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6 - The Symbiotic Stars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2019

Giacomo Beccari
Affiliation:
European Southern Observatory, Garching
Henri M. J. Boffin
Affiliation:
European Southern Observatory, Garching
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Summary

Any white dwarf or neutron star that accretes enough material from a red giant companion, such that this interaction can be detected at some wavelength, is currently termed asymbiotic star (orbital period ∼2–3 years). In the majority of ∼400 known systems, the white dwarf burns nuclearly at its surface the accreted material, and the resulting high temperatureand luminosity allow ionisation of a large fraction of the cool giant’s wind. X-ray observations are revealing the existence of a parallel (and large ?) population of optically quiet, accreting-only symbiotic stars. Accretion flows and disks, ionisation fronts and shock, complex 3D geometries and new evolution channels are gaining relevance and are reshaping our understanding of symbiotic stars. The chapter reviews the different types of symbiotic stars currently in the family and their variegated outburst behaviours.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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  • The Symbiotic Stars
  • Edited by Giacomo Beccari, European Southern Observatory, Garching, Henri M. J. Boffin, European Southern Observatory, Garching
  • Book: The Impact of Binary Stars on Stellar Evolution
  • Online publication: 05 April 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108553070.008
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  • The Symbiotic Stars
  • Edited by Giacomo Beccari, European Southern Observatory, Garching, Henri M. J. Boffin, European Southern Observatory, Garching
  • Book: The Impact of Binary Stars on Stellar Evolution
  • Online publication: 05 April 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108553070.008
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The Symbiotic Stars
  • Edited by Giacomo Beccari, European Southern Observatory, Garching, Henri M. J. Boffin, European Southern Observatory, Garching
  • Book: The Impact of Binary Stars on Stellar Evolution
  • Online publication: 05 April 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108553070.008
Available formats
×