Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-fv566 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-22T23:13:28.664Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Tidal dissipation in binary systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 June 2008

J.-P. Zahn*
Affiliation:
LUTH, Observatoire de Paris, 92195 Meudon, France
Get access

Abstract

To first approximation, a binary system conserves its angular momentum while it evolves to its state of minimum kinetic energy: circular orbit, all spins aligned, and components rotating in synchronism with the orbital motion. The pace at which this final state is achieved depends on the physical processes that are responsible for the dissipation of the tidal kinetic energy. For stars (or planets) with an outer convection zone, the dominant mechanism identified so far is the viscous dissipation acting on the equilibrium tide. For stars with an outer radiation zone, it is the radiative damping operating on the dynamical tide. After a brief presentation of the tides, I shall review these physical processes; I shall discuss the uncertainties of their present treatment, describe the latest developments, and compare the theoretical predictions with the observed properties concerning the orbital circularization of close binaries.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EAS, EDP Sciences, 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alexander, M.E., 1973, Ap&SS, 23, 459
Claret, A., & Cunha, N.C.S., 1997, A&A, 318, 187
Darwin, G.H., 1879, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., 170, 1 CrossRef
Eggleton, P.P., Kiseleva, L.G., & Hut, P., 1998, ApJ, 499, 853 CrossRef
Giuricin, G., Mardirossian, F., & Mezzetti, M., 1984, A&A, 134, 365
Goldreich., P., & Keeley, D.A., 1977, ApJ, 211, 934 CrossRef
Goldreich., P., & Nicholson, P.D., 1989, ApJ, 342, 1079 CrossRef
Goldreich., P., & Soter, S., 1966, Icarus, 5, 375 CrossRef
Goodman, J., & Dickson, E.S., 1998, ApJ, 507, 938 CrossRef
Goodman, J., & Oh, S.P., 1997, ApJ, 486, 403 CrossRef
Hut, P., 1981, A&A, 99, 126
Koch, R.H., & Hrivnak, B.J., 1981, AJ, 86, 438 CrossRef
Kopal, Z., 1959, Close binary systems, ed. (Chapman & Hall, London)
Kumar, P., & Goodman, J., 1996, ApJ, 466, 946 CrossRef
Landsman, W., Aparaicio, J., Bergeron, P., et al., 1997, ApJ, 481, L93 CrossRef
Latham, D.W., Stefanik, R.P., Torres, G., et al., 2002, AJ, 124, 1144 CrossRef
Mathieu, R.D., & Mazeh, T., 1988, ApJ, 326, 256 CrossRef
Mathieu, R.D., Meibom, S, & Dolan, C., 2004, ApJ, 602, 121 CrossRef
Mazeh, T., Tamuz, O., & North, P., 2006, MNRAS, 367, 1531 CrossRef
Mayor, M., & Mermilliod, J.-C., 1984, Observational Tests of the Stellar Evolution Theory, IAU Symp. 105, ed. A. Maeder and A. Renzini, 411
Melo, C.H.F., Covino, E., Alcalá, J.M., & Torres, G., 2001, A&A, 378, 898
Mermilliod, J.-C., Rosvick, J.M., Duquennoy, A., & Mayor, M., 1992, A&A, 265, 513
North, P., & Zahn, J.-P., 2003, A&A, 405, 677
Ogilvie, G.I. & Lin, D.N.C., 2004, ApJ, 610, 477 CrossRef
Ogilvie, G.I. & Lin, D.N.C., 2007, ApJ, 661, 1180 CrossRef
Penev, K., Sasselov, D., Robinson, F. & Demarque, P., 2007, ApJ, 655, 1166 CrossRef
Rieutord, M., 2004, Stellar Rotation, IAU Symp. 215, ed. Ph. Eennens and A. Maeder, 394
Rocca, A., 1989, A&A, 213, 114
Savonije, G.J., & Witte, M.G., 2002, A&A, 386, 111
Scharlemann, E.T., 1982, ApJ, 253, 298 CrossRef
Stahler, S.W., 1983, ApJ, 274, 822 CrossRef
Stahler, S.W., 1988, ApJ, 332, 804 CrossRef
Talon, S., 2007, EAS Publ. Ser., to be published [astro-ph:0708.1499]
Terquem, C., Papaloizou, J.C.B., Nelson, R.P., & Lin, D.N.C., 1998, ApJ, 502, 788 CrossRef
Verbunt, F., & Phinney, E.S., 2001, A&A, 296, 709
Willems, B., van Hoolst, T., & Smeyers, P., 2003, A&A, 397, 973
Witte, M.G., & Savonije, G.J., 1999a, A&A, 341, 842
Witte, M.G., & Savonije, G.J., 1999b, A&A, 350, 129
Witte, M.G., & Savonije, G.J., 2002, A&A, 386, 222
Zahn, J.-P., 1966a, Ann. Ap, 29, 313
Zahn, J.-P., 1966b, Ann. Ap, 29, 489
Zahn, J.-P., 1975, A&A, 41, 329 PubMed
Zahn, J.-P., 1977, A&A, 57, 383
Zahn, J.-P., 1989, A&A, 220, 112
Zahn, J.-P., 2007, EAS Publ. Ser., 26, 49 CrossRef
Zahn, J.-P., & Bouchet, L., 1989, A&A, 223, 112