Evolution of Close Binary Systems

• DOI: 10.1086/431300
• Publication Date: 2005-08-11T15:04:24Z
• Authors: Kadri Yakut; Peter P. Eggleton
• Keywords: General Physics; Computing; Binaries: eclipsing; Stars; 99 General And Miscellaneous//Mathematics; Angular Momentum; 01 natural sciences; 520; Binary Stars; Stars: evolution; Binaries: close; And Information Science; 0103 physical sciences; 71 Classical And Quantum Mechanics; Stars: fundamental parameters

We collected data on the masses, radii, etc. of three classes of close binary stars: low-temperature contact binaries (LTCBs), near-contact binaries (NCBs), and detached close binaries (DCBs). They restrict themselves to systems where (1) both components are, at least arguably, near the Main Sequence, (2) the periods are less than a day, and (3) there is both spectroscopic and photometric analysis leading to reasonably reliable data. They discuss the possible evolutionary connections between these three classes, emphasizing the roles played by mass loss and angular momentum loss in rapidly-rotating cool stars.