Davis, P. J.; Kolb, U. and Knigge, C.
(2012).
| DOI (Digital Object Identifier) Link: | http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19690.x |
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| Google Scholar: | Look up in Google Scholar |
Abstract
We reconstruct the common envelope (CE) phase for the current sample of observed white dwarf main-sequence post-common envelope binaries (PCEBs). We apply multiregression analysis in order to investigate whether correlations exist between the CE ejection efficiencies, αCE inferred from the sample, and the binary parameters: white dwarf mass, secondary mass, orbital period at the point the CE commences, or the orbital period immediately after the CE phase. We do this with and without consideration for the internal energy of the progenitor primary giants’ envelope. Our fits should pave the first steps towards an observationally motivated recipe for calculating αCE using the binary parameters at the start of the CE phase, which will be useful for population synthesis calculations or models of compact binary evolution. If we do consider the internal energy of the giants’ envelope, we find a statistically significant correlation between αCE and the white dwarf mass. If we do not, a correlation is found between αCE and the orbital period at the point the CE phase commences. Furthermore, if the internal energy of the progenitor primary envelope is taken into account, then the CE ejection efficiencies are within the canonical range 0 < αCE ≤ 1, although PCEBs with brown dwarf secondaries still require αCE≳1.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
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| Copyright Holders: | 2011 RAS |
| ISSN: | 0035-8711 |
| Keywords: | methods: statistical; binaries: close; stars: evolution; white dwarfs |
| Academic Unit/Department: | ?? scie-phya ?? Science > Physical Sciences |
| Interdisciplinary Research Centre: | Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR) |
| Item ID: | 30987 |
| Depositing User: | Ulrich Kolb |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Jan 2012 13:49 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Nov 2012 16:36 |
| URI: | http://oro.open.ac.uk/id/eprint/30987 |
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