The Nature of Unseen Companions in Massive Single-Line Spectroscopic Binaries

Hugues Sana, Michael Abdul-Masih, Gareth Banyard, Julia Bodensteiner, Dominic M. Bowman, Karan Dsilva, C. Eldridge, Matthias Fabry, Abigail J. Frost, Calum Hawcroft, Soetkin Janssens, Laurent Mahy, Pablo Marchant, Norbert Langer, Timothy Van Reeth, Koushik Sen, Tomer Shenar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Massive stars are predominantly found in binaries and higher order multiples. While the period and eccentricity distributions of OB stars are now well established across different metallicity regimes, the determination of mass-ratios has been mostly limited to double-lined spectroscopic binaries. As a consequence, the mass-ratio distribution remains subject to significant uncertainties. Open questions include the shape and extent of the companion mass-function towards its low-mass end and the nature of undetected companions in single-lined spectroscopic binaries. In this contribution, we present the results of a large and systematic analysis of a sample of over 80 single-lined O-type spectroscopic binaries (SB1s) in the Milky Way and in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We report on the developed methodology, the constraints obtained on the nature of SB1 companions, the distribution of O star mass-ratios at LMC metallicity and the occurrence of quiescent OB+black hole binaries.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)267-272
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Volume18
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • binaries: spectroscopic
  • black hole physics
  • gravitational waves
  • stars: early-type
  • stars: evolution
  • stars: neutron
  • supernovae: general

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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