Observational Imprints of Binary Evolution on B- and Be-star Populations

This book presents novel observational evidence for detecting and characterizing the products of massive, interacting binary stars. It identifies a new class of post-interaction binaries in a short-lived phase and provides new evidence for the Be phenomenon to result from binary interactions. It also presents a novel spectroscopic campaign focusing on the 40 Myr-old star cluster NGC 330 in the Small Magellanic Clouds, characterizing the entire massive star population and providing unique observational constraints on their evolution history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book delves into the fascinating realm of detecting and characterizing the products of massive,interacting binary stars. As a significant portion of massive stars originate from close binary systems,a multitude of so-called massive binary interaction products are anticipated to exist; however,only a handful have been identified to date. By leveraging observations with the largest telescopes worldwide, equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation,this remarkable work endeavors to rectify this situation. In her exceptional PhD-thesis, Julia Bodensteiner unveils a novel class of post-interaction binaries in a fleeting phase, shortly after the initially more massive star has undergone the stripping of a portion of its envelope. Furthermore, she presents compelling evidence supporting the notion that the Be phenomenon predominantly arises from binary interactions. These groundbreaking findings not only shed light on the evolution of these stars but also unveil a new avenue for identifying hundreds of post-interaction products.

Finally, the author embarks on a novel spectroscopic campaign utilizing the MUSE integral field spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope in Chile. In conjunction with photometric observations from the Hubble Space Telescope, the MUSE data enable the comprehensive characterization of the entire massive star population within the 40 Myr-old star cluster NGC 330 in the Small Magellanic Clouds. Through the development of innovative numerical methods, these data facilitate the extraction of star spectra from the MUSE integral field spectroscopic data, allowing for the simultaneous comparison of MUSE spectroscopy and Hubble photometry with atmospheric models. This comprehensive approach provides invaluable insights into the multiplicity properties, rotational velocities, and evolutionary history of these stars, offering a unique perspective on their (binary) evolution.

Weight: 395g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031194887
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022