The evolution of massive binary systems

Abstract

The evolution of massive stars in close binary systems is significantly different from single star evolution due to a series of interactions between the two stellar components. Such massive close binary systems are linked to various astrophysical phenomena, for example Wolf-Rayet stars, supernova type Ib and Ic, X-ray binaries and gamma-ray bursts. Also, the emission of gravitational waves, recently observed by the LIGO-Virgo detectors, is associated with mergers in binary systems containing compact objects, relics of massive stars - black holes and neutron stars. Evolutionary calculations of massive close binary systems were performed by various authors, but many aspects are not yet fully understood. In this paper, the main concepts of massive close binary evolution are reviewed, together with the most important parameters that can influence the final outcome of the binary system evolution, such as rotation, magnetic fields, stellar wind mass loss and mass accretion efficiency during interactions. An extensive literature overview of massive close binary models in the light of exciting observations connected with those systems is presented.