Detailed models of the binary pulsars J1141-6545 and B2303+46

Ross P. Church, Stephanie J. Bush, Christopher A. Tout, Melvyn B Davies

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We have modelled the formation of the eccentric double-degenerate binaries J1141-6545 and B2303+46 using the Henyey-type full stellar evolution code STARS and the population synthesis code BSE. We find that the outcome depends strongly on the common envelope (CE) evolution efficiency parameter alpha(CE) and show that both systems can be modelled with a single value of alpha(CE). The final orbit of the system depends critically on the order of Roche lobe filling events. The phase space of progenitors and the different evolutionary pathways followed by binary stars that form eccentric double-degenerate binaries in the two codes are compared. We show that the pathways are similar between the codes and that the distribution of progenitors in mass and separation phase space is qualitatively the same, thus validating the use of BSE-like population synthesis for simulations of this type. The phase space of initial parameters is very different to that obtained using ad hoc arguments about the evolution, which shows that such arguments are insufficient to model evolutionary pathways of this complexity. There are some differences associated with the prescription adopted for CE evolution but these are not qualitatively significant. We investigate the dependence of the formation mechanism on wind mass loss and the CE efficiency parameter alpha(CE), showing that it depends strongly on the latter but rather less on the former.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)715-727
    JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
    Volume372
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2006

    Subject classification (UKÄ)

    • Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

    Free keywords

    • pulsars : individual
    • binaries : close
    • stars : evolution
    • pulsars : individual : B2303+46
    • J1141-6545

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Detailed models of the binary pulsars J1141-6545 and B2303+46'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this