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
Cornelisse R
(2013)
A 2 h periodic variation in the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Raddi R
(2013)
First results of an Ha based search of classical Be stars in the Perseus Arm and beyond
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
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
Torres M
(2015)
VLT spectroscopy of the black hole candidate Swift J1357.2-0933 in quiescence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
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
Deacon N
(2009)
The IPHAS-POSS-I proper motion survey of the Galactic plane
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
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
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
Torres M
(2014)
Identification of 23 accreting binaries in the Galactic Bulge Survey
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
Rea N
(2007)
Accurate X-ray position and multiwavelength observations of the isolated neutron star RBS 1774
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
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
Girven J
(2012)
The unseen population of F- to K-type companions to hot subdwarf stars F- to K-type companions to hot subdwarf stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Girven J
(2011)
DA white dwarfs in Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 and a search for infrared excess emission DA white dwarfs in SDSS DR7 and UKIDSS DR8
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
Groot P
(2009)
The UV-Excess survey of the northern Galactic plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Muñoz-Darias T
(2009)
Dynamical constraints on the neutron star mass in EXO 0748-676
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
RodrĂguez-Gil P
(2010)
The orbital period of V458 Vulpeculae, a post-double common-envelope nova
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Bloemen S.
(2010)
High speed spectroscopy of intermediate polars
in Proceedings of Science
Horne K
(2012)
Astrotomography
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Gänsicke BT
(2010)
Two white dwarfs with oxygen-rich atmospheres.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
| 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 |