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The Pseudosynchronization of Binary Stars Undergoing Strong Tidal Interactions

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Abstract

Eccentric binaries known as heartbeat stars experience strong dynamical tides as the stars pass through periastron, providing a laboratory to study tidal interactions. We measure the rotation periods of 24 heartbeat systems, using the Kepler light curves to identify rotation peaks in the Fourier transform. Where possible, we compare the rotation period to the pseudosynchronization period derived by Hut. Few of our heartbeat stars are pseudosynchronized with the orbital period. For four systems, we were able to identify two sets of rotation peaks, which we interpret as the rotation from both stars in the binary. Most stars in our sample have rotation rates larger than the pseudosynchronization period while a single target rotates much faster than this rate. The majority of the systems have a rotation period that is approximately \tfrac{3}{2} times the pseudosynchronization period, suggesting that other physical mechanisms strongly influence the star’s evolution.


Publication:

The Astrophysical Journal

Pub Date:
September 2017
DOI:

10.3847/1538-4357/aa85e3

10.48550/arXiv.1706.05434

arXiv:
arXiv:1706.05434
Bibcode:
2017ApJ...846..147Z
Keywords:
  • binaries: close;
  • stars: evolution;
  • stars: magnetic field;
  • Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
E-Print:
9 pages, 4 figures, 1 tables