Unsolved Problems in the Evolution of Interacting Binary Stars

Volume 35 number 1 (2007)

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R. F. Webbink

Abstract

Common envelope evolution is essential to the formation of short-period binaries with compact components. Conditions for its onset, and estimates of its outcome are summarized. However, applied to the well-known binaries V471 Tauri and T Coronae Borealis, these conditions lead to serious inconsistencies with their observed properties.