Abstract The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be a transformative experiment
for gravitational wave astronomy, and, as such, it will offer unique opportunities to address …

When the primary star in a close binary system evolves into a giant and engulfs its
companion, its core and the companion temporarily orbit each other inside a common …

Astronomers have discovered thousands of planets outside the Solar System, most of which
orbit stars that will eventually evolve into red giants and then into white dwarfs. During the …

Population-synthesis codes are an unique tool to explore the parameter space of massive
binary star evolution and binary compact object (BCO) formation. Most population-synthesis …

This work aims to present our current best physical understanding of common-envelope
evolution (CEE). We highlight areas of consensus and disagreement, and stress ideas …

Abstract Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) play a key role in the fields of astrophysics and
cosmology. It is widely accepted that SNe Ia arise from thermonuclear explosions of white …

Rotation is thought to be a major factor in the evolution of massive stars—especially at low
metallicity—with consequences for their chemical yields, ionizing flux, and final fate …

Common-envelope (CE) evolution in massive binary systems is thought to be one of the
most promising channels for the formation of compact binary mergers. In the case of merging …

Common envelope (CE) evolution, which is crucial in creating short-period binaries and
associated astrophysical events, can be constrained by reverse modelling of such binaries' …

We review the expected science performance of the New Gravitational-Wave Observatory
(NGO, aka eLISA), a mission under study by the European Space Agency for launch in the …