Igoshev, AP orcid.org/0000-0003-2145-1022, Perets, HB and Michaely, E (2020) Inferred time-scales for common envelope ejection using wide astrometric companions. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 494 (1). pp. 1448-1462. ISSN 0035-8711
Abstract
Evolution of close binaries often proceeds through the common envelope stage. The physics of the envelope ejection (CEE) is not yet understood, and several mechanisms were suggested to be involved. These could give rise to different time-scales for the CEE mass-loss. In order to probe the CEE-time-scales we study wide companions to post-CE binaries. Faster mass-loss time-scales give rise to higher disruption rates of wide binaries and result in larger average separations. We make use of data from Gaia DR2 to search for ultrawide companions (projected separations 103–2 × 105 au and M2 > 0.4 M⊙) to several types of post-CEE systems, including sdBs, white dwarf post-common binaries, and cataclysmic variables. We find a (wide-orbit) multiplicity fraction of 1.4 ± 0.2 per cent for sdBs to be compared with a multiplicity fraction of 5.0 ± 0.2 per cent for late-B/A/F stars which are possible sdB progenitors. The distribution of projected separations of ultrawide pairs to main sequence stars and sdBs differs significantly and is compatible with prompt mass-loss (upper limit on common envelope ejection time-scales of 102 yr). The smaller statistics of ultrawide companions to cataclysmic variables and post-CEE binaries provide weaker constraints. Nevertheless, the survival rate of ultrawide pairs to the cataclysmic variables suggest much longer, ∼104 yr time-scales for the CEE in these systems, possibly suggesting non-dynamical CEE in this regime.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. |
Keywords: | binaries: general; stars: low-mass; stars: mass-loss; stars: statistics |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Mathematics (Leeds) > Applied Mathematics (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 29 Apr 2020 13:20 |
Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2023 22:14 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/mnras/staa833 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:160010 |