Multiplicity in 5 Mo Stars
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Abstract
Multiwavelength opportunities have provided important new insights into the properties of binary/ multiple 5 Mo stars. The combination of cool evolved primaries and hot secondaries in Cepheids (geriatric B stars) has yielded detailed information about the distribution of mass ratios. It has also provided a surprisingly high fraction of triple systems. Ground-based radial velocity orbits combined with satellite data from Hubble, FUSE, IUE, and Chandra can provide full information about the systems, including the masses. In particular, X-ray observations can identify low mass companions which are young enough to be physical companions. These multiwavelength observations provide important tests for star formation scenarios including differences between high and low mass results and differences between close and wide binaries.