Resolution of a paradox: SDSS J1257+5428 can be explained as a descendant of a cataclysmic variable with an evolved donor
arXiv:2503.16204 · doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202553937
Abstract
The existence of the binary system SDSS J1257+5428 has been described as paradoxical. Here we investigate under which conditions SDSS J1257+5428 could be understood as a descendant of a cataclysmic variable with an evolved donor star, which is a scenario that has never been explored in detail. We used the BSE code for pre-common-envelope (CE) evolution and the MESA code for post-CE evolution to run binary evolution simulations and searched for potential formation pathways for SDSS J1257+5428 that lead to its observed characteristics. For the post-CE evolution, we adopted a boosted version of the CARB model. We find that SDSS J1257+5428 can be explained as a post-cataclysmic-variable system if (i) the progenitor of the extremely low-mass WD was initially a solar-type star that evolved into a subgiant before the onset of mass transfer and underwent hydrogen shell flashes after the mass transfer stopped, (ii) the massive WD was highly or entirely rejuvenated during the cataclysmic variable evolution, and (iii) magnetic braking was strong enough to make the evolution convergent. In this case, the torques due to magnetic braking need to be stronger than those provided by the CARB model by a factor of . We conclude that SDSS J1257+5428 can be reasonably well explained as having originated from a cataclysmic variable that hosted an evolved donor star and should no longer be regarded as paradoxical. If our formation channel is correct, our findings provide further support that stronger magnetic braking acts on progenitors of (i) close detached WD binaries, (ii) close detached millisecond pulsar with extremely low-mass WDs, (iii) AM CVn binaries, and (iv) ultra-compact X-ray binaries, in comparison to the magnetic braking strength required to explain binaries hosting main-sequence stars and single main-sequence stars.
Accepted for publication in A&A
References in corpus (40)
- Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA)
- Estimating distances from parallaxes. V: Geometric and photogeometric distances to 1.47 billion stars in Gaia Early Data Release 3
- Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Pulsating Variable Stars, Rotation, Convective Boundaries, and Energy Conservation
- Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Time-Dependent Convection, Energy Conservation, Automatic Differentiation, and Infrastructure
- Updated Electron-Conduction Opacities: The Impact on Low-Mass Stellar Models
- On the Spectral Evolution of Hot White Dwarf Stars. I. A Detailed Model-Atmosphere Analysis of Hot White Dwarfs from SDSS DR12
- Post-common-envelope binaries from SDSS. IX: Constraining the common-envelope efficiency
- Coulomb tunneling for fusion reactions in dense matter: Path integral Monte Carlo versus mean field
- The role of mass transfer and common envelope evolution in the formation of merging binary black holes
- It has to be cool: on supergiant progenitors of binary black hole mergers from common-envelope evolution
- Type Ia Supernova Explosions in Binary Systems: A Review
- Skye: A Differentiable Equation of State
- Monte Carlo simulations of post-common-envelope white dwarf + main sequence binaries: comparison with the SDSS DR7 observed sample
- The formation of low-mass helium white dwarfs orbiting pulsars: Evolution of low-mass X-ray binaries below the bifurcation period
- The dependence of convective core overshooting on stellar mass: reality check, and additional evidence
- The evolutionary status of Cataclysmic Variables: Eclipse modelling of 15 systems
- Populations of double white dwarfs in Milky Way satellites and their detectability with LISA
- Formation of millisecond pulsars with helium white dwarfs, ultra-compact X-ray binaries and gravitational wave sources
- 123-321 Models of Classical Novae
- Close detached white dwarf + brown dwarf binaries: further evidence for low values of the common envelope efficiency
- A Thousand and One Nova Outbursts
- White dwarf binaries suggest a common envelope efficiency
- Magnetic braking saturates: evidence from the orbital period distribution of low-mass detached eclipsing binaries from ZTF
- Birth of the ELMs: a ZTF survey for evolved cataclysmic variables turning into extremely low-mass white dwarfs
- The population of white dwarf-main sequence binaries in the SDSS DR 12
- Convective boundary mixing in main-sequence stars: theory and empirical constraints
- The cataclysmic variable orbital period gap: More evident than ever
- The White Dwarf Binary Pathways Survey VI: two close post common envelope binaries with TESS light curves
- The origin of single low-mass WDs: another problem that consequential angular momentum loss in CVs might solve
- The chaotic four-body problem in Newtonian gravity I: Identical point-particles
- Reversing the verdict: Cataclysmic variables could be the dominant progenitors of AM CVn binaries after all
- A double white dwarf with a paradoxical origin?
- Period bouncers as detached magnetic cataclysmic variables
- Examining the Relationship Between Convective Core Overshoot and Stellar Properties Using Asteroseismology
- Convection and rotation boosted prescription of magnetic braking: application to the formation of extremely low-mass white dwarfs
- Formation of long-period post-common-envelope binaries I. No extra energy is needed to explain oxygen-neon white dwarfs paired with AFGK-type main-sequence stars
- Formation of long-period post-common-envelope binaries II. Explaining the self-lensing binary KOI 3278
- Further evidence of saturated, boosted, and disrupted magnetic braking from evolutionary tracks of cataclysmic variables
- The formation of the magnetic symbiotic star FN Sgr
- Compact Objects in close orbits as Gravitational Wave Sources: Formation Scenarios and Properties