Related papers: Tidal Interactions in Merging White Dwarf Binaries
We report on the detection of the two shortest period non-interacting white dwarf binary systems. These systems, SDSS J143633.29+501026.8 and SDSS J105353.89+520031.0, were identified by searching for radial velocity variations in the…
We report the discovery of a relatively bright eclipsing binary system, which consists of a white dwarf and a main sequence K7 star with clear signs of chromospheric and spot activity. The light curve of this system shows $\sim0.2$mag…
Few observational constraints exist for the tidal synchronization rate of late-type stars, despite its fundamental role in binary evolution. We visually inspected the light curves of 2278 eclipsing binaries (EBs) from the Kepler Eclipsing…
Since white dwarfs are small, the contrast between the thermal emission of an orbiting object and a white dwarf is dramatically enhanced compared to a main sequence host. Furthermore, rocky objects much smaller than the moon have no…
We have discovered that the brown dwarf WISEJ014656.66+423410.0 is a close binary (0.0875$\pm$0.0021 arcsec, 0.93$^{+0.12}_{-0.16}$ AU) from Keck laser guide star adaptive optics imaging. Our photometry for this system reveals that both…
Low mass white dwarfs are the remnants of disrupted red giant stars in binary millisecond pulsars and other exotic binary star systems. Some low mass white dwarfs cool rapidly, while others stay bright for millions of years due to stable…
This work explores a scenario for micro-tidal disruption events (TDEs) triggered by close encounters between high-speed white dwarfs (WDs) and stellar-mass black holes (sBHs) in galactic centers. In this model, a WD orbiting the central…
We present the discovery of a companion to the Y-dwarf, CWISEP J193518.59-154620.3, the second Y-Y dwarf binary detected to date. Y-dwarfs are the coldest known free-floating objects ($<$ 500 K) and on average represent the lowest mass…
Many double white dwarf (WD) mergers likely do not lead to a prompt thermonuclear explosion. We investigate the prospects for observationally detecting the surviving remnants of such mergers, focusing on the case of mergers of double…
Using data from the extended Kepler mission in K2 Campaign 10 we identify two eclipsing binaries containing white dwarfs with cool companions that have extremely short orbital periods of only 71.2 min (SDSS J1205-0242, a.k.a. EPIC…
We present results from general relativistic calculations of the tidal disruption of white dwarf stars from near encounters with intermediate mass black holes. We follow the evolution of 0.2 and $0.6 M_\odot$ stars on parabolic trajectories…
Evolution of binary objects under the influence of tides drastically affects the expected observational properties of the system. With the discovery of a large number of close-in hot Jupiter systems and eclipsing binaries from missions such…
RX J0806+15 has recently been identified as the binary system with the shortest known orbital period. We present a series of observations of RX J0806+15 including new optical observations taken one month apart. Using these observations and…
Evolution of a large part of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) leads to the formation of rapidly rotating pulsars with a helium white dwarf (He WD) companion. Observations indicate that some He WDs in binary pulsar systems are ultracool (with…
Discs in long-period eclipsing binary systems are rare and can lead to extraordinary eclipsing events. ZTF J185259.31+124955.2 was identified as a candidate disc-eclipsing system through a continuing search programme of ZTF variables with a…
White dwarfs represent the last stage of evolution of stars with mass less than about eight times that of the Sun and, like other stars, are often found in binaries. If the orbital period of the binary is short enough, energy losses from…
We perform numerical simulations of the TRAPPIST-1 system of seven exoplanets orbiting a nearby M dwarf, starting with a previously suggested stable configuration. The long-term stability of this configuration is confirmed, but the motion…
In this paper we extend the previous work of Papaloizou \& Savonije on tidal interactions between a solar mass star and a closely orbiting giant planet which is such that the orbital and stellar spin angular momentum directions are…
We investigate whether nearby white dwarfs (WDs) can constrain dark matter (DM) interactions with ordinary matter. As experimental sensitivity improves, driven by the Gaia mission, the sample volume of nearby WDs has been increasing over…
Tidally locked gas giants are typically in several-day orbits, implying a modest role for rotation in the atmospheric circulation. Nevertheless, there exist a class of gas-giant, highly irradiated objects---brown dwarfs orbiting white…