Journal article
Ultraviolet spectropolarimetry: conservative and nonconservative mass transfer in OB interacting binaries
Astrophysics and space science, Vol.367(12), p.119
12/01/2022
DOI: 10.1007/s10509-022-04106-w
Abstract
The current consensus is that at least half of the OB stars are formed in binary or multiple star systems. The evolution of OB stars is greatly influenced by whether the stars begin as close binaries, and the evolution of the binary systems depend on whether the mass transfer is conservative or nonconservative. FUV/NUV spectropolarimetry is poised to answer the latter question. This paper discusses how the Polstar spectropolarimetry mission can characterize the degree of nonconservative mass transfer that occurs at various stages of binary evolution, from the initial mass reversal to the late Algol phase, and quantify its amount. The proposed instrument combines spectroscopic and polarimetric capabilities, where the spectroscopy can resolve Doppler shifts in UV resonance lines with 10 km/s precision, and polarimetry can resolve linear polarization with 10-3 precision or better. The spectroscopy will identify absorption by mass streams and other plasmas seen in projection against the stellar disk as a function of orbital phase, as well as scattering from extended splash structures, including jets. The polarimetry tracks the light coming from material not seen against the stellar disk, allowing the geometry of the scattering to be tracked, resolving ambiguities left by the spectroscopy and light-curve information. For example, nonconservative mass streams ejected in the polar direction will produce polarization of the opposite sign from conservative transfer accreting in the orbital plane. Time domain coverage over a range of phases of the binary orbit are well supported by the Polstar observing strategy. Special attention will be given to the epochs of enhanced systemic mass loss that have been identified from IUE observations (pre-mass reversal and tangential gas stream impact). We show how the history of systemic mass and angular momentum loss/gain episodes can be inferred via ensemble evolution through the r-q diagram. Combining the above elements will significantly improve our understanding of the mass transfer process and the amount of mass that can escape from the system, an important channel for changing the final mass and ultimate supernova of a large number of massive stars found in binaries at close enough separation to undergo interaction.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Ultraviolet spectropolarimetry: conservative and nonconservative mass transfer in OB interacting binaries
- Creators
- Geraldine J. Peters - University of Southern CaliforniaKenneth G. Gayley - University of IowaRichard Ignace - East Tennessee State UniversityCarol E. Jones - Western UniversityYael Naze - University of LiègeNicole St-Louis - Université de MontréalHeloise Stevance - University of AucklandJorick S. Vink - Armagh Observatory & PlanetariumNoel D. Richardson - Embry–Riddle Aeronautical UniversityJennifer L. Hoffman - University of DenverJamie R. Lomax - United States Naval AcademyTomer Shenar - University of AmsterdamAndrew G. Fullard - Michigan State UniversityPaul A. Scowen - Goddard Space Flight Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Astrophysics and space science, Vol.367(12), p.119
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10509-022-04106-w
- ISSN
- 0004-640X
- eISSN
- 1572-946X
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 17
- Grant note
- Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (Belgium); Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique - FNRS NASA Goddard Space Flight Center toformulate the mission proposal forPolstar University of Denver via a 2021 PROF award AST-2009412 / National Science Foundation (NSF) 80NSSC18K0919 / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) AST-1816944 / NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF) HST-GO-15659.002; HST-GO-15869.001 / STScI; Space Telescope Science Institute PRODEX Programme(contracts linked to XMM-Newton and Gaia) Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO); Belgian Federal Science Policy Office European Space Agency (ESA); European Space Agency; European Commission
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984429038902771
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