Constructing Synchronously Rotating Double White Dwarf Binaries

TL;DR

This paper introduces a self-consistent-field method to model synchronously rotating double white dwarf binaries, enabling detailed initial conditions for dynamical studies and simulating late inspiral and mass transfer phases.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel SCF technique for constructing detailed force-balanced models of double white dwarf binaries with various parameters, aiding in dynamical and evolutionary studies.

Findings

Successfully models wide range of binary configurations.

Can simulate late inspiral phase of binary evolution.

Supports study of mass transfer onset.

Abstract

We have developed a self-consistent-field technique similar to the one described by Hachisu, Eriguchi, & Nomoto (1986b) that can be used to construct detailed force-balanced models of synchronously rotating, double white dwarf (DWD) binaries that have a wide range of total masses, mass ratios, and separations. In addition to providing a computational tool that can be used to provide quiet initial starts for dynamical studies of the onset of mass transfer in DWD systems, we show that this SCF technique can be used to construct model sequences that mimic the last portion of the detached inspiral phase of DWD binary evolutions, and semi-detached model sequences that mimic a phase of conservative mass transfer.