A Special Thursday Astrophysics Seminar

Observed Dynamics of Triple Star Systems

Matthew Muterspaugh
Townes Fellow, Space Sciences Laboratory
University of California - Berkeley

Thursday, September 27, 2007   12:30 p.m.
NSH 341 (note special location)

Triple star systems are excellent laboratories for studying stellar evolution and dynamics because they allow us to cross-compare the properties of several stars of similar ages and study their complex interactions. By measuring their orbital motions, one can evaluate the basic properties of the stars, such as masses, and directly observe the multi-body dynamics in these systems. The triples that can be studied on human timescales are typically unresolved in the atmosphere-blurred images from ground-based telescopes, presenting an observational challenge. Recent observational technique advances have allowed that barrier to be removed. This has enabled full characterization of triple systems, the first few of which indicate their structures are very different than that of the the solar system---they do not lie flat in a single plane as do the planets. I will discuss recent observational efforts and theoretical predictions concerning the complex dynamics in these systems, and prospects for observing additional systems in detail. I will finish by discussing prospects for detecting systems in which one of the three stars is replaced by a planet-sized object, and the implications for our understanding of planet formation that would result from discovering large numbers of binaries hosting planetary companions.