Thomas M. Tauris is professor of theoretical astrophysics at Aalborg University. Edward P. J. van den Heuvel is emeritus professor of astrophysics at the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit, Brussels. His books include Accretion-Driven Stellar X-ray Sources, Interacting Binaries, and X-ray Binaries.

"[C]lear and easy to read . . . Tauris & van den Heuvel’s book has immediately become the standard text in this science area and I recommend it unreservedly."---John Southworth, The Observer

• Preface1 Introduction: The Role of Binary Star Evolution in Astrophysics2 Historical Notes on Binary Star Discoveries2.1 Visual Binaries and the Universal Validity of the Laws of Physics2.2 Astrometric Binaries2.3 Spectroscopic Binaries2.4 Eclipsing Binaries2.5 The Discovery of the Binary Nature of Novae and Other Cataclysmic Variables2.6 The Discovery of the Binary Nature of the Brightest X-ray Sources in the Sky2.7 Centaurus X-3: Discovery of the First Neutron Star X-ray Binary2.8 Cygnus X-1: Discovery of the First Black Hole X-ray Binary2.9 The Discovery of the Existence of Double NSs and Double BHs2.10 The Discovery of Millisecond Radio Pulsars: Remnants of LMXBs2.11 Type Ia, Ib, and Ic SNe: Results of the Evolution of Binary Systems2.12 Binary Nature of Blue Stragglers, Barium Stars, and Peculiar Post-AGB StarsExercises3 Orbits and Masses of Spectroscopic Binaries3.1 Some Basics about Binary Orbits3.2 Orbit Determination3.3 Determination of Stellar Masses3.4 Masses of Unevolved Main-sequence Stars3.5 The Most Massive Stars3.6 Falsification of Radial Velocity Curves3.7 The Incidence of Interacting Binaries and Their Orbital Distributions and MassesExercises4 Mass Transfer and Mass Loss in Binary Systems4.1 Roche Equipotentials4.2 Limitations in the Concept of Roche Equipotentials4.3 Orbital Changes due to Mass Transfer and Mass Loss in Binary Systems4.4 Observational Examples4.5 Basic Physics of Mass Transfer via L14.6 Accretion Disks4.7 Tidal Evolution in Binary Systems4.8 Common Envelopes4.9 Eddington Accretion LimitExercises5 Observed Binaries with Non-degenerate or White Dwarf Components5.1 Introduction5.2 Unevolved Systems5.3 Evolved Systems with Non-degenerative Components5.4 Systems with One or Two White DwarfsExercises6 Observed Binaries with Accreting Neutron Stars and Black Holes: X-ray Binaries6.1 Discovery of NS and BH Character of Bright Galactic X-ray Sources6.2 Two Types of Persistent Strong X-ray Sources: HMXBs and LMXBs6.3 HMXBs and LMXBs vs. IMXBs6.4 Determinations of NS Masses in X-ray Binaries6.5 BH X-ray Binaries6.6 Binaries and Triples with Non-interacting BHsExercises7 Observed Properties of X-ray Binaries in More Detail7.1 High-mass X-ray Binaries in More Detail7.2 Stellar Wind Accretion in More Detail7.3 Spin Evolution of Neutron Stars7.4 The Corbet Diagram for Pulsating HMXBs7.5 Orbital Changes due to Torques by Stellar Wind Accretion, Mass Loss, and Tides7.6 Measuring BH Spins in X-ray Binaries7.7 Ultra-luminous X-ray Binaries7.8 Low-mass X-ray Binaries in More DetailExercises8 Evolution of Single Stars8.1 Overview of the Evolution of Single Stars8.2 Final Evolution and Core Collapse of Stars More Massive than 8 M⊙8.3 Evolution of Helium StarsExercises9 Stellar Evolution in Binaries9.1 Historical Introduction: Importance of Mass Transfer9.2 Evolution of the Stellar Radius and Cases of Mass Transfer9.3 RLO: Reasons for Large-scale Mass Transfer and Conditions for Stability of the Transfer9.4 Results of Calculations of Binary Evolution with Conservative Mass Transfer9.5 Examples of Non-conservative Mass Transfer9.6 Comparison of Case B Results with Some Observed Types of Systems9.7 Differences in Final Remnants of Mass-transfer Binaries and Single Stars9.8 Slowly Rotating Magnetic Main-sequence Stars: The Products of Mergers?Exercises10 Formation and Evolution of High-mass X-ray Binaries10.1 Introduction: HMXBs are Normal Products of Massive Binary Star Evolution10.2 Formation of Supergiant HMXBs10.3 Formation of B-emission (Be)/X-ray Binaries10.4 WR Binaries, HMXBs, and Runaway Stars10.5 Stability of Mass Transfer in HMXBs10.6 The X-ray Lifetime and Formation Rate of the Blue Supergiant HMXBs10.7 Highly Non-conservative Evolution and Formation of Very Close Relativistic Binaries10.8 Formation Models of HMXBs Different from Conservative Case B Evolution10.9 The Lower Mass Limit of Binary Stars for Terminating as a BH10.10 Final Evolution of BH-HMXBs: Two Formation Channels for Double BHs10.11 Final Evolution of Wide-orbit BH-HMXBs via CE Evolution10.12 Final Evolution of Relatively Close-orbit BH-HMXBs via Stable RLO10.13 Refinement of the DNS Formation Model: Case BB RLO in Post-HMXB SystemsExercises11 Formation and Evolution of Low-mass X-ray Binaries11.1 Origin of LMXBs with Neutron Stars11.2 Origin of LMXBs with Black Holes11.3 Mechanisms Driving Mass Transfer in Close-orbit LMXBs and CVs11.4 Formation and Evolution of UCXBs11.5 Mechanisms Driving Mass Transfer in Wide-orbit LMXBs and Symbiotic Binaries11.6 Stability of Mass Transfer in Intermediate-Mass and High-Mass X-ray BinariesExercises12 Dynamical Formation of Compact Star Binaries in Dense Star Clusters12.1 Introduction12.2 Observed Compact Object Binaries in Globular Clusters: X-ray Binaries and Radio Pulsars12.3 Possible Formation Processes of NS Binaries in Globular Clusters12.4 Dynamical Formation of Double BHs12.5 Compact Objects in Globular Clusters Constrain Birth Kicks13 Supernovae in Binaries13.1 Introduction13.2 Supernovae of Type Ia13.3 Stripped-Envelope Core-Collapse SNe13.4 Electron-capture SNe in Single and Binary Stars13.5 Ultra-Stripped Supernovae13.6 Comparison between Theory and Observations of SNe Ib and Ic13.7 Supernova Kicks13.8 Kinematic Impacts on Post-SN BinariesExercises14 Binary and Millisecond Pulsars14.1 Introduction to Radio Pulsars14.2 To Be Recycled or Not to Be Recycled14.3 MSPs with He WD or Sub-stellar Dwarf Companions–Evolution from LMXBs14.4 MSPs with CO WD Companions–Evolution from IMXBs14.5 Formation of MSPs via Accretion-induced Collapse14.6 Recycling of Pulsars14.7 Masses of Binary Neutron Stars14.8 Pulsar Kicks14.9 Formation of Double Neutron Star SystemsExercises15 Gravitational Waves from Binary Compact Objects15.1 The Evidence of GWs prior to LIGO15.2 GW Luminosity and Merger Timescale15.3 Observations of GW Signals from Binaries15.4 Galactic Merger Rates of Neutron Star/Black Hole Binaries15.5 Formation of Double Black Hole Binaries15.6 Properties of GW Sources Detected so Far15.7 Empirical Merger Rates15.8 BH Spins–Expectations and Observations15.9 Anticipated Other Sources to be Detected in the GW Era15.10 GW Follow-up Multimessenger Astronomy15.11 Cosmological Implications15.12 LISA Sources15.13 LISA Sensitivity Curve and Source StrainExercises16 Binary Population Synthesis and Statistics16.1 Introduction16.2 Methodology of Population Synthesis16.3 Empirical vs. Binary Population Synthesis-Based Estimates of Double Compact Object Merger Rates16.4 Some History of Early Binary Population Synthesis: Evolution of Open Star Clusters with BinariesAcknowledgmentsAnswers to ExercisesList of AcronymsReferencesIndex

Thomas M. Tauris is professor of theoretical astrophysics at Aalborg University. Edward P. J. van den Heuvel is emeritus professor of astrophysics at the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit, Brussels. His books include Accretion-Driven Stellar X-ray Sources, Interacting Binaries, and X-ray Binaries.

"[C]lear and easy to read . . . Tauris & van den Heuvel’s book has immediately become the standard text in this science area and I recommend it unreservedly."---John Southworth, The Observer

• Preface1 Introduction: The Role of Binary Star Evolution in Astrophysics2 Historical Notes on Binary Star Discoveries2.1 Visual Binaries and the Universal Validity of the Laws of Physics2.2 Astrometric Binaries2.3 Spectroscopic Binaries2.4 Eclipsing Binaries2.5 The Discovery of the Binary Nature of Novae and Other Cataclysmic Variables2.6 The Discovery of the Binary Nature of the Brightest X-ray Sources in the Sky2.7 Centaurus X-3: Discovery of the First Neutron Star X-ray Binary2.8 Cygnus X-1: Discovery of the First Black Hole X-ray Binary2.9 The Discovery of the Existence of Double NSs and Double BHs2.10 The Discovery of Millisecond Radio Pulsars: Remnants of LMXBs2.11 Type Ia, Ib, and Ic SNe: Results of the Evolution of Binary Systems2.12 Binary Nature of Blue Stragglers, Barium Stars, and Peculiar Post-AGB StarsExercises3 Orbits and Masses of Spectroscopic Binaries3.1 Some Basics about Binary Orbits3.2 Orbit Determination3.3 Determination of Stellar Masses3.4 Masses of Unevolved Main-sequence Stars3.5 The Most Massive Stars3.6 Falsification of Radial Velocity Curves3.7 The Incidence of Interacting Binaries and Their Orbital Distributions and MassesExercises4 Mass Transfer and Mass Loss in Binary Systems4.1 Roche Equipotentials4.2 Limitations in the Concept of Roche Equipotentials4.3 Orbital Changes due to Mass Transfer and Mass Loss in Binary Systems4.4 Observational Examples4.5 Basic Physics of Mass Transfer via L14.6 Accretion Disks4.7 Tidal Evolution in Binary Systems4.8 Common Envelopes4.9 Eddington Accretion LimitExercises5 Observed Binaries with Non-degenerate or White Dwarf Components5.1 Introduction5.2 Unevolved Systems5.3 Evolved Systems with Non-degenerative Components5.4 Systems with One or Two White DwarfsExercises6 Observed Binaries with Accreting Neutron Stars and Black Holes: X-ray Binaries6.1 Discovery of NS and BH Character of Bright Galactic X-ray Sources6.2 Two Types of Persistent Strong X-ray Sources: HMXBs and LMXBs6.3 HMXBs and LMXBs vs. IMXBs6.4 Determinations of NS Masses in X-ray Binaries6.5 BH X-ray Binaries6.6 Binaries and Triples with Non-interacting BHsExercises7 Observed Properties of X-ray Binaries in More Detail7.1 High-mass X-ray Binaries in More Detail7.2 Stellar Wind Accretion in More Detail7.3 Spin Evolution of Neutron Stars7.4 The Corbet Diagram for Pulsating HMXBs7.5 Orbital Changes due to Torques by Stellar Wind Accretion, Mass Loss, and Tides7.6 Measuring BH Spins in X-ray Binaries7.7 Ultra-luminous X-ray Binaries7.8 Low-mass X-ray Binaries in More DetailExercises8 Evolution of Single Stars8.1 Overview of the Evolution of Single Stars8.2 Final Evolution and Core Collapse of Stars More Massive than 8 M⊙8.3 Evolution of Helium StarsExercises9 Stellar Evolution in Binaries9.1 Historical Introduction: Importance of Mass Transfer9.2 Evolution of the Stellar Radius and Cases of Mass Transfer9.3 RLO: Reasons for Large-scale Mass Transfer and Conditions for Stability of the Transfer9.4 Results of Calculations of Binary Evolution with Conservative Mass Transfer9.5 Examples of Non-conservative Mass Transfer9.6 Comparison of Case B Results with Some Observed Types of Systems9.7 Differences in Final Remnants of Mass-transfer Binaries and Single Stars9.8 Slowly Rotating Magnetic Main-sequence Stars: The Products of Mergers?Exercises10 Formation and Evolution of High-mass X-ray Binaries10.1 Introduction: HMXBs are Normal Products of Massive Binary Star Evolution10.2 Formation of Supergiant HMXBs10.3 Formation of B-emission (Be)/X-ray Binaries10.4 WR Binaries, HMXBs, and Runaway Stars10.5 Stability of Mass Transfer in HMXBs10.6 The X-ray Lifetime and Formation Rate of the Blue Supergiant HMXBs10.7 Highly Non-conservative Evolution and Formation of Very Close Relativistic Binaries10.8 Formation Models of HMXBs Different from Conservative Case B Evolution10.9 The Lower Mass Limit of Binary Stars for Terminating as a BH10.10 Final Evolution of BH-HMXBs: Two Formation Channels for Double BHs10.11 Final Evolution of Wide-orbit BH-HMXBs via CE Evolution10.12 Final Evolution of Relatively Close-orbit BH-HMXBs via Stable RLO10.13 Refinement of the DNS Formation Model: Case BB RLO in Post-HMXB SystemsExercises11 Formation and Evolution of Low-mass X-ray Binaries11.1 Origin of LMXBs with Neutron Stars11.2 Origin of LMXBs with Black Holes11.3 Mechanisms Driving Mass Transfer in Close-orbit LMXBs and CVs11.4 Formation and Evolution of UCXBs11.5 Mechanisms Driving Mass Transfer in Wide-orbit LMXBs and Symbiotic Binaries11.6 Stability of Mass Transfer in Intermediate-Mass and High-Mass X-ray BinariesExercises12 Dynamical Formation of Compact Star Binaries in Dense Star Clusters12.1 Introduction12.2 Observed Compact Object Binaries in Globular Clusters: X-ray Binaries and Radio Pulsars12.3 Possible Formation Processes of NS Binaries in Globular Clusters12.4 Dynamical Formation of Double BHs12.5 Compact Objects in Globular Clusters Constrain Birth Kicks13 Supernovae in Binaries13.1 Introduction13.2 Supernovae of Type Ia13.3 Stripped-Envelope Core-Collapse SNe13.4 Electron-capture SNe in Single and Binary Stars13.5 Ultra-Stripped Supernovae13.6 Comparison between Theory and Observations of SNe Ib and Ic13.7 Supernova Kicks13.8 Kinematic Impacts on Post-SN BinariesExercises14 Binary and Millisecond Pulsars14.1 Introduction to Radio Pulsars14.2 To Be Recycled or Not to Be Recycled14.3 MSPs with He WD or Sub-stellar Dwarf Companions–Evolution from LMXBs14.4 MSPs with CO WD Companions–Evolution from IMXBs14.5 Formation of MSPs via Accretion-induced Collapse14.6 Recycling of Pulsars14.7 Masses of Binary Neutron Stars14.8 Pulsar Kicks14.9 Formation of Double Neutron Star SystemsExercises15 Gravitational Waves from Binary Compact Objects15.1 The Evidence of GWs prior to LIGO15.2 GW Luminosity and Merger Timescale15.3 Observations of GW Signals from Binaries15.4 Galactic Merger Rates of Neutron Star/Black Hole Binaries15.5 Formation of Double Black Hole Binaries15.6 Properties of GW Sources Detected so Far15.7 Empirical Merger Rates15.8 BH Spins–Expectations and Observations15.9 Anticipated Other Sources to be Detected in the GW Era15.10 GW Follow-up Multimessenger Astronomy15.11 Cosmological Implications15.12 LISA Sources15.13 LISA Sensitivity Curve and Source StrainExercises16 Binary Population Synthesis and Statistics16.1 Introduction16.2 Methodology of Population Synthesis16.3 Empirical vs. Binary Population Synthesis-Based Estimates of Double Compact Object Merger Rates16.4 Some History of Early Binary Population Synthesis: Evolution of Open Star Clusters with BinariesAcknowledgmentsAnswers to ExercisesList of AcronymsReferencesIndex