On Space Velocities of Binary Stars in Which One Component Has Experienced a Supernova Explosion

When one component of an evolved binary loses a significant fraction of its initial mass in a symmetric supernova explosion but remains bound to its companion, the remnant binary recoils with a velocity that can be comparable to the orbital velocity of the supernova precursor. This velocity is enough to explain the observed peculiar space velocities and/or distances from the Galactic plane of most X-ray binaries and binary OB runaway stars. Some exceptions certainly occur, but uncertainties in estimates of velocities and distances, as well as mechanisms other than a popular asymmetric kick, may be responsible for most of the exceptions.

Supported in part by the NSF (US) grant AST94-17156 and the Russian Fund for Fundamental Research.