I'm curious, are there specific conditions for a transfer of mass between two stars as they pass near each other? Its for my final project in computing, I'm writing a gravity simulation and thought it'd be a nice touch.
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
2
-
$\begingroup$ I'm not an astrophysicist but I think it's most likely to happen in binary systems where one star is a red giant. Are you familiar with the term "accretion disk" or the mechanisms for type 1a supernova? $\endgroup$– Brandon EnrightCommented Mar 20, 2014 at 5:38
-
$\begingroup$ I have never heard of either, i can google them though. I thought binary stars would be most likely too, as well as potentially with black holes, though not sure about them $\endgroup$– DuskFallCommented Mar 20, 2014 at 5:46
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
3
This was more a comment than an answer, but I can not comment due to lack of reputation. Stars can exchange mass either by stellar wind, or by Roche lobe overflow:
It basically depends on the separation, on the masses, and on the star type.
-
1
-
1$\begingroup$ The related Roche limit wiki has some formulas the OP might find useful too. $\endgroup$– user10851Commented Mar 20, 2014 at 5:57
-
$\begingroup$ I was going to pen a new answer, but at the end of the day this is basically all there is too it, as far as conditions go. I was going to describe observed systems where this is happening, but that's not in the question. Look at references for the Roche lobe and Roche lobe overflow. $\endgroup$– WarrickCommented Mar 20, 2014 at 6:50