ALBERT

Notes: Abstract From a search through the literature 174 close binaries with known absolute dimensions have been sampled. Distinction is made between systems before and after mass exchange. Mass, period and mass ratio distributions and relations of the group of ‘unevolved’ binaries (i.e., prior to mass exchange) are transformed into corresponding distributions and relations of evolved binaries. The transformations are based upon theM 1f=g(M 1f) relation derived from an extended set of published theoretical computations of the evolution of close binaries. From this relation the following characteristics of the system after mass exchange are computed:M 1f,M 2f (andq f),P f. Five different modes of mass transfer were applied for the computation of the values ofP f andM 2f. The variation of the period was calculated using the formalism given by Vanbeverenet al. (1979). The results are compared to the observations of binary systems after mass exchange, and are discussed together with an analysis of the effect of several selection effects present in the distributions. The main conclusion is that, during mass exchange in close binaries, more than 50% of the mass is lost to the system in the process of transfer, removing a large amount of angular momentum.

Notes: Abstract Theoretical temperature, velocity and density profiles for the area above an optical depth τ = 10−8 in the Sun were computed. An approximation for the coefficient of thermal conductivity was used; dissipation of shock wave energy as well as that of sound wave energy was taken into account and the height of shock formation was determined by a condition on the pressure. Comparison shows that our theoretical curves correspond very well with the observations.

Notes: Abstract. We describe the present state of massive star research seen from the viewpoint of stellar evolution, with special emphasis on close binaries. Statistics of massive close binaries are reasonably complete for the Solar neighbourhood. We defend the thesis that within our knowledge, many scientific results where the effects of binaries are not included, have an academic value, but may be far from reality. In chapter I, we summarize general observations of massive stars where we focus on the HR diagram, stellar wind mass loss rates, the stellar surface chemistry, rotation, circumstellar environments, supernovae. Close binaries can not be studied separately from single stars and vice versa. First, the evolution of single stars is discussed (chapter I). We refer to new calculations with updated stellar wind mass loss rate formalisms and conclusions are proposed resulting from a comparison with representative observations. Massive binaries are considered in chapter II. Basic processes are briefly described, i.e. the Roche lobe overflow and mass transfer, the common envelope process, the spiral-in process in binaries with extreme mass ratio, the effects of mass accretion and the merging process, the implications of the (asymmetric) supernova explosion of one of the components on the orbital parameters of the binary. Evolutionary computations of interacting close binaries are discussed and general conclusions are drawn. The enormous amount of observational data of massive binaries is summarized. We separately consider the non-evolved and evolved systems. The latter class includes the semi-detached and contact binaries, the WR binaries, the X-ray binaries, the runaways, the single and binary pulsars. A general comparison between theoretical evolution and observations is combined with a discussion of specially interesting binaries: the evolved binaries HD 163181, HD 12323, HD 14633, HD 193516, HD 25638, HD 209481, $\Phi$ Per and $\upsilon$ Sgr; the WR+OB binary V444 Cyg; the high mass X-ray binaries Vela X-1, Wray 977, Cyg X-1; the low mass X-ray binaries Her X-1 and those with a black hole candidate; the runaway $\zeta$ Pup, the WR+compact companion candidates Cyg X-3, HD 50896 and HD 197406. We finally propose an overall evolutionary model of massive close binaries as a function of primary mass, mass ratio and orbital period. Chapter III deals with massive star population synthesis with a realistic population of binaries. We discuss the massive close binary frequency, mass ratio and period distribution, the observations that allow to constrain possible asymmetries during the supernova explosion of a massive star. We focuss on the comparison between observed star numbers (as a function of metallicity) and theoretically predicted numbers of stellar populations in regions of continuous star formation and in starburst regions. Special attention is given to the O-type star/WR star/red supergiant star population, the pulsar and binary pulsar population, the supernova rates.

Notes: Abstract A statistical study is presented on the distribution of different kinds of massive star classes in the HR diagram using recent calculations of massive single star and massive close binary evolution. The influence of the mass transfer process during the critical Roche lobe overflow phase of a primary component on the relative frequency of the different classes is outlined. It is shown that without an exact knowledge of how mass transfer takes place, the meaning of an initial mass function determined by classical methods is unclear whereas a direct comparison of the observed and theoretically predicted blue/red star ratio is meaningless. The number of O- and WR-type stars with compact companions is expected to be very low (〈5%). If mass transfer in binaries is largely conservative, the contribution of real single stars to the supernova II population is low (10–25%).

Notes: Abstract A NLTE-analysis is presented of high S/N spectra of the optical component of the standard massive X-ray binary Vela X-1. In combination with the orbital parameters we conclude that the optical star is highly helium enriched and is significantly overluminous compared to standard evolutionary tracks of massive accretion stars. We then propose a new accretion model able to explain these features.

Notes: Abstract This paper briefly reviews the competition between massive single star and massive close binary evolution the last two decades. The status of the binary evolutionary model is summarized, the assumptions and simplifications are critically discussed. Using all computations performed since 1970, general conclusions are drawn and a comparison with massive single star evolution is presented. Special attention is given at the assumptions behind the commonly accepted model for the mass gainer and a new accretion model is proposed. The binary results in combinarion with single star evolution are compared with observations of massive stars with emphasis on the HR diagram, star number counts, WR stars, SN 1987A, OBN and OBC stars.

Notes: Abstract The present paper summarizes fundamental evolutionary parameters of primaries of close binaries with initial masses between 9 and 60 M⊙ and initial composition appropriate for the Galaxy, the LMC and the SMC. The primary timescales and WR binary timescales are compared with corresponding recent single star predictions.

Notes: Abstract We discuss mass loss relations for OB-type stars as a function of luminosity, effective temperature, and mass. We conclude that a simple first order linear regression relation is as good as any other more sophisticated relation, with the advantage that the simple form consumes much less computer time when used in evolutionary codes.