Hydrodynamic moving-mesh simulations of the common envelope phase in binary stellar systems

Understand

The common envelope (CE) phase is an important stage in binary stellar evolution.

• It is needed to explain many close binary stellar systems, such as cataclysmic variables, Type Ia supernova progenitors, or X-ray binaries.
• To form the resulting close binary, the initial orbit has to shrink, thereby transferring energy to the primary giant's envelope that is hence ejected.
• The details of this interaction, however, are still not understood.