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Hailiang Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Hailiang Chen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

First double red giant Algol system with active mass transfer

Double red giant stars are very important for studies of the stability of mass transfer, common-envelope evolution, and the formation of double white dwarfs with short orbital periods. However, no double red giant system undergoing mass transfer has yet been found. We present the discovery of a close Algol-type binary system composed of two red giant stars. This is the first known semi-detached system observed during the very short phase when the accretor has expanded into a red giant just before entering the common envelope phase. The $H_\alpha$ line suggests that the system has recently lost some material, which is now moving toward us. We present a consistent analysis of all the available spectroscopic and photometric observations of this system, constraining its orbital parameters and the fundamental properties of the components. Our findings are supported by a binary evolution model that successfully reproduces the currently observed parameters. The model suggests that the system will eventually merge into a single star.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2026

Influence of mass-transfer stability on the formation of post-common-envelope binaries

Post-common-envelope binaries are the natural laboratories for constraining the physics of common envelope evolution, which is one of the most uncertain phases in binary stellar evolution. Traditional binary population synthesis models, adopting mass transfer stability criteria based on polytropic stellar models, systematically overpredict the number of post-common-envelope binaries with solar-type main-sequence companions. In this work, we present an updated binary population synthesis model using the rapid binary evolution code \textit{Binary Star Evolution}, incorporating a physically motivated mass transfer stability criterion and a self-consistent envelope binding energy prescription. We compile a comprehensive sample of classic white dwarf + main sequence post-common-envelope binaries with well-measured parameters, hosting both M-dwarf and A/F/G/K- stars. We find that the enhanced mass transfer stability is an additional mechanism responsible for the observed dearth of post-common-envelope binaries with solar-type main sequence companions; neither magnetic braking nor selection effects alone can fully account for this deficit, and a combination of all three processes is most likely required. Models with inefficient common envelope evolution ($\alpha_{\rm CE}=0.25$) provide the best overall match to the observed population. These results highlight the critical role of MT stability in shaping the observed post-common-envelope binaries population and provide new constraints on common envelope evolution.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2026

Mass-Orbital Period Distribution of Massive White Dwarfs Formed Through Stable Mass Transfer

White dwarfs (WDs) in binaries can form through either the stable mass-transfer process or common envelope evolution (CEE). Compared to CEE, the stable mass-transfer process can lead to a distinct mass-orbital period ($M_{\mathrm{WD}}-P_{\mathrm{orb}}$) relation. Thus, this relation of WDs contains the information about the evolution channels. We can study the relation in WD binary systems to determine whether their progenitors undergo a CEE. We use the stellar evolution code MESA as our primary computational tool and adopt the quasi-adiabatic criterion to ensure that our models satisfy the conditions for stable mass transfer. Our study considers different mass-transfer schemes, varying metallicities, and the relation for both low-mass and intermediate-mass progenitors. Previous studies have focused on the relation for low-mass progenitors, which cannot explain some long-period, high-mass WD binaries. Our results show that the relations for intermediate-mass progenitors whose cores remain non-degenerate prior to central helium burning can account for the formation channels of long-period and massive WD binaries.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2026

Formation of Extremely Low-mass White Dwarf Binaries Undergoing Enhanced Angular Momentum Loss

Extremely low-mass white dwarfs (ELM WDs) are helium (He) WDs with masses below $\sim 0.3\ M_{\odot}$, mainly formed through binary interaction. ELM WD binaries typically are formed from two channels, namely the stable Roche lobe overflow (RLOF) channel and the common envelope ejection channel. For ELM WD binaries produced from RLOF channel, the ELM WD mass has a strong correlation with the orbital period, i.e., the so-called WD mass-orbital period relation. However, the observations in the ELM Survey show that the orbital periods of ELM WD binaries from the RLOF channel are typically shorter than the theoretically predicted values. Extra angular momentum loss (AML) may be needed to explain such a phenomenon. In this work, we assumed that part of the transferred mass from the donor is lost at the outer Lagrangian point and simulated the formation of ELM WD binaries. Enhanced AML enables more mass to be lost during thermal-timescale mass transfer, thereby affecting nuclear burning in the transfer phase and producing ELM WDs with distinct internal structures. These structural differences alter the (pre-)He WD mass-radius relation at the end of mass transfer, which in turn shifts the WD mass-orbital period relation downward. These adjustments enable our model to successfully reproduce the majority of observed systems from the relevant survey projects.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2026

A New Pathway to Single Be Stars: Ejected Companions from Type Ia Supernovae

Be stars are rapid rotators generally produced by binary interactions. The single Be stars in the observations pose challenges to the Be star formation theory. In this paper, we propose a new pathway for the formation of single Be stars, in which the Be star is taken as the ejected companion star from a Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) explosion. Recent numerical simulations suggest that explosive oxygen burning, initiated via the convective Urca process in certain helium (He) stars near the Chandrasekhar mass limit, can set off a SN Ia. Based on this proposition, we further demonstrate that about $0.4\%$ of He star + main-sequence (MS) star binaries may evolve into single Be stars, where the MS star is spun up due to the mass accretion from the He star, and then the He star explodes as a SN Ia. We employ detailed binary evolutionary simulations and find the parameter space that would produce single Be stars via the SN Ia channel. Around $22\%$ of Be stars from the SN Ia progenitor channel exhibit peculiar tangential velocities exceeding $24\ \rm km/s$, classifying them as runaway stars. This suggests that the SN Ia channel plays a meaningful role in forming single Be stars, particularly within the runaway star population.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2026

A Path to Constraints on Common Envelope Ejection in Massive Binaries: Full Evolutionary Reconstruction of Three Black Hole X-ray Binaries

The massive binary common envelope (CE) phase plays a pivotal role in the formation of close black hole/neutron star (BH/NS) binaries, yet significant uncertainties remain in our understanding of this process. In this study, we aim to constrain the massive binary CE phase by systematically reconstructing three observed BH X-ray binaries (BHXBs): GRO J1655-40, SAX J1819.3-2525, and 4U 1543-47. Through comprehensive binary evolution simulations and parametric supernova (SN) modeling, we establish lower limits for the CE efficiency parameters under different energy considerations within the standard energy formalism. Specifically, we derive minimum values for three cases: $\alpha_{\rm 0.5U}$ and $\alpha_{\rm U}$ representing CE efficiencies with half and all of the internal energy contributing to the envelope ejection, respectively, and $\alpha_{\rm H}$ accounting for the envelope's enthalpy. Our analysis reveals that the self-consistent formation of these three BHXBs requires CE efficiency parameters satisfying: $\alpha_{\rm 0.5U}\gtrsim 6.7$, $\alpha_{\rm U}\gtrsim 4.2$ and $\alpha_{\rm H}\gtrsim 1.7$. Notably, we find no viable solutions with CE efficiency values below unity, even when considering the most extreme scenarios in which the envelope binding energy is significantly reduced through enthalpy inclusion. {Our results strongly imply that either additional energy sources are required, or the formalism itself must be revised.} Furthermore, we quantitatively assess the impact of BH natal kicks on our results. A key finding is that 4U 1543-47's formation requires substantial natal kicks ($\gtrsim 50 \;\rm km/s$), as lower kick velocities are incompatible with isolated binary evolution.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2026

Adiabatic Mass Loss In Binary Stars. VI. Massive Helium Binary Stars

The stability of binary mass transfer is a critical problem for binary evolution. We systematically calculate the adiabatic mass-loss model for naked helium stars with masses ranging from 10$M_{\odot}$ to 80$M_{\odot}$ to study the critical mass ratio ($q_\textrm{crit}$) of Wolf-Rayet binaries. We set up two prescriptions about Wolf-Rayet stellar wind and consider the isotropic re-emission effect during adiabatic mass loss. Results of the critical mass ratio for conserved dynamically unstable mass transfer show that most of the no-wind helium stars on the main sequence (HeMS) have $0.7<q_\textrm{crit}<3.0$ and on the Hertzsprung gap (HeHG) have $1.5<q_\textrm{crit}<27$. With the Wolf-Rayet star wind effect, the $q_\textrm{crit}$ gets lower on a certain evolutionary stage. With the isotropic re-emission effect, the $q_\textrm{crit}$ gets larger for early-evolutionary stage helium stars and lower for late-evolutionary stage helium stars. Based on fully non-conserved mass transfer, the criteria for HeMS stars are $1.0<q_\textrm{crit}<2.8$ and HeHG stars are $1.5<q_\textrm{crit}<5.0$. Compared with the widely used criterion $q_\textrm{crit}=3$ (HeMS) and $q_\textrm{crit}=4$ (HeHG), our result becomes more unstable for the HeMS stars and more stable for the HeHG stars. Our work could be applied to the binary mass transfer stage of massive helium binaries, such as Wolf-Rayet star binaries and high mass X-ray binaries with Wolf-Rayet star companions. It can be applied to the binary population synthesis studies for the formation of special objects, such as double black hole mergers.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2026

Ultra-compact X-ray Binaries: A Review

Ultra-compact X-ray binaries (UCXBs) are a subclass of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) characterized by ultra-short orbital periods, typically less than $60-80\,$min. They consist of a compact mass-accretor and a hydrogen-poor mass-donor, in which the mass-accretor could be a neuron star (NS) or even a black hole (BH). UCXBs play an important role in multiple areas of astrophysics. In particular, they are considered strong, continuous gravitational wave (GW) sources in the low-frequency band, making them key targets for future space-based GW observatories such as LISA, TianQin and Taiji. As the most compact binaries, the formation and evolution of UCXBs remain highly uncertain. In this article, we review four classic formation channels: the white dwarf donor channel, the He star donor channel, the evolved main-sequence donor channel, and the accretion-induced collapse channel. We also discuss recent progress in these channels, covering evolutionary scenarios, the initial parameter space for UCXB formation, and associated objects. A comparison between observed UCXBs and theoretical expectations is provided, along with a discussion on the observed BH-UCXB candidates. The origin of UCXBs can be constrained by the chemical composition of mass-donors and their locations in diagrams of mass-transfer rate and X-ray luminosity versus orbital period. We also examine the implications of UCXBs for several astrophysical fields, including GW astronomy, multi-messenger astronomy, binary evolution, and NS physics under extreme conditions. Further progress will depend on multi-wavelength observations, the discovery of more UCXB samples, and more detailed theoretical simulations.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2026

A compact object with a K type star companion in the solar neighborhood: a wide post common envelope binary with a white dwarf candidate

Post-common envelope binaries (PCEBs) consisting of a white dwarf (WD) plus a main-sequence (MS) star can constrain current prescriptions of common envelope evolution (CEE) and calibrate theoretical models of binary formation and evolution. Most PCEBs studied to date have typical orbital periods of hours to a few days and can be well explained by assuming inefficient CEE to expel the envelope. However, there are currently several systems with relatively wide orbital periods ($>$18 days). To explain these wide PCEBs, additional sources of energy have been suggested to be taken into account. Here, we present the discovery and observational characterization of a compact object ($M\,\geq\,0.58\,\rm M_{\odot}$) with a K-type star companion in the solar neighborhood ($d\sim 112$ pc) and an orbital period of $P_{\rm orb}\sim 14$ days. The compact object binary is likely to be a system consisting of a WD and a barium dwarf, making it the shortest-period barium star binary candidate. Such a system with an orbital period within the gap between tight and wide binaries provides a test of whether additional energy sources are required to explain its formation. Using binary evolution models, we investigate the evolutionary history of this wide PCEB system and find that the observed properties of this source can be explained without invoking any extra energy source.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2026

A Highly Magnetic Ultra Massive White Dwarf with a 23-minute Rotation Period

We present a physical characterization of TMTS J00063798+3104160 (J0006), a rapidly rotating,ultra-massive white dwarf (WD) identified in high-cadence light curves from the Tsinghua University-Ma Huateng Telescope for Survey (TMTS). A coherent 23-minute periodicity is detected in TMTS, TESS, and ZTF photometry. A time series of low-resolution spectra with the Keck-I 10 m telescope reveals broad, shallow hydrogen absorption features indicative of an extreme magnetic field and shows no evidence for radial-velocity variations. Atmospheric modeling yields a magnetic field strength of $\sim$ 250 MG, while Gaia astrometry and photometry imply a mass of 1.06 $\pm$ 0.01 M$_{\odot}$. A significant infrared excess is detected in the WISE W1 band and is well fitted by a 550 K blackbody, likely arising from residual material of a merger. We interpret the 23-minute photometric modulation as the rotation period of an isolated, massive WD formed likely through the merger of a double WD binary. With one of the shortest rotation periods known among candidate merger remnants and with constraints from a deep Einstein Probe X-ray nondetection, J0006 provides a rare and important observational window into the poorly explored intermediate stages of post-merger evolution.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2025

Formation of Be stars via wind accretion: Case study on Black hole + Be star binaries

Be stars are rapidly rotating main-sequence (MS) stars that play a crucial role in understanding stellar evolution and binary interactions. In this letter, we propose a new formation scenario for black hole (BH) + Be star binaries (hereafter BHBe binaries), where the Be star is produced through the Wind Roche Lobe Overflow (WRLOF) mechanism. Our analysis is based on numerical simulations of the WRLOF process in massive binaries, building upon recent theoretical work. We demonstrate that the WRLOF model can efficiently form BHBe binaries under reasonable assumptions on stellar wind velocities. Using rapid binary population synthesis, we estimate the population of such systems in the Milky Way, predicting approximately $\sim$ {1800-3200} currently existing BHBe binaries originating from the WRLOF channel. These systems are characterized by high eccentricities and exceptionally wide orbits, with typical orbital periods exceeding 1000 days and a peak distribution around $\sim$10000 days. Due to their long orbital separations, these BHBe binaries are promising targets for future detection via astrometric {and interferometric} observations.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2024

A new route to massive hot subdwarfs: common envelope ejection from asymptotic giant branch stars

The hot subdwarf O/B stars (sdO/Bs) are known as extreme horizontal branch stars, which is of great importance in stellar evolution theory. The sdO/Bs are generally thought to have a helium-burning core and a thin hydrogen envelope $(M_{\rm env }<0.02M_\odot)$. In the canonical binary evolution scenario, sdO/Bs are considered to be the stripped cores of red giants. However, such a scenario cannot explain the recently discovered sdO/B binary, SMSS J1920, where the strong Ca H$\&$K lines in the spectrum are found. It suggests that this binary is likely originated from the recent ejection of common envelope (CE). In this {work}, we proposed a new formation channel of massive sdO/Bs, namely sdO/Bs produced from a CE ejection process with an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star (hereafter AGB CE channel). We constructed the evolutionary model of sdO/Bs and successfully explained most of the important observed parameters of the sdO/B star in SMSS J1920, including the evolutionary age, sdO/B mass, effective temperature, surface gravity and surface helium abundance. The minimum sdO/B mass produced from the AGB CE channel is about $0.48M_\odot$. The evolutionary tracks in $\log T_{\rm eff}-\log g$ plane {may explain a fraction of the observational samples} with high-$\log T_{\rm eff}$ and low-$\log g$. Considering wind mass-loss of sdO/Bs, the model could produce helium-rich hot subdwarfs with $\log (n_{\rm He}/n_{\rm H})\gtrsim-1$.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2024

Formation of millisecond pulsars with wide orbits

Millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are a kind of radio pulsars with short spin periods, playing a key role in many aspects of stellar astrophysics. In recent years, some more MSPs with wide orbits ($>30\,\rm d$) have been discovered, but their origin is still highly unclear. In the present work, according to an adiabatic power-law assumption for the mass-transfer process, we carried out a large number of complete binary evolution computations for the formation of MSPs with wide orbits through the iron core-collapse supernova (CCSN) channel, in which a neutron star (NS) originating from a CCSN accretes matter from a red-giant (RG) star and spun up to millisecond periods. We found that this channel can form the observed MSPs with wide orbits in the range of $30-1200\,{\rm d}$, in which the WD companions have masses in the range of $0.28-0.55\,\rm M_{\odot}$. We also found that almost all the observed MSPs can be reproduced by this channel in the WD companion mass versus orbital period diagram. We estimate that the Galactic numbers of the resulting MSPs from the CCSN channel are in the range of $\sim 4.8-8.5\times10^{5}$. Compared with the accretion-induced collapse channel, the CCSN channel provides a main way to produce MSPs with wide orbits.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2023

ChatGPT vs. Google: A Comparative Study of Search Performance and User Experience

The advent of ChatGPT, a large language model-powered chatbot, has prompted questions about its potential implications for traditional search engines. In this study, we investigate the differences in user behavior when employing search engines and chatbot tools for information-seeking tasks. We carry out a randomized online experiment, dividing participants into two groups: one using a ChatGPT-like tool and the other using a Google Search-like tool. Our findings reveal that the ChatGPT group consistently spends less time on all tasks, with no significant difference in overall task performance between the groups. Notably, ChatGPT levels user search performance across different education levels and excels in answering straightforward questions and providing general solutions but falls short in fact-checking tasks. Users perceive ChatGPT's responses as having higher information quality compared to Google Search, despite displaying a similar level of trust in both tools. Furthermore, participants using ChatGPT report significantly better user experiences in terms of usefulness, enjoyment, and satisfaction, while perceived ease of use remains comparable between the two tools. However, ChatGPT may also lead to overreliance and generate or replicate misinformation, yielding inconsistent results. Our study offers valuable insights for search engine management and highlights opportunities for integrating chatbot technologies into search engine designs.

cs.AI↗
arXiv2022

A Roche Lobe-filling hot Subdwarf and White Dwarf Binary: possible detection of an ejected common envelope

Binaries consisting of a hot subdwarf star and an accreting white dwarf (WD) are sources of gravitational wave radiation at low frequencies and possible progenitors of type Ia supernovae if the WD mass is large enough. Here, we report the discovery of the third binary known of this kind: it consists of a hot subdwarf O (sdO) star and a WD with an orbital period of 3.495 hours and an orbital shrinkage of 0.1 s in 6 yr. The sdO star overfills its Roche lobe and likely transfers mass to the WD via an accretion disk. From spectroscopy, we obtain an effective temperature of $T_{\mathrm{eff}}=54\,240\pm1\,840$ K and a surface gravity of $\log{g}=4.841\pm0.108$ for the sdO star. From the light curve analysis, we obtain a sdO mass of $M_{\mathrm{sdO}}=0.55$ ${\mathrm{M_{\odot}}}$ and a mass ratio of $q=M_{\mathrm{WD}}/M_{\mathrm{sdO}}=0.738\pm0.001$. Also, we estimate that the disk has a radius of $\sim 0.41R_\odot$ and a thickness of $\sim 0.18R_\odot$. The origin of this binary is probably a common envelope ejection channel, where the progenitor of the sdO star is either an RGB star or, more likely, an early AGB star; the sdO star will subsequently evolve into a WD and merge with its WD companion, likely resulting in an R CrB star. The outstanding feature in the spectrum of this object is strong Ca H&K lines, which are blueshifted by $\sim$200 km/s and likely originate from the recently ejected common envelope, and we estimated that the remnant CE material in the binary system has a density $\sim 6\times 10^{-10} {\rm g/cm^3}$.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2022

The Common Envelope Evolution Outcome -- A Case Study on Hot Subdwarf B Stars

Common envelope evolution (CEE) physics plays a fundamental role in the formation of binary systems, such as mergering stellar gravitational wave sources, pulsar binaries and type Ia supernovae. A precisely constrained CEE has become more important in the age of large surveys and gravitational wave detectors. We use an adiabatic mass loss model to explore how the total energy of the donor changes as a function of the remnant mass. This provides a more self-consistent way to calculate the binding energy of the donor. For comparison, we also calculate the binding energy through integrating the total energy from the core to the surface. The outcome of CEE is constrained by total energy conservation at the point at which both component's radii shrink back within their Roche lobes. We apply our results to 142 hot subdwarf binaries. For shorter orbital period sdBs, the binding energy is highly consistent. For longer orbital period sdBs in our samples, the binding energy can differ by up to a factor of 2. The CE efficiency parameter $β_\mathrm{CE}$ becomes smaller than $α_\mathrm{CE}$ for the final orbital period $\log_{10} P_{\mathrm{orb}}/\mathrm{d} > -0.5$. We also find the mass ratios $\log_{10} q$ and CE efficiency parameters $\log_{10} α_{\mathrm{CE}}$ and $\log_{10} β_{\mathrm{CE}}$ linearly correlate in sdBs, similarly to De Marco et al. (2010) for post-AGB binaries.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2022

Formation of millisecond pulsars with long orbital periods by accretion-induced collapse of white-dwarfs

Accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of massive white-dwarfs (WDs) has been proposed as an important way for the formation of neutron star (NS) systems. An oxygen-neon (ONe) WD that accretes H-rich material from a red-giant (RG) star may experience the AIC process, eventually producing millisecond pulsars (MSPs), known as the RG donor channel. Previous studies indicate that this channel can only account for MSPs with orbital periods $>500\,\rm d$. It is worth noting that some more MSPs with wide orbits ($60-500\,\rm d$) have been detected by recent observations, but their origin is still highly uncertain. In the present work, by employing an adiabatic power-law assumptions for the mass-transfer process, we performed a large number of complete binary evolution calculations for the formation of MSPs through the RG donor channel in a systematic way. We found that this channel can contribute to the observed MSPs with orbital periods in the range of $50-1200\,{\rm d}$, and almost all the observed MSPs with wide orbits can be covered by this channel in the WD companion mass versus orbital period diagram. The present work indicates that the AIC process provides a viable way to form MSPs with wide orbits.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2021

Ultra-compact X-ray binaries with He star companions

Ultra-compact X-ray binaries (UCXBs) are low-mass X-ray binaries with hydrogen-deficient mass-donors and ultra-short orbital periods. They have been suggested to be the potential Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) sources in the low-frequency region. Several channels for the formation of UCXBs have been proposed so far. In this article, we carried out a systematic study on the He star donor channel, in which a neutron star (NS) accretes matter from a He main-sequence star through Roche-lobe overflow, where the mass-transfer is driven by gravitational wave radiation. Firstly, we followed the long-term evolution of the NS+He main-sequence star binaries by employing the stellar evolution code Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics, and thereby obtained the initial parameter spaces for the production of UCXBs. We then used these results to perform a detailed binary population synthesis approach to obtain the Galactic rates of UCXBs through this channel. We estimate the Galactic rates of UCXBs appearing as LISA sources to be $\sim3.1-11.9\, \rm Myr^{-1}$ through this channel, and the number of such UCXB-LISA sources in the Galaxy can reach about $1-26$ calibrated by observations. The present work indicates that the He star donor channel may contribute significantly to the Galactic UCXB formation rate. We found that the evolutionary tracks of UCXBs through this channel can account for the location of the five transient sources with relatively long orbital periods quite well. We also found that such UCXBs can be identified by their locations in the mass-transfer rate versus the orbital period diagram.

astro-ph.HE↗