The Formation of Close Binary Stars

Abstract

I review the possible formation mechanisms of close binary stars. The formation of close binary systems is problematic in that there is no theory that does not encounter significant difficulties or unknowns. Fission does not appear to occur in stars. Capture is unlikely to form many close binary systems except possibly amongst massive stars. Fragmentation can form close binary systems but these need to accrete the majority of their eventual mass. Furthermore, there appears to be a limited window in initial conditions that may preclude forming sufficient systems in this way. Possible alternatives include the orbital migration of a binary due to its circumbinary disk and the disintegration of a non-hierarchical multiple system.