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
Barros S
(2007)
ULTRACAM photometry of the ultracompact binaries V407 Vul and HM Cnc
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Ramsay G
(2012)
The long-term optical behaviour of helium-accreting AM CVn binaries The long-term behaviour of AM CVn systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Van Spaandonk L
(2010)
Time-resolved spectroscopy of the pulsating CV GW Lib
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Savoury C
(2012)
A radial velocity study of CTCV J1300-3052 CTCV J1300-3052
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ratti E
(2012)
The black hole candidate XTE J1752-223 towards and in quiescence: optical and simultaneous X-ray-radio observations XTE J1752-223: outburst decay and quiescence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Girven J
(2010)
PG 1258+593 and its common proper motion magnetic white dwarf counterpart
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Roelofs G
(2007)
On the orbital periods of the AM CVn stars HP Librae and V803 Centauri
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Witham A
(2007)
Newly discovered cataclysmic variables from the INT/WFC photometric Ha survey of the northern Galactic plane Newly discovered CVs from IPHAS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vink J
(2008)
IPHAS discoveries of young stars towards Cyg OB2 and its southern periphery
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Verbeek K
(2012)
A first catalogue of automatically selected ultraviolet-excess sources from the UVEX survey A first catalogue of UVEX UV-excess sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cornelisse R
(2007)
A detection of the donor star of Aquila X-1 during its 2004 outburst?? A detection of the donor star of Aql X-1?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bassa C
(2009)
Optical spectroscopy of the quiescent counterpart to EXO???0748???676
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Maccarone T
(2012)
Radio sources in the Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey GBS radio sources
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
Neilsen J
(2008)
The eccentric accretion disc of the black hole A0620-00 ?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ratti E
(2012)
Optical spectroscopy of the quiescent counterpart to EXO 0748-676: a black widow scenario? Optical spectroscopy of EXO 0748-676
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wright N
(2008)
Extremely red stellar objects revealed by 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
Bloemen S
(2010)
Kepler observations of the beaming binary KPD 1946+4340 Kepler observations of KPD 1946+4340
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
Gonzlez-Solares E
(2008)
Initial data release from the INT Photometric H Survey of the Northern Galactic Plane (IPHAS)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ramsay G
(2012)
Suppression of X-rays during an optical outburst of the helium dwarf nova KL Dra X-ray observations of KL Dra
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Witham A
(2008)
The IPHAS catalogue of Ha emission-line sources in the northern Galactic plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cornelisse R
(2007)
A signature of the donor star in the extra-galactic X-ray binary LMC X-2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| 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 |