss may be stable, non-conservative mass transfer. The second phase is then well described by the αCE prescription. We find that the considered progenitors can reproduce the properties of the observed helium DWDs in which the younger component is the more massive.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

On The Formation of Double White Dwarfs: Reevaluating How We Parametrise the Common Envelope Phase does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with On The Formation of Double White Dwarfs: Reevaluating How We Parametrise the Common Envelope Phase, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On The Formation of Double White Dwarfs: Reevaluating How We Parametrise the Common Envelope Phase will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-829863