Organisers: Elizabeth Stanway (Warwick), J J Eldridge (Auckland, NZ)

Date: Wednesday 18th September 2019 (with optional practical workshop on 19th)

Venue: University of Warwick (Zeeman Building, Room MS.04)

Cost: Attendance is free but Registration is essential. Lunch will be provided.

Rationale:

Binary stars are ubiquitous throughout the Universe. Virtually all massive stars have at least one stellar mass companion, and 70% will interact during their evolutionary lifetimes. At lower mass, the binary fraction is smaller but instrumental in the formation of cataclysmic variables, X-ray binaries, SN Ia, Short Gamma Ray Bursts and Gravitational Wave chirps from compact object mergers.

Increasingly the relevance and important consequences of binary star evolution in the extragalactic Universe is being recognised – partly as a result of the incorporation of binaries into the BPASS stellar population synthesis code and its widespread adoption, as well as the growing interest in compact mergers from a GW perspective.

In this one day science meeting we aim to discuss the current status, impact and future developments required in binary stellar evolution and galaxy evolution models. We will explore the consequences of binary interactions for our understanding of the properties of stellar populations, and evaluate the continuing uncertainties and community priorities for future research in this area. Talks will be relatively short, with space for a mixture of invited and contributed presentations.

A practical workshop session on the BPASS models and their application to data analysis will run on Thursday 19th for those who wish to stay.

Outline:

10.30-11am Registration and Coffee

11-1pm Recent Developments and Discoveries

1pm-2.30pm Lunch and Discussion

2.30-5.30pm Upcoming Facilities and Open Questions.

Day 2 – Practical workshop and masterclass on the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis (BPASS) model and its implementation. Pre-registration is essential. Attendees are responsible for organising their own overnight accommodation and meals on the second day. Participants should bring their own laptops. Provisional time: 10.00-3.30pm. Content: Technical introduction to BPASS input physics, algorithms and outputs, Tutorial exercises/practical session for participants, “Hack-day” session working on participants’ own projects