Revisiting the common envelope evolution in binary stars: A new semianalytic model for N -body and population synthesis codes

Physical review. D/Physical review. D., vol. 106

Abstract

We present a novel way of modeling common envelope evolution in binary and few-body systems. We consider the common envelope inspiral as driven by a drag force with a power-law dependence in relative distance and velocity. The orbital motion is resolved either by direct $N$-body integration or by solving the set of differential equations for the orbital elements as derived using perturbation theory. Our formalism can model the eccentricity during the common envelope inspiral, and it gives results consistent with smoothed particles hydrodynamical simulations. We apply our formalism to common envelope events from binary population synthesis models and find that the final eccentricity distribution resembles the observed distribution of post-common-envelope binaries. Our model can be used for time-resolved common-envelope evolution in population synthesis calculations or as part of binary interactions in direct $N$-body simulations of star clusters.

Authors 8

1. Alessandro Alberto Trani

   Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University · The University of Tokyo

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Earth Science and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan

   Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan

   Research Center for the Early Universe, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

2. Steven Rieder

   University of Geneva · University of Exeter

   Affiliation as printed

   Geneva Observatory, University of Geneva, Chemin Pegasi 51, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland

   School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QL, United Kingdom

3. Ataru Tanikawa

   The University of Tokyo

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Earth Science and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan

4. Giuliano Iorio

   University of Padua · Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova · Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Galileo Galilei”, Università di Padova, vicolo dell’Osservatorio 3, IT-35122 Padova, Italy

   INAF—Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, vicolo dell’Osservatorio 5, IT-35122 Padova, Italy

   INFN-Padova, Via Marzolo 8, I–35131 Padova, Italy

   Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Galileo Galilei", Università di Padova, vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, IT-35122 Padova, Italy

   INAF—Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, IT-35122 Padova, Italy

5. Riccardo Martini

   Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University · Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa

   Affiliation as printed

   INFN—Sezione di Pisa, Edificio C—Polo Fibonacci Largo B. Pontecorvo, 3–56127 Pisa, Italy

   Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan

6. Georgii Karelin

   Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University

   Affiliation as printed

   Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan

7. Hila Glanz

   Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200002, Israel

8. Simon Portegies Zwart Aachen Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, 2300 RA, Leiden, Netherlands