Abstract
We consider the effects of accretion during binary star formation. When a protobinary system forms within a collapsing molecular cloud core, its final state is determined by the accretion of, or interaction with, the remaining gas as it falls on to the system. The binary's mass ratio and orbit and the formation of circumstellar and circumbinary discs all depend on the dynamics of this accretion process.
We study the effects of accretion on a binary's mass ratio and separation. We also investigate the formation of circumstellar and circumbinary discs and find that, under some circumstances, a large circumstellar disc forms around the primary while the secondary has only a small circumstellar disc, or indeed no disc at all. The observational implications are discussed.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | Visual Double Stars: Formation, Dynamics and Evolutionary Tracks |
| Editors | JA Docobo, A Elipe, H McAlister |
| Pages | p.153 |
| Publication status | Published - 1997 |