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
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
Anderson G
(2011)
IDENTIFICATION OF A POPULATION OF X-RAY-EMITTING MASSIVE STARS IN THE GALACTIC PLANE
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Barros S
(2007)
ULTRACAM photometry of the ultracompact binaries V407 Vul and HM Cnc
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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 ?
Bassa C
(2009)
Optical spectroscopy of the quiescent counterpart to EXO???0748???676
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
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
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
Britt C
(2013)
IDENTIFICATION OF FIVE INTERACTING BINARIES IN THE GALACTIC BULGE SURVEY
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
Caballero-García 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
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
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
Calvelo D
(2009)
Doppler and modulation tomography of XTE J1118+480 in quiescence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Carter P
(2013)
The helium-rich cataclysmic variable SBSS 1108+574
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Carter P
(2013)
A search for the hidden population of AM CVn binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Copperwheat C
(2009)
ULTRACAM observations of two accreting white dwarf pulsators
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
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
Copperwheat C
(2011)
The photometric period in ES Ceti The photometric period in ES Ceti
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
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
Cornelisse R
(2009)
Phase-resolved spectroscopy of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 during the 2008 outburst
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
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
Cornelisse R
(2012)
The nature of the X-ray transient MAXI J0556-332 MAXI J0556-332
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
Durant M
(2011)
High time resolution optical/X-ray cross-correlations for X-ray binaries: anticorrelations and rapid variability X-ray binaries: optical/X-ray cross-correlations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fontaine G
(2011)
DISCOVERY OF A NEW AM CVn SYSTEM WITH THE KEPLER SATELLITE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Galloway D
(2013)
PRECISION EPHEMERIDES FOR GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE SEARCHES. I. Sco X-1
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Girven J
(2010)
PG 1258+593 and its common proper motion magnetic white dwarf counterpart
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
Greiss S
(2012)
INITIAL DATA RELEASE OF THE KEPLER -INT SURVEY
in The Astronomical Journal
Greiss S
(2014)
KIC 11911480: the second ZZ Ceti in the Kepler field
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
Groot P
(2009)
The UV-Excess survey of the northern Galactic plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gänsicke BT
(2010)
Two white dwarfs with oxygen-rich atmospheres.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Hodgkin S
(2021)
Gaia Early Data Release 3 Gaia photometric science alerts
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Horne K
(2012)
Astrotomography
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Hynes R
(2012)
IDENTIFICATION OF GALACTIC BULGE SURVEY X-RAY SOURCES WITH TYCHO-2 STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jonker P
(2010)
Following the 2008 outburst decay of the black hole candidate H 1743-322â??in X-ray and radio
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jonker P
(2011)
THE GALACTIC BULGE SURVEY: OUTLINE AND X-RAY OBSERVATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Jonker P
(2008)
Optical and X-Ray Observations of IGR J00291+5934 in Quiescence
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jonker P
(2013)
Chandra X-ray and Gemini near-infrared observations of the eclipsing millisecond pulsar SWIFT J1749.4-2807 in 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
Lewis F
(2010)
The double-peaked 2008 outburst of the accreting milli-second X-ray pulsar, IGR J00291+5934
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
| 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 |