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"The Evolution of Compact Binary Star Systems"
Konstantin A. Postnov and Lev R. Yungelson 
Abstract
1 Introduction
1.1 Formation of stars and end products of their evolution
1.2 Binary stars
2 Observations of Double Compact Stars
2.1 Compact binaries with neutron stars
2.2 How frequent are NS binary coalescences?
2.3 Black holes in binary systems
2.4 A model-independent upper limit on the BH-BH/BH-NS coalescence rate
3 Basic Principles of the Evolution of Binary Stars
3.1 Keplerian binary system and radiation back reaction
3.2 Mass exchange in close binaries
3.3 Mass transfer modes and mass and angular momentum loss in binary systems
3.4 Supernova explosion
3.5 Kick velocity of neutron stars
3.6 Common envelope stage
3.7 Other notes on the CE problem
4 Evolutionary Scenario for Compact Binaries with Neutron Star or Black Hole Components
4.1 Compact binaries with neutron stars
4.2 Black-hole–formation parameters
5 Formation of Double Compact Binaries
5.1 Analytical estimates
5.2 Population synthesis results
6 Detection Rates
7 Short-Period Binaries with White-Dwarf Components
7.1 Formation of compact binaries with white dwarfs
7.2 White-dwarf binaries
7.3 Type Ia supernovae
7.4 Ultra-compact X-ray binaries
8 Observations of Double-Degenerate Systems
8.1 Detached white dwarf and subdwarf binaries
9 Evolution of Interacting Double-Degenerate Systems
9.1 “Double-degenerate family” of AM CVn stars
9.2 “Helium-star family” of AM CVn stars
9.3 Final stages of evolution of interacting double-degenerate systems
10 Gravitational Waves from Compact Binaries with White-Dwarf Components
11 AM CVn-Type Stars as Sources of Optical and X-Ray Emission
12 Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References
Footnotes
Updates
Figures
Tables
Figure 2
Figure 2: Sensitivity limits of GW detectors and the regions of the f–h diagram occupied by some potential GW sources. (Courtesy G. Nelemans).

Konstantin A. Postnov and Lev R. Yungelson, "The Evolution of Compact Binary Star Systems",
Living Rev. Relativity, 17 (2014), 3, doi:10.12942/lrr-2014-3, URL (accessed <date>): http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2014-3.
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. © The author(s), except where otherwise noted.