Gas flow and accretion via spiral streamers and circumstellar disks in a young binary protostar

Abstract

Gas flows and disks in a young binary Many stars are in binary systems, pairs of stars gravitationally bound to each other, often with the two components having similar masses. It remains unclear how these systems assemble and accrete material. Alves et al. made high-resolution observations of a young binary star that is still in the process of forming. A large disk surrounds both stars, and each component also has its own smaller circumstellar disk. Spiral filaments of dust and gas connect the small disks to the larger one. Material is accreting preferentially onto the star that currently has a lower mass, driving the masses toward similar values. Science , this issue p. 90