Compact X-Ray Binaries in Hierarchical Triples. II. Separation of the Inner Binary
Abstract
This paper presents an analytic solution for the behavior of the inner binary separation with time for a coplanar hierarchical triple system in which both the inner and outer orbit are (initially) circular. This separation will be important if the inner binary is a mass transferring binary system, since in this case small changes in the inner binary separation are likely to result in significant changes in the mass-transfer rate and hence in the luminosity. The timing of the minima in the separation, when such luminosity bursts would occur, is shown to be strongly dependent on the inner binary mass ratio and might therefore serve as a diagnostic on the inner binary mass ratio in such systems. The advantages and drawbacks of the method are discussed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1086/165321
- Bibcode:
- 1987ApJ...317..737B
- Keywords:
-
- Mass Transfer;
- Separation;
- X Ray Binaries;
- Hierarchies;
- Mass Ratios;
- Stellar Luminosity;
- Three Body Problem;
- Astrophysics;
- X-RAYS: BINARIES