Long-term evolution of compact binaries with irradiation feedback

Abstract

We resume the discussion about irradiation-driven mass transfer cycles in semi- detached compact binary systems. The analytical model that describes the onset of these cycles, which occur on a thermal timescale of the donor star, is reexamined. We take into account a contribution of the thermal relaxation which is not related to the irradiation of the donor star and which was neglected in previous studies. Cataclysmic variables (CVs) containing extended giant donors are more stable than previously thought. CVs close to the upper edge of the period gap can undergo cycles for low angular momentum loss rates, as they have been suggested by recent magnetic braking prescriptions, while they are stable for high braking rates. A model for the irradiation geometry that takes into account surface elements near the terminator of the donor star indicates that possibly also low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) can undergo mass transfer cycles. Regarding the braking rate, which is necessary to drive cycles, basically the same restrictions apply for short period LMXBs as they do for short period CVs. We confirm that LMXBs containing giants can undergo cyles. In terms of an irradiation efficiency parameter αCVs are susceptible to the irradiation instability for α>= 0.1 while LMXBs are susceptible for α<= 0.1. The predictions of the analytical model are checked by the first long-term evolutionary computations of systems undergoing mass transfer cycles with full 1D stellar models. For unevolved main sequence (MS) and giant donors the analytic model provides reasonable values for the boundaries of the stable and unstable regions while CVs containing highly evolved MS donors are more stable at high braking rates than expected.Taking into account irradiation the minimum period of CVs is increased by up to 1-2 minutes, depending on α.

19 pages, 24 figures, accepted by A&A

References in corpus (16)

• Catalogue of cataclysmic binaries, low-mass X-ray binaries and related objects (Seventh edition)
• Solar Fusion Cross Sections
• Approximate input physics for stellar modelling
• The Angular Momentum Evolution of Very Low Mass Stars
• The Galactic Population of Low- and Intermediate-Mass X-ray Binaries
• Cataclysmic Variables: An Empirical Angular Momentum Loss Prescription From Open Cluster Data
• AE Aquarii: how CVs descend from supersoft binaries
• A Code for Stellar Binary Evolution and its Application to the Formation of Helium White Dwarfs
• The violent past of Cygnus X-2
• Properties of discontinuous and nova-amplified mass transfer in CVs
• Analytical solution for the evolution of a binary with stable mass transfer from a giant
• Distortion of secondaries in semi-detached binaries and the cataclysmic variable period minimum
• Mass Transfer Cycles in Close Binaries with Evolved Companions
• New VI photometry of the sdOB binary AA Dor and an improved photometric model
• Illumination in binaries
• Evolutionary Effects of Irradiation in Cataclysmic Variables

Cited by in corpus (47)

• The Evolution of Cataclysmic Variables as Revealed by their Donor Stars
• The Donor Stars of Cataclysmic Variables
• WATCHDOG: A Comprehensive All-Sky Database of Galactic Black Hole X-ray Binaries
• Formation of black widows and redbacks -- two distinct populations of eclipsing binary millisecond pulsars
• Evolution towards and beyond accretion-induced collapse of massive white dwarfs and formation of millisecond pulsars
• The formation of low-mass helium white dwarfs orbiting pulsars: Evolution of low-mass X-ray binaries below the bifurcation period
• Understanding the evolution of close binary systems with radio pulsars
• Evolutionary trajectories of ultra-compact "black widow" pulsars with very low mass companions
• The space density of cataclysmic variables: constraints from the ROSAT North Ecliptic Pole Survey
• Low Mass X-ray Binaries: The Effects of the Magnetic Braking Prescription
• Angular momentum losses and the orbital period distribution of cataclysmic variables below the period gap: effects of circumbinary disks
• The nature of very faint X-ray binaries; hints from light curves
• Population Synthesis for Symbiotic X-ray Binaries
• The influence of selection effects on the observed cataclysmic variable population: modelling and application to the Palomar-Green sample
• Pressure Balance and Intrabinary Shock Stability in Rotation-Powered State Redback and Transitional Millisecond Pulsar Binary Systems
• Dramatic change in the boundary layer in the symbiotic recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis
• On the Nature of X-ray Sources in Early-Type Galaxies
• The Discovery of a Very Faint X-ray Transient in the Globular Cluster M15
• The Quasi-Roche lobe overflow state in the evolution of Close Binary Systems containing a radio pulsar
• Is irradiation important for the secular evolution of low-mass X-ray binaries?
• Effects of Irradiation on the Evolution of Ultra-compact X-ray Binaries
• The new pre-cataclysmic binary PG 2200+085
• A theory of mass transfer in binary stars
• Formation and Evolution of Galactic Intermediate/Low-Mass X-ray Binaries
• Formation of black widows through ultra-compact X-ray binaries with He star companions
• The Relationship Between X-ray Luminosity and Duty Cycle for Dwarf Novae and their Specific Frequency in the Inner Galaxy
• Evolutionary paths of binaries with a neutron star. I. The case of SAX J1808.4-3658
• Discovery of an old nova shell surrounding the cataclysmic variable V1315 Aql
• Identifying the formation mechanism of redback pulsars
• The Detection of a 3.5-h Period in the Classical Nova Velorum 1999 (V382 Vel) and the Long Term Behavior of the Nova Light Curve
• The peculiar chemical abundance of the transitional millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038 -- Li enhancement
• Numerical stability of mass transfer driven by Roche lobe overflow in close binaries
• Donors of Persistent Neutron-star Low-mass X-ray Binaries
• Decades' long-term variations in NS-LMXBs observed with MAXI/GSC, RXTE/ASM and Ginga/ASM
• Evolution of redback radio pulsars in globular clusters
• Binary evolution leading to the formation of the very massive neutron star in the J0740+6620 binary system
• An evolutionary model for the gamma-ray system PSR J1311-3430 and its companion
• Hibernation Revived by Weak Magnetic Braking
• Astrophysics with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
• A magnetic accretion switch in pre-cataclysmic binaries?
• On the rapid orbital expansion in the compact low-mass X-ray binary 2A 1822$-$371
• Effect of irradiation on the spin of millisecond pulsars
• Effect of tides on the orbital evolution of the redback system PSR 1723-2837
• Irradiation effect and binary radio pulsars with giant companions
• Stellar Evolution in Close Binaries: Processes and Outcomes
• On Pulsar-Driven Mass Ejection in Low-Mass X-ray Binaries
• Mechanisms for magnetic braking boost and disruption: the role of irradiation-driven winds and convective turnover time spike in cataclysmic variables