The astrophysics of accretion in compact binaries
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Unlike our Sun, the majority of stars find themselves in gravitationally bound pairs known as binary stars. The interaction between the two stars often leads to the formation of a compact pair with the lower mass donor star losing mass onto the more massive primary. Such interactions can produce very energetic objects as the potential energy that is released is converted into radiation and heat. The most extreme examples contain a very small but massive remnant of a star, which can be either a white dwarf for a star the mass of our Sun, or a neutron star or black hole for more massive stars. These two stars can orbit around each other in as little as a few minutes. I propose to employ novel imaging techniques, which are very similar to the CAT scanning methods used in hospitals, in order to study this interaction using the latest telescopes and instruments. This allows us to reconstruct images and even movies that show this interaction in detail despite the fact that such double stars are not resolved in even our biggest telescopes. I will use these reconstructed images of binaries to study the wide variety of physical processes that occur in these systems. These include turbulence, tidal interactions, outflows and jets, relativistic physics near black holes and the structure of matter under extreme conditions. My work relies on exploiting the latest suite of ground-based telescopes in conjunction with space-based observations at wavelengths that are not accessible from earth. In order to determine how binaries affect the populations of stars in galaxies such as our Milky Way, I also intend to search for many new systems using wide-field digital cameras attached to large telescopes. This combination will allow me to test our current ideas concerning the formation, structure and time evolution of a wide range of binary systems.
Publications
Southworth J
(2008)
Orbital periods of cataclysmic variables identified by the SDSS - V. VLT, NTT and Magellan observations of nine equatorial systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Miller J
(2008)
Initial Measurements of Black Hole Spin in GX 339-4 from Suzaku Spectroscopy
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wesson R
(2008)
A Planetary Nebula around Nova V458 Vulpeculae Undergoing Flash Ionization
in The Astrophysical Journal
Papadaki C
(2008)
V2051 Ophiuchi after superoutburst: out-of-plane material and the superhump light source
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Cackett E
(2008)
Investigating the Nature of Absorption Lines in the Chandra X-Ray Spectra of the Neutron Star Binary 4U 1820-30
in The Astrophysical Journal
Cornelisse R
(2009)
Phase-resolved spectroscopy of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 during the 2008 outburst
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Caballero-GarcĂa M
(2009)
INTEGRAL AND XMM-NEWTON SPECTROSCOPY OF GX 339-4 DURING HARD/SOFT INTERMEDIATE AND HIGH/SOFT STATES IN THE 2007 OUTBURST
in The Astrophysical Journal
Roelofs G
(2009)
SDSS J080449.49+161624.8: a peculiar AM CVn star from a colour-selected sample of candidates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cackett E
(2009)
A SEARCH FOR IRON EMISSION LINES IN THE CHANDRA X-RAY SPECTRA OF NEUTRON STAR LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bassa C
(2009)
Optical spectroscopy of the quiescent counterpart to EXO???0748???676
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sale S
(2009)
High spatial resolution Galactic 3D extinction mapping with IPHAS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Calvelo D
(2009)
Doppler and modulation tomography of XTE J1118+480 in quiescence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Deacon N
(2009)
The IPHAS-POSS-I proper motion survey of the Galactic plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Orosz J
(2009)
A NEW DYNAMICAL MODEL FOR THE BLACK HOLE BINARY LMC X-1
in The Astrophysical Journal
Muñoz-Darias T
(2009)
Dynamical constraints on the neutron star mass in EXO 0748-676
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Groot P
(2009)
The UV-Excess survey of the northern Galactic plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
RodrĂguez-Gil P
(2009)
An evolved donor star in the long-period cataclysmic variable HS 0218+3229
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
McClintock J
(2009)
THE 2003 OUTBURST OF THE X-RAY TRANSIENT H1743-322: COMPARISONS WITH THE BLACK HOLE MICROQUASAR XTE J1550-564
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ness J
(2009)
SWIFT X-RAY AND ULTRAVIOLET MONITORING OF THE CLASSICAL NOVA V458 VUL (NOVA VUL 2007)
in The Astronomical Journal
Woudt P
(2009)
THE EXPANDING BIPOLAR SHELL OF THE HELIUM NOVA V445 PUPPIS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Copperwheat C
(2009)
ULTRACAM observations of two accreting white dwarf pulsators
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bloemen S
(2010)
Spin-resolved spectroscopy of the intermediate polar DQ Her Spin-resolved spectroscopy of DQ Her
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ramsay G
(2010)
Multiwavelength observations of the helium dwarf nova KL Dra through its outburst cycle The outburst cycle of KL Dra
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lewis F
(2010)
The double-peaked 2008 outburst of the accreting milli-second X-ray pulsar, IGR J00291+5934
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Song L
(2010)
VARIABLE O VI AND N V EMISSION FROM THE X-RAY BINARY LMC X-3: HEATING OF THE BLACK HOLE COMPANION
in The Astronomical Journal
| Description | Advanced our understanding of binary stellar systems and the physics of accretion. |
| Exploitation Route | Sharing of data and techniques |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education |
| Description | Used by peers in scientific community |
| Sector | Education |
| Description | Royal Society MP Pairing Scheme |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Description | Long-term link with Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics |
| Organisation | Harvard University |
| Department | Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Long-term research collaboration with High-Energy astrophysics Dividion |
| Collaborator Contribution | Offer expertise as well as access to facilities |
| Impact | N/A |
| Description | Media work |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Several press releases, interviews and quotes in large popular science media. Strong evidence for reaching broad audience, work cited on blogs and news sites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011 |