The aim of the present book will be to provide a comprehensive account of our present knowledge of the theory of dynamical phenomena exhibited by elose binary systems; and on the basis of such phenomena as have been attested by available observations to outline probable evolutionary trends of such systems in the course of time. The evolution of the stars - motivated by nuelear as weIl as gravitation al energy sources - constitutes nowadays a well-established branch of stellar astronomy. No theo ries of such an evolution are as yet sufficently specific - let alone infallible - not to require continual tests by a confrontation of their consequences with the observed prop erties of actual stars at different stages of their evolution. The discriminating power of such tests depends, of course, on the range of information offered by the test objects. Single stars which move alone in space are now known to represent only a minority of objects constituting our Galaxy (cf. Chapter 1-2); and are, moreover, not very revealing of their basic physical characteristics - such as their masses or absolute dimensions. If there were no binary systems in the sky, the only star whose vital statistics would be fully known to us would be our Sun.

Inhalt
I. Binary Stars in the Sky.- 1. Binary-Star Population in our Galaxy.- Bibliographical Notes.- II. Figures of Equilibrium.- 1. Equipotential Surfaces.- 2. Rotational Distortion.- 3. Tidal Distortion.- 4. Interaction between Rotation and Tides.- 5. Effects of Internal Structure.- 6. Gravity, Density Distribution, and Moments of Inertia.- Bibliographical Notes.- III. Dynamical Tides.- 1. Equations of the Problem.- 2. Linearized Equations.- 3. Forced Oscillations: Dynamical Tides.- 4. Dissipation of Energy by Dynamical Tides.- Bibliographical Notes.- IV. Generalized Rotation.- 1. Equations of Motion for Deformable Bodies.- 2. Rotation of Deformable Bodies.- 3. Effects of Viscosity.- 4. Nonuniform Rotation.- Bibliographical Notes.- V. Dynamics of Close Binaries.- 1. Equations of the Problem.- 2. Perturbations of the Orbital Plane; Precession and Nutation.- 3. Perturbations in the Orbital Plane.- 4. Period Changes in Eclipsing Binary Systems.- 5. Effects of Variable Mass.- 6. Perturbations by a Third Body.- Bibliographical Notes.- VI. The Roche Model.- 1. Roche Equipotentials.- 2. Geometry of Roche Surfaces.- 3. The Roche Coordinates.- Bibliographical Notes.- VII. Stability of the Components of Close Binary Systems.- 1. Criteria of Stability.- 2. Secular Stability.- 3. Dynamical Stability.- 4. Concluding Remarks.- Bibliographical Notes.- VIII. Origin and Evolution of Binary Systems.- 1. Evolution of the Stars.- 2. Classification of Close Binary Systems.- 3. Nuclear Evolution of Close Binary Systems.- 4. Tidal Evolution of Close Binary Systems.- 5. Beginnings and Ends.- Bibliographical Notes.- References.- Index of Names.- Index of Subjects.