Philipp Podsiadlowski

Abstract:

Binaries containing a stellar-mass black hole and a recycled radio pulsar have so far eluded detection. We present a focused investigation of the formation and evolution of these systems in the Galactic disk, highlighting the factors that limit their numbers and the reasons why they may be extremely rare. We surmise that the birthrate of black-hole/recycled-pulsar binaries in the Galactic disk is probably no higher than ~10^{-7}/yr, and may be much less. Simple arguments regarding common-envelope evolution suggest that these binaries should have orbital periods less than 10 hr and an average lifetime of <~10^8 yr before coalescence due to the emission of gravitational radiation. We expect that fewer than ~10 of these compact, relativistic binaries currently reside in the Galactic disk, less than 0.1--1% of the number of double neutron stars. The discovery of two or more black-hole/recycled-pulsar binaries using current radio telescopes would tightly constrain certain ideas regarding the evolution of massive stars, dynamical mass transfer, and black-hole formation.

Abstract:

We present results from the first near-IR imaging of the weak X-ray sources discovered in the Chandra/ACIS-I survey (Wang et al. 2002) towards the Galactic Centre (GC). These ~800 discrete sources, which contribute significantly to the GC X-ray emission, represent an important and previously unknown population within the Galaxy. From our VLT observations we will identify likely IR counterparts to a sample of the hardest sources, which are most likely X-ray binaries. With these data we can place constraints on the nature of the discrete weak X-ray source population of the GC.

Abstract:

Binary population synthesis can be an important toot to link binary evolution theory with observed classes of binaries. Here we review some of its limitations and illustrate how it can be used effectively to study well-defined problems, using low-/intermediate-mass X-ray binaries, cataclysmic variables and Type Ia supemova progenitors as case studies.

Abstract:

We present a detailed late-time photometric and spectroscopic study of SN1993J with HST/ACS and Keck LRIS-B. We find a clear signature of a hot star component in the spectra of SN1993J which cannot be explained by the surrounding faint blue stars. This is the first detection of the expected massive binary companion to the red supergiant progenitor and confirms that SN1993J did indeed arise in an interacting binary system.

Abstract:

We present results from the first near-IR imaging of the weak X-ray sources discovered in the Chandra/ACIS-I survey (Wang et al. 2002) towards the. Galactic Centre (GC). These 800 discrete sources, which contribute significantly to the GC X-ray emission, represent an important and previously unknown population within the Galaxy. From our VLT observations we will identify likely IR counterparts to a sample of the hardest sources, which am most likely X-ray binaries, With these data we can place constraints on the nature of the discrete weak X-ray source population of the GC.