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
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
Greiss S
(2014)
KIC 11911480: the second ZZ Ceti in the Kepler field
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Greiss S
(2013)
KIC11911480: the second ZZ Ceti in the $Kepler$ field
Barnes A
(2007)
Kinematical studies of the low-mass X-ray binary GR Mus (XB 1254-690) GR Mus
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Anderson G
(2012)
MULTI-WAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF THE RADIO MAGNETAR PSR J1622-4950 AND DISCOVERY OF ITS POSSIBLY ASSOCIATED SUPERNOVA REMNANT
in The Astrophysical Journal
Reis R
(2011)
Multistate observations of the Galactic black hole XTE J1752-223: evidence for an intermediate black hole spin Spin from reflection features: XTE J1752-223
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
Greiss S
(2014)
Near-infrared counterparts to the Galactic Bulge Survey X-ray source population
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
Torres M
(2008)
Observations of the 599 Hz Accreting X-Ray Pulsar IGR J00291+5934 during the 2004 Outburst and in Quiescence
in The Astrophysical Journal
Steeghs D
(2007)
On the Mass of the Neutron Star in V395 Carinae/2S 0921-630
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Jonker P
(2008)
Optical and X-Ray Observations of IGR J00291+5934 in Quiescence
in The Astrophysical Journal
Cornelisse R
(2007)
Optical spectroscopy of the low-mass X-ray binary GX 9+9 Optical spectroscopy of GX 9+9
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
Bassa C
(2009)
Optical spectroscopy of the quiescent counterpart to EXO???0748???676
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Southworth J
(2010)
Orbital periods of cataclysmic variables identified by the SDSS VIII. A slingshot prominence in SDSS J003941.06 + 005427.5??
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Girven J
(2010)
PG 1258+593 and its common proper motion magnetic white dwarf counterpart
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cornelisse R
(2009)
Phase-resolved spectroscopy of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 during the 2008 outburst
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Luna G
(2010)
PHOTOIONIZED FEATURES IN THE X-RAY SPECTRUM OF EX HYDRAE
in The Astrophysical Journal
BARROS, SCC And MARSH, TR And DHILLON, VS And GROOT, PJ And LITTLEFAIR, S And NELEMANS, G And ROELOFS, G And STEEGHS, D And WHEATLEY, PJ
Photometry of V407 Vul and RXJ0806.3+1527: Twin systems ?
Premachandra S
(2016)
PRECISION EPHEMERIDES FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVE SEARCHES. II. CYG X-2
in The Astrophysical Journal
Galloway D
(2013)
PRECISION EPHEMERIDES FOR GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE SEARCHES. I. Sco X-1
in The Astrophysical Journal
Maccarone T
(2012)
Radio sources in the Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey GBS radio sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
RAMSAY, G And BROCKSOPP, C And GROOT, PJ And HAKALA, P And LEHTO, H And MARSH, TR And NAPIWOTZKI, R And NELEMANS, G And POTTER, S And SLEE, B And STEEGHS, D And WU, K
Recent observational progress in AM CVn binaries
Bloemen S
(2013)
Remarkable spectral variability on the spin period of the accreting white dwarf in V455 And
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Watson C
(2007)
Roche tomography of cataclysmic variables - IV. Star-spots and slingshot prominences on BV Cen Roche tomography of CVs - IV
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
MARSH, TR And DHILLON, VS And LITTLEFAIR, SP And GROOT, PJ And HAKALA, P And NELEMANS, G And RAMSAY, G And ROELOFS, GHA And STEEGHS, D
SDSS J0926+3624, the first eclipsing AM CVn star, as seen with ULTRACAM
Copperwheat C
(2011)
SDSS J0926+3624: the shortest period eclipsing binary star The shortest period eclipsing binary star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Roelofs G
(2010)
SPECTROSCOPIC EVIDENCE FOR A 5.4 MINUTE ORBITAL PERIOD IN HM CANCRI
in The Astrophysical Journal
Verbeek K
(2012)
Spectroscopic follow-up of ultraviolet-excess objects selected from the UVEX survey Spectroscopic follow-up of UV-excess objects
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bloemen S
(2010)
Spin-resolved spectroscopy of the intermediate polar DQ Her
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
(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
Zurita C
(2008)
Swift J1753.5-0127: The Black Hole Candidate with the Shortest Orbital Period
in The Astrophysical Journal
Rykoff E
(2007)
Swift Observations of the Cooling Accretion Disk of XTE J1817-330
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
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
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
Jonker P
(2007)
The Cold Neutron Star in the Soft X-Ray Transient 1H 1905+000
in The Astrophysical Journal
Miller J
(2012)
THE DISK-WIND-JET CONNECTION IN THE BLACK HOLE H 1743-322
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lewis F
(2010)
The double-peaked 2008 outburst of the accreting milli-second X-ray pulsar, IGR J00291+5934
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Neilsen J
(2008)
The eccentric accretion disc of the black hole A0620-00 ?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Woudt P
(2009)
THE EXPANDING BIPOLAR SHELL OF THE HELIUM NOVA V445 PUPPIS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jonker P
(2011)
THE GALACTIC BULGE SURVEY: OUTLINE AND X-RAY OBSERVATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Carter P
(2013)
The helium-rich cataclysmic variable SBSS 1108+574
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 |