Astronomical Observatory Tuesday Seminar 7 Jan 2025, Krystian Iłkiewicz (NCAC PAS, PL)

Krystian Iłkiewicz
NCAC PAS, PL

Title:
Advancing our understanding of mass transfer mechanisms in symbiotic stars.

Abstract:
Accretion is a fundamental astrophysical process that governs the evolution of many astrophysical objects. Symbiotic stars - interacting binaries where a white dwarf accretes material from a red giant companion - pose a significant challenge to our theoretical accretion models. Specifically, a discrepancy exists between the observed populations of symbiotic systems and predictions from population synthesis models, casting doubt on our understanding of mass transfer and its role in shaping the evolution of symbiotic stars and related binaries. This talk will explore recent developments in the study of mass transfer in symbiotic stars which could help us refine the models of binary evolution.