Advanced binary evolution

Abstract

We discuss recent progress in the modeling and understanding of the mass-transfer process in massive close binary systems and its consequences for their advanced evolution. We then highlight the spin evolution of both binary components and its dependence on accretion, mass loss and internal angular-momentum transport processes. In particular, we consider the influence of an internal magnetic field, which appears to be required on observational and theoretical grounds. We find that while magnetic fields lead to an agreement of predicted with observed rotation frequencies of white dwarfs and neutron stars, accretion does not always lead to rapidly spinning cores - as they are required within the collapsar model for gamma-ray bursts.