PHYS/ASTR Colloquium: "Challenging the Standard Paradigm of Thorne-Zytkow Object Formation" - Tenley Hutchinson-Smith (PhD Candidate, UCSC)

San Francisco State University

Physics & Astronomy Colloquium Series

Monday, March 18, 2024

Thornton Hall 411, 3:30 PM

"Challenging the Standard Paradigm of Thorne-Zytkow Object Formation"

Tenley Hutchinson-Smith (PhD Candidate at U.C. Santa Cruz)

Abstract: In this talk I will discuss my efforts at creating a start-to-end simulation studying the long-term fate of high-mass X-ray binaries and whether a Thorne-Zytkow object (TZO) might be ultimately produced. A TZO is a conjectured type of star wherein a red giant or red supergiant contains a neutron star at its core, claimed to possibly be formed by the engulfment of a neutron star by an evolving giant star companion. I plan to present results from a 3D hydrodynamical simulation that models the fate of LMC X-4, an X-ray binary system, after the primary fills its Roche Lobe and engulfs the secondary. I will discuss the outcome of this engulfment within the standard paradigm of TZO formation. My findings suggest that the canonical framework needs to be modified and I will use the remainder of my talk to put forward a revised TZO formation and evolution paradigm.

#SFStateAstronomy

#SFStatePhysics