[Mesa-users] Accretor Overflowing its Roche Lobe in Binary Evolution

[M Sun]

Hi all,

I am thinking about using MESA simulates that a main sequence/RGB star
accretes onto another main sequence star with
binary_both_stars_implicit_mdot. One problem that I could imagine is if the
accretor can be overflowing its Roche Lobe radius during the mass transfer
phase. Then the code will terminate and return as 'accretor photosphere has
reached its Roche Lobe'. Is there a way to keep the evolution ongoing with
the most recent MESA?

Maybe by adjusting the mass transfer rate like the description in Pablo's 2016
paper <http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016A%26A...588A..50M>? My
understanding of the description is when both of the stars close to filling
their Roche Lobe radius, the mass transfer rate decreases exponentially.
Then the accretor has enough time to adjust to reach a new hydrostatic
balance. At the same time, the radius of the accretor shrinks and the code
could keep going. Please let me know if my understanding is correct. Thank
you very much!

cheers,
Meng Sun
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