A. I. Bogomazov

Evolution of close binaries and gamma-ray bursts

We analyze the late stages of evolution of massive (M0 ≳ 8 M⊙) close binaries, from the point of view of possible mechanisms for the generation of gamma-ray bursts. It is assumed that a gamma-ray burst requires the formation of a massive (∼1 M⊙), compact (R ≲ 10 km) accretion disk around a Kerr black hole or neutron star. Such Kerr black holes are produced by core collapses of Wolf-Rayet stars in very close binaries, as well as by mergers of neutron stars and black holes or two neutron stars in binaries. The required accretion disks can also form around neutron stars that were formed via the collapse of ONeMg white dwarfs. We estimate the Galactic rate of events resulting in the formation of rapidly rotating relativistic objects. The computations were carried out using the “Scenario Machine.”

Description of the “Scenario Machine”

We present an updated description of the “Scenario Machine” code, which is used to carry out population-synthesis analyzes of the evolution of close binary stars.

Merging of components in close binaries: Type Ia supernovae, massive white dwarfs, and Ap stars

The “Scenario Machine” (a computer code designed for studies of the evolution of close binaries) was used to carry out a population synthesis for a wide range of merging astrophysical objects: main-sequence stars with main-sequence stars; white dwarfs with white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes; neutron stars with neutron stars and black holes; and black holes with black holes. We calculate the rates of such events, and plot the mass distributions for merging white dwarfs and main-sequence stars. It is shown that Type Ia supernovae can be used as standard candles only after approximately one billion years of evolution of galaxies. In the course of this evolution, the average energy of Type Ia supernovae should decrease by roughly 10%; the maximum and minimum energies of Type Ia supernovae may differ by no less than by a factor of 1.5. This circumstance must be taken into account at estimating the parameters of the Universe expansion acceleration. According to theoretical estimates, the most massive—as a rule, magnetic—white dwarfs probably originate from mergers of white dwarfs of lower mass. At least some magnetic Ap and Bp stars may form in mergers of low-mass main-sequence stars (M ≲ 1.5 M⊙) with convective envelopes.

The mass of the black hole in the X-ray binary M33 X-7 and the evolutionary status of M33 X-7 and IC 10 X-1

We have analyzed the observed radial-velocity curve for the X-ray binary M33 X-7 in a Roche model. We have analyzed the dependence between the component masses and the degree of filling of the optical star’s Roche lobe to obtain the ratio of the masses of the optical star and compact object. For the most probable mass of the optical star, mv = 70 M⊙, the mass of the compact object is mx = 15.55 ± 3.20 M⊙. It has been shown that black holes with masses of mx = 15 M⊙ and even higher can form in binaries. We present characteristic evolutionary tracks for binary systems passing through an evolutionary stage with properties similar to M33 X-7-type objects. According to population-synthesis analyses, such binaries should be present in galaxies with masses of at least 1011M⊙. The present number of such systems in M33 should be of the order of unity. We have also studied the evolutionary status of the X-ray binary IC 10 X-1 with a Wolf-Rayet component, which may contain a massive black hole. The final stages of the evolution of the M33 X-7 and IC 10 X-1 systems should be accompanied by the radiation of gravitational waves.

INTEGRAL observations of SS433: system's parameters and nutation of supercritical accretion disc

Based on multiyear INTEGRAL observations of SS433 in 2003-2011, a composite IBIS/ISGRI 18-60 keV orbital light curve is constructed around zero precessional phases psi_{pr}= 0 at the maximim accretion disk opening angle. It shows a peculiar shape with significant excess near the orbital phase phi_orb= 0.25, which is not seen in the softer 2-10 keV energy band. The 40-60 keV orbital light curve demonstrates two almost equal humps at phases \sim 0.25 and \sim 0.75, most likely due to nutation effects of the accretion disk. The nutational variability of SS433 in 15-50 keV with a period of 6.290 days is independently found from timing analysis of Swift/BAT data. The change of the off-eclipse 18-60 keV X-ray flux with the precessional phase shows a double-wave form with strong primary maximum at psi_{pr}= 0 and weak but significant secondary maximum at psi_{pr}= 0.6. A weak variability of the 18-60 keV flux in the middle of the orbital eclipse correlated with the disk precessional phase is also observed. The joint analysis of the broadband 18-60 keV orbital and precessional light curves confirms the presence of a hot extended corona in the central parts of the supercritical accretion disk and constrains the binary mass ratio in SS433 in the range 0.5>q>0.3, suggesting the black hole nature of the compact object.

Type Ia supernovae: Non-standard candles of the universe

We analyze the influence of the evolution of light absorption by gray dust in the host galaxies of type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) and the evolution of the mean combined mass of close-binary carbon-oxygen white dwarfs merging due to gravitational waves (SN Ia precursors) on the interpretation of Hubble diagrams for SN Ia. A significant increase in the mean SN Ia energy due to the higher combined masses of merging dwarfs should be observable at redshifts z > 2. The observed relation between the distance moduli and redshifts of SN Ia can be interpreted not only as evidence for accelerated expansion of the Universe, but also as indicating time variations of the gray-dust absorption of light from these supernovae in various types of host galaxies, observational selection effects, and the decreasing mean combined masses of merging degenerate dwarfs.

A study of the evolution of the close binaries Cyg X-3, IC 10 X-1, NGC 300 X-1, SS 433, and M33 X-7 using the “scenario machine”

Evolutionary tracks for the X-ray binaries Cyg X-3, IC 10 X-1, NGC 300 X-1, SS 433, and M33 X-7 are computed using the Scenario Machine code. The compact objects in IC 10 X-1, NGC 300 X-1, and M33 X-7 are the most massive stellar-mass black-hole candidates. Cyg X-3, IC 10 X-1, and NGC 300 X-1 are the only currently known Wolf-Rayet stars with degenerate companions. SS 433 is the only known superaccretor in the Milky Way. Therefore, the stars studied provide excellent laboratories for testing scenarios for the evolution of binaries under extreme conditions. The classical evolutionary scenario is consistent with modern observational data. During the evolution of these binaries, hypernova explosions accompanied by the collapse of stellar cores with large angular momenta can occur, leading to long gamma-ray bursts. At the end of their evolution, Cyg X-3, IC 10 X-1, NGC 300 X-1, and SS 433 may form binary relativistic objects, which will subsequently merge due to the radiation of gravitational waves. The gravitational waves emitted during mergers of relativistic stars should be detectable by existing and future gravitational-wave antennas. In the course of its future evolution, M33 X-7 will pass through a Thorne-Żytkow stage. The formation of a Thorne-Żytkow object can also be accompanied by gravitational-wave radiation.

Modeling the Wind of the Be Star SS 2883

AbstractObservations of eclipses of the radio pulsar B1259-63 by the disk of its Be-star companion SS 2883 provide an excellent opportunity to study the winds of stars of this type. The eclipses lead to variations in the radio flux (due to variations in the free-free absorption), dispersion measure, rotation measure, and linear polarization of the pulsar. We have carried out numerical modeling of the parameters of the Be-star wind and compared the results with observations. The analysis assumes that the Be-star wind has two components: a disk wind in the equatorial plane of the Be star with a power-law fall-off in the electron density ne with distance from the center of the star

The Mass Spectrum of Black Holes in Close Binary Systems

\rho (n_e \sim \rho ^{ - \beta _o } )