Orbits of binary systems with decreasing mass

Abstract

The effect of the isotropic loss of mass from either component of a binary system on the elements of the orbit was studied. The period increases secularly, while the behaviour of the eccentricity depends on the particular way the mass decreases. Several functions for the mass were studied and an attempt was made to explain the observed dependence of the period on the eccentricity under the assumption that mass was lost.