On the evolution and fate of interacting massive binary stars

Vigna Gomez, Alejandro ORCID: 0000-0003-1817-3586 (2019). On the evolution and fate of interacting massive binary stars. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Massive binary stars have been associated with X-ray binaries, Galactic double neutron stars, short gamma-ray bursts, luminous red novae, gravitational waves and other energetic astronomical phenomena. In this thesis we study their evolution and fate.

Rapid population synthesis is used to study double neutron stars and binary black holes. Synthesised populations are compared with observations of double compact objects. Our method reproduces the observed Galactic double neutron star period and eccentricity distributions as well as the binary black hole mass distribution. Intermediate phases in the evolution of binaries leading to double neutron stars are also studied. We focus on mass transfer leading to common-envelope events. It is found that most double neutron stars come from two formation channels with very distinctive common-envelope events. It is also found that a significant fraction of binaries will not be circular by the time the common-envelope phase begins.

Finally, detailed stellar evolution is used to model massive stellar mergers. Merger products evolve differently than their single star counterparts. A novel formation scenario involving stellar mergers is proposed as a progenitor of (pulsational) pair-instability supernovae. This scenario is suggested in the context of hydrogen-rich long-lasting multi-peaked transients like iPTF14hls.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):