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Pulsations in Binary Star Systems

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Dominic BowmanORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).

Abstract

High-precision and long-duration light curves from space telescopes have revolutionized the fields of asteroseismology and binary star systems. In particular, the number of pulsating systems in eclipsing binaries has drastically increased thanks to space-based observations covering almost the entire sky. When combined with multi-epoch spectroscopy, this allows us not only to measure model-independent dynamical masses and radii for thousands of eclipsing binary systems, but also facilitates the powerful synergy of binarity and asteroseismology. Moreover, asteroseismology of pre- and post-interaction binary stars allows the physics of binary evolution to be constrained, including tides, mass transfer, and even mergers. Eclipsing binaries are among the best laboratories for testing stellar structure and evolution theory because we are able to measure their masses and radii independently of models. Combining binary and asteroseismic modeling yields precise constraints on the physical processes at work within stellar interiors, such as rotation and mixing. Pulsating binaries are challenging to study given the plethora of different techniques and physical processes that need to be considered depending on their orbital and physical properties. The impact of tides on the pulsational, stellar structure, and orbital properties of a binary system can be tested through tidal asteroseismology.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Southworth J, Bowman DM

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Year: 2026

Volume: 64

Pages: 223-260

Online publication date: 21/08/2026

Acceptance date: 14/03/2026

ISSN (print): 0066-4146

ISSN (electronic): 1545-4282

Publisher: Annual Reviews

URL: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-astro-120425-015551

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-astro-120425-015551

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