English

Formation of Be stars via wind accretion: Case study on Black hole + Be star binaries

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics 2025-12-23 v1 High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Abstract

Be stars are rapidly rotating main-sequence (MS) stars that play a crucial role in understanding stellar evolution and binary interactions. In this letter, we propose a new formation scenario for black hole (BH) + Be star binaries (hereafter BHBe binaries), where the Be star is produced through the Wind Roche Lobe Overflow (WRLOF) mechanism. Our analysis is based on numerical simulations of the WRLOF process in massive binaries, building upon recent theoretical work. We demonstrate that the WRLOF model can efficiently form BHBe binaries under reasonable assumptions on stellar wind velocities. Using rapid binary population synthesis, we estimate the population of such systems in the Milky Way, predicting approximately \sim {1800-3200} currently existing BHBe binaries originating from the WRLOF channel. These systems are characterized by high eccentricities and exceptionally wide orbits, with typical orbital periods exceeding 1000 days and a peak distribution around \sim10000 days. Due to their long orbital separations, these BHBe binaries are promising targets for future detection via astrometric {and interferometric} observations.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2512.18565,
  title  = {Formation of Be stars via wind accretion: Case study on Black hole + Be star binaries},
  author = {Zhenwei Li and Shi Jia and Dandan Wei and Hongwei Ge and Hailiang Chen and Yangyang Zhang and Xuefei Chen and Zhanwen Han},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.18565},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

16 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in The ApJL