
Physics of Binary Star Evolution
From Stars to X-ray Binaries and Gravitational Wave Sources
- 800 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
Physics of Binary Star Evolution
From Stars to X-ray Binaries and Gravitational Wave Sources
About this book
A graduate-level textbook on the astrophysics of binary star systems and their evolution
Physics of Binary Star Evolution is an up-to-date textbook on the astrophysics and evolution of binary star systems. Theoretical astrophysicists Thomas Tauris and Edward van den Heuvel cover a wide range of phenomena and processes, including mass transfer and ejection, common envelopes, novae and supernovae, X-ray binaries, millisecond radio pulsars, and gravitational wave (GW) sources, and their links to stellar evolution.
The authors walk through the observed properties and evolution of different types of binaries, with special emphasis on those containing compact objects (neutron stars, black holes, and white dwarfs). Attention is given to the formation mechanisms of GW sources—merging double neutron stars and black holes as well as ultra-compact GW binaries hosting white dwarfs—and to the progenitors of these sources and how they are observed with radio telescopes, X-ray satellites, and GW detectors (LIGO, Virgo, KAGRA, Einstein Telescope, Cosmic Explorer, and LISA). Supported by illustrations, equations, and exercises, Physics of Binary Star Evolution combines theory and observations to guide readers through the wonders of a field that will play a central role in modern astrophysics for decades to come.
- 465 equations, 47 tables, and 350+ figures
- More than 80 exercises (analytical, numerical, and computational)
- Over 2,500 extensive, up-to-date references
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Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Contents
- Preface
- 1. Introduction: The Role of Binary Star Evolution in Astrophysics
- 2. Historical Notes on Binary Star Discoveries
- 3. Orbits and Masses of Spectroscopic Binaries
- 4. Mass Transfer and Mass Loss in Binary Systems
- 5. Observed Binaries with Non-degenerate or White Dwarf Components
- 6. Observed Binaries with Accreting Neutron Stars and Black Holes: X-ray Binaries
- 7. Observed Properties of X-ray Binaries in More Detail
- 8. Evolution of Single Stars
- 9. Stellar Evolution in Binaries
- 10. Formation and Evolution of High-mass X-ray Binaries
- 11. Formation and Evolution of Low-mass X-ray Binaries
- 12. Dynamical Formation of Compact Star Binaries in Dense Star Clusters
- 13. Supernovae in Binaries
- 14. Binary and Millisecond Pulsars
- 15. Gravitational Waves from Binary Compact Objects
- 16. Binary Population Synthesis and Statistics
- Acknowledgments
- Answers to Exercises
- List of Acronyms
- References
- Index