Multiplicity of massive O stars and evolutionary implications
Abstract
Nearby companions alter the evolution of massive stars in binary systems. Using a sample of Galactic massive stars in nearby young clusters, we simultaneously measure all intrinsic binary characteristics relevant to quantify the frequency and nature of binary interactions. We find a large intrinsic binary fraction, a strong preference for short orbital periods and a flat distribution for the mass-ratios. Our results do not support the presence of a significant peak of equal-mass `twin' binaries. As a result of the measured distributions, we find that over seventy per cent of all massive stars exchange mass with a companion. Such a rate greatly exceeds previous estimates and implies that the majority of massive stars have their evolution strongly affected by interaction with a nearby companion.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1211.4740,
title = {Multiplicity of massive O stars and evolutionary implications},
author = {H. Sana and S. E. de Mink and A. de Koter and N. Langer and C. J. Evans and M. Gieles and E. Gosset and R. G. Izzard and J. -B. Le Bouquin and F. R. N. Schneider},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1211.4740},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
4 pages, 2 figures. Conference proceedings to appear in "370 years of astronomy in Utrecht"