Overview

Stars are mostly found in binary and multiple systems, with at least 50% of all solar-like stars having companions; this fraction approaches 100% for the most massive stars. A large proportion of these systems interact and alter the structure and evolution of their components, leading to exotic objects such as Algol variables, blue stragglers and other chemically peculiar stars, but also to phenomena such as non-spherical planetary nebulae, supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. While it is understood that binaries play a critical role in the Initial Mass Function, the interactions among binary systems significantly affect the dynamical evolution of stellar clusters and galaxies. This interdisciplinary volume presents results from state-of-the-art models and observations aimed at studying the impact of binaries on stellar evolution in resolved and unresolved populations. Serving as a bridge between observational and theoretical astronomy, it is a comprehensive review for researchers and advanced students of astrophysics.

Full Product Details

Author:   Giacomo Beccari (European Southern Observatory, Garching) ,  Henri M. J. Boffin (European Southern Observatory, Garching)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 25.30cm
Weight:   0.860kg
ISBN:  

9781108428583

ISBN 10:   1108428584
Pages:   354
Publication Date:   18 April 2019
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. The zoo of binary stars Henri M. J. Boffin; 2. Statistics of binary and multiple stars M. Moe; 3. Gaia and LSST: their importance in binary star research L. Eyer, Nami Mowlavi, Isabelle Lecoeur-Taibi, Lorenzo Rimoldini, Berry Holl, Marc Audard, Simon Hodgkin, Dafydd W. Evans, Lukasz Wyrzykowsi, George Seabroke, Andrej Prša, and Dimitri Pourbaix; 4. Population synthesis of binary stars R. G. Izzard and G. M. Halabi; 5. Low- and intermediate-mass star evolution: open problems M. Salaris; 6. The symbiotic stars U. Munari; 7. Binary post-AGB stars as tracers of stellar evolution H. van Winckel; 8. The importance of binarity in the formation and evolution of planetary nebulae D. Jones; 9. Massive star evolution: binaries as two single stars C. Georgy and S. Ekström; 10. Binarity at high masses H. Sana; 11. Luminous blue variables: their formation and instability in the context of binary interactions A. Mehner; 12. Type Ia supernovae: where are they coming from and where will they lead us? F. Patat and N. Hallakoun; 13. Binary interactions and gamma-ray bursts N. R. Tanvir; 14. Binaries as sources of gravitational waves G. Nelemans; 15. The impact of binaries on the stellar initial mass function P. Kroupa and T. Jerabkova; 16. The formation of binary stars: insights from theory and observation C. J. Clarke; 17. The Maxwell's demon of star clusters M. Mapelli; 18. Alternative stellar evolution pathways R. D. Mathieu and E. M. Leiner; 19. Clocks and scales: playing with the physics of blue stragglers F. R. Ferraro and B. Lanzoni; 20. Binaries at very low metallicity S. Lucatello; 21. Population and spectral synthesis: it doesn't work without binaries J. J. Eldridge and E. R. Stanway.

Reviews

'... the book as a whole is well in line with what one expects from CUP: the texts are well-written, and the illustrations clear. Every department and observatory needs a copy of this book. Every astrophysicist will find something of value.' Elizabeth Griffin, The Observatory '... the book as a whole is well in line with what one expects from CUP: the texts are well-written, and the illustrations clear. Every department and observatory needs a copy of this book. Every astrophysicist will find something of value.' Elizabeth Griffin, The Observatory

Author Information

Giacomo Beccari is a staff astronomer at the European Southern Observatory, Garching. He is a former winner of the Levi-Montalcini Prize and co-author of the Ecology of Blue Straggler Stars (2014). Henri M. J. Boffin is a staff astronomer at the European Southern Observatory, Garching. Recently he has shown the importance of binary stars in explaining planetary nebulae, including discovering the binary star of Fleming 1. He pioneered the use of optical interferometry to study mass transfer in symbiotic stars.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions