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
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
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
RodrÃguez-Gil P
(2009)
An evolved donor star in the long-period cataclysmic variable HS 0218+3229
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
RodrÃguez-Gil P
(2010)
The orbital period of V458 Vulpeculae, a post-double common-envelope nova The 98.10-min orbital period of nova V458 Vul
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
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
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
Roelofs G
(2007)
The long-period AM CVn star SDSS J155252.48+32 0150.9
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Roelofs G
(2007)
Hubble Space Telescope Parallaxes of AM CVn Stars and Astrophysical Consequences
in The Astrophysical Journal
Roelofs G
(2010)
SPECTROSCOPIC EVIDENCE FOR A 5.4 MINUTE ORBITAL PERIOD IN HM CANCRI
in The Astrophysical Journal
ROELOFS, GHA And GROOT, PJ And BENEDICT, GF And MCARTHUR, BE And STEEGHS, D And MORALES-RUEDA, L And MARSH, TR And NELEMANS, G
The nature of the donor stars in ultra-compact AM CVn binaries
Rykoff E
(2007)
Swift Observations of the Cooling Accretion Disk of XTE J1817-330
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sale S
(2009)
High spatial resolution Galactic 3D extinction mapping with IPHAS
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
Schwope A
(2011)
Dissecting the donor star in the eclipsing polar HU Aquarii
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Song L
(2010)
VARIABLE O VI AND N V EMISSION FROM THE X-RAY BINARY LMC X-3: HEATING OF THE BLACK HOLE COMPANION
in The Astronomical Journal
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
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
Steeghs D
(2007)
On the Mass of the Neutron Star in V395 Carinae/2S 0921-630
in The Astrophysical Journal
Steeghs D
(2013)
THE NOT-SO-MASSIVE BLACK HOLE IN THE MICROQUASAR GRS1915+105
in The Astrophysical Journal
Steeghs D
(2013)
The not-so-massive black hole in the microquasar GRS1915+105
Steeghs D
(2007)
Dynamical Constraints on the Component Masses of the Cataclysmic Variable WZ Sagittae
in The Astrophysical Journal
SULLIVAN, DJ And METCALFE, TS And O'DONOGHUE, D And WINGET, DE And KILKENNY, D And VAN WYK, F And KANAAN, A And KEPLER, SO And NITTA, A And KAWALER, SD And MONTGOMERY, AH And NATHER, RE And STEEGHS, D And KOESTER, D And BERGERON, P And O'BRIEN, MS And WOOD, M And JIANG, XJ And LEIBOWITZ, EM And IBBETSON, P And ZOLA, S And KRZESINSKI, J And PAJDOSZ, G And VAUCLAIR, G And DOLEZ, N And CHEVRETON, M
The hottest known DBV white dwarf
Torres M
(2015)
VLT spectroscopy of the black hole candidate Swift J1357.2-0933 in quiescence
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
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 |