More than half of all stars in the universe formed and evolved as binary systems and their study is essential for understanding stellar and galactic evolution. The six lectures in this book give both a readable introduction and an up-to-date review of nearly all aspects of current research into binary stars, including the range from common binaries to more exotic systems composed of white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes.

Inhalt

Physical Processes in Close Binary Systems.- Magnetic Activity in Binary Stars.- Cataclysmic Variables.- Observations of Cataclysmic Variable and Double Degenerate Stars.- Evolution of Close Binaries.- X-RayBinaries and Black Hole Candidates: A Review of Optical Properties.