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
Copperwheat C
(2011)
The photometric period in ES Ceti The photometric period in ES Ceti
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
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
Miller J
(2012)
THE DISK-WIND-JET CONNECTION IN THE BLACK HOLE H 1743-322
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Bulgarelli A
(2012)
AGILE detection of Cygnus X-3 ? -ray active states during the period mid-2009/mid-2010
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Horne K
(2012)
Astrotomography
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Maccarone T
(2012)
Radio sources in the Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey GBS radio sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Greiss S
(2012)
INITIAL DATA RELEASE OF THE KEPLER -INT SURVEY
in The Astronomical Journal
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
Raddi, Roberto And Drew, Janet E. And Sale, Stuart E. And Steeghs, Danny And Consortium, IPHAS And Moitinho, A And Alves, J
(2012)
Tracing the Structure of the Perseus Arm with IPHAS
in Star Clusters in the Era of Large Surveys
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
Copperwheat C
(2012)
A J-band detection of the donor star in the dwarf nova OY Carinae and an optical detection of its 'iron curtain' J-band detection of the donor star in OY Car
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Breedt E
(2012)
CSS100603:112253-111037: a helium-rich dwarf nova with a 65 min orbital period A 65-min helium-rich dwarf nova
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
(2012)
The nature of the X-ray transient MAXI J0556-332 MAXI J0556-332
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Matranga M
(2012)
DETECTION OF ACCRETION X-RAYS FROM QS Vir: CATACLYSMIC OR A LOT OF HOT AIR?
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
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)
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
Hynes R
(2012)
IDENTIFICATION OF GALACTIC BULGE SURVEY X-RAY SOURCES WITH TYCHO-2 STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ratti E
(2013)
CXOGBS J174444.7-260330: a new long orbital period cataclysmic variable in a low state?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
| 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 |