3D numerical simulation of gaseous flows structure in semidetached binaries

Abstract

The results of 3D hydrodynamic simulation of mass transfer in semidetached binaries of different types (cataclysmic variables and low-mass X-ray binaries) are presented. We find that taking into account of a circumbinary envelope leads to significant changes in the stream-disc morphology. In particular, the obtained steady-state self-consistent solutions show an absence of impact between gas stream from the inner Lagrangian point L1 and forming accretion disc. The stream deviates under the action of gas of circumbinary envelope, and does not cause the shock perturbation of the disc boundary (traditional `hotspot'). At the same time, the gas of circumbinary envelope interacts with the stream and causes the formation of an extended shock wave, located on the stream edge. We discuss the implication of this model without `hotspot' (but with a shock wave located outside the disc) for interpretation of observations. The comparison of synthetic light curves with observations proves the validity of the discussed hydrodynamic model without `hotspot'. We also consider the influence of a circumbinary envelope on the mass transfer rate in semidetached binaries. The obtained features of flow structure in the vicinity of L1 show that the gas of circumbinary envelope plays an important role in the flow dynamics, and that it leads to significant (in order of magnitude) increasing of the mass transfer rate. The comparison of gaseous flows structure obtained in 2D and 3D approaches is presented. We discuss the common features of the flow structures and the possible reasons of revealed differences.