On the structure of contact binaries. III - Mass and energy flow

Details On the structure of contact binaries. III - Mass and energy flow On the structure of contact binaries. III - Mass and energy flow

Apr 1979

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1979apj...229..223s&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 229, Apr. 1, 1979, p. 223-241. NSF-supported research.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

59

Binary Stars, Discontinuity, Energy Transfer, Hydrodynamics, Mass Flow, Stellar Structure, Gas Dynamics, Qualitative Analysis, Stellar Evolution, Stellar Luminosity, Transition Layers, Turbulent Mixing

Scientific paper

A variety of topics dealing with the mass and energy flow in contact binaries is examined. It is argued that the contact discontinuity hypothesis proposed in earlier communications is both necessary and sufficient to resolve Kuiper's (1941) paradox concerning the existence of contact binaries with unequal components. A detailed qualitative picture of the maintenance by fluid flow of the contact and weak discontinuities of zero-order models in presented. This discussion supplies a description of the mechanism by which the interior luminosities are redistributed to give common envelope luminosities. It also provides order-of-magnitude estimates for the thickness of the transition layer and mixing region that constitute the actual structure of the contact and weak discontinuities. The gas dynamics of mass loss that occurs if stellar evolution should cause a synchronously rotating common surface to try to expand beyond the outer critical surface is calculated. The role of various processes in the problem of the evolution of contact binaries is considered.

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