Abstract
Several recent observational determinations of the distribution of separations of wide binaries are critically reviewed and compared with the distributions inferred from observational work on pre-main sequence stars and from theoretical ideas on binary formation. It is concluded that it is not very fruitful to depict the whole distribution function of separations by one law, and that it is preferable to represent separately the two main mechanisms of binary formation, namely first-collapse fragmentation (for s > 25 AU) and disk fragmentation (for s < 25 AU). It is also found that the best representation for the group of wide binaries (s > 25 AU) is given by Öpik’s law ρ(s) = ks -2, but that this distribution has a cutoff that is age-dependent. This cutoff is interpreted in terms of the dynamical evolution of wide binaries.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Abt, H.A. and Levy, S. 1976, Astroph. J. Suppl., 30, 273.
Ambarsumian, V. 1937, Astron. Zh., 14, 207
Bodenheimer, P. 1995, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astroph., 33, 199
Boss, A. P., 1993, Astroph. J., 410, 157.
Brandner, W., Alcala, J., Kunkel, M. Moneti, A. and Zinnecker, H. 1996, Astron. Astroph., 307, 121
Close, Richer and Crabtree, D.R. 1990, Astron. J., 100, 1968
Duquennoy, A. and Mayor, M. 1991, Astron. Astroph., 248, 485
Ghez A.M., Neugebauer, G., and Matthews, K. 1993, Astron. J., 106, 2005
Gómez, M., Hartmann L., Kenyon, S. J. and Hewett, R. 1993 Astron. J. 105 1927
Heacox, W.D. 1995, Astron. J., 109, 2670
Kuiper G.P. 1935, Pub. Ast. Soc. Pacif, 47, 149
Larson, R.B. 1995, M.N.R.A.S., 272, 213
Leinert, C. et al 1993, Astron. Astroph 278, 129
Luyten, W.J. 1941–1963, Publ. Astr. Obs. U. Minn., Vol. III, Nrs. 1 to 12
Mathieu, R.D. 1992, in Complementary Approaches to Double and Multiple Star Research, H.A. McAlister and W.I. Hartkopf, Eds., p. 30
Mathieu, R.D. Walter, F.M., and Myers, P.C. 1989, Astron. J., 98, 987
Mathieu, R.D. 1994, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astroph., 32, 465
Mazeh, T. and Goldberg, D. 1992, Ap. J., 394, 592
Mazeh, T., Goldberg, D. Duquennoy, A. and Mayor, M. 1992, Ap. J., 401, 265
Mundt, R. et al. 1983, Astroph. J. 269, 229
Opik, E. J. 1924, Tartu Observatory Publications, 25
Padgett, D.L., Strom, S.E., Edwards, S., Dougados, C, Hartigan, P., Ghez, A. and Strom, K. 1996, in Disks and Outflows around Young Stars, eds. J. Staude and S.V.W. Beckwith, Springer Verlag, in press.
Poveda, 1988, Astroph. Space Sci., 28, 43
Poveda, A. Allen and Parrao, L. 1982, Astroph. J., 258, 589
Poveda, A. Herrera, M.A., Allen, C, Cordero, G., and Lavalley, C. 1994, Rev. Mexicana Astron. Astrof., 28, 43
Prosser et al. 1994, Astroph. J., 421, 517
Richichi, A., Leinert, C, Jameson, R. and Zinnecker, H. 1994, Astron. Astroph., 287, 145
Reipurth, B. and Zinnecker, H. 1993, Astron. Astroph., 278, 81
Simon, M. Chen, W. P., Howell, R.R., and Slovik, D. 1992, Astroph. J., 384, 212
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Allen, C., Poveda, A., Herrera, M.A. (1997). The Distribution of Separations of Wide Binaries. In: Docobo, J.A., Elipe, A., McAlister, H. (eds) Visual Double Stars: Formation, Dynamics and Evolutionary Tracks. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 223. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1477-3_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1477-3_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7161-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1477-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive