Abstract

Wide binaries with hot subdwarf-B (sdB) primaries and main sequence companions are thought to form only through stable Roche-lobe overflow (RLOF) of the sdB progenitor near the tip of the red giant branch (RGB). We present the orbital parameters of 11 new long-period composite sdB binaries based on spectroscopic observations obtained with the UVES, FEROS, and CHIRON spectrographs. Using all wide sdB binaries with known orbital parameters, 23 systems, the observed period distribution is found to match very well with theoretical predictions. A second result is the strong correlation between the orbital period (P) and the mass ratio (q) in the observed wide sdB binaries. In the P-q plane two distinct groups emerge, with the main group (18 systems) showing a strong correlation of lower mass ratios at longer orbital periods. The second group comprises systems that are thought to be formed from higher mass progenitors. Based on theoretical models, a correlation between the initial mass ratio at the start of RLOF and core mass of the sdB progenitor is found, which defines a mass-ratio range at which RLOF is stable on the RGB.

Department(s)

Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/sty3017

Rights Information

This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. © 2019 The authors. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Binaries: spectroscopic, Stars: evolution, Stars: fundamental parameters, Subdwarfs

Publication Date

2-1-2019

Journal Title

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Download

Share

COinS