Friday, September 25, 2026 at 12:15 pm

JILA Foothills Room

Matthew Green, University of Oklahoma

"Where do AM CVn binaries come from?"

Abstract:

Over the last few decades, we have found over 100 mass-transferring double white dwarf binaries (often called AM CVn-type binaries). These binary systems include the most compact binary systems known (with orbital periods of 5--70 minutes), are loud sources of gravitational waves, and may be progenitors of Type Ia supernovae. Since their discovery, there has been a debate about how such a system can form. The last 10 years in particular have seen a number of breakthroughs, and we seem to be approaching a final answer to the question. I will give an overview of the theoretical and observational breakthroughs that have changed our understanding over the last 10 years.

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