The Sun and the transcendental world of binaries

Abstract

The theory of gravity says that a binary with orbital frequency ν should be a source of gravitational waves at the double frequency and higher harmonics. This implies that long-term exposure of an ensemble of binaries to gravity waves with frequency ν _G can result in (a) a lack of binaries with frequencies near frequency ν _G /2 and its higher harmonics (the effect of unstable orbits) and/or (b) an excess of binaries whose orbital frequencies are “absolutely” incommensurable with ν _G /2 and its higher harmonics (the effect of stable orbits). It is assumed that the stable-orbit frequencies are almost equal to multiples of πν _G /2 and ν _G /2π, where π plays the role of a “perfect” factor ensuring the best antiresonance of binaries. The statistical analysis of frequencies of 5774 Galactic close binary systems (CBSs) with periods P less than 10 days is based on calculating the resonance spectrum that indicates the best common multiple for a given set of frequencies with allowance for the factor π. The CBS distribution turns out to be modulated by the frequency ν _G = 104.4(5) μHz, and this effect is the most pronounced for superfast and compact rotators, such as cataclysmic variables (CVs) and related objects. The frequency ν _G is, within the error, equal to the “enigmatic” frequency ν₀ = 104.160(1) μHz com discovered earlier in the power spectra of the Sun and brightness variations of some extragalactic sources. This confirms the existence of a “coherent cosmic oscillation” of the Universe with frequency ν₀(ν _G ). The new astrophysical phenomenon naturally explains an “CV period gap” at frequencies ≈πν _G /3 (P ≈ 153 min) and maxima at the neighboring frequencies ≈πν _G /2 and ≈πν _G /4 (P ≈ 102 and ≈204 min, respectively). The remarkable and “mysterious” role of the transcendental number π for the world of binaries is emphasized, and the mystery of physical nature of the “universal” oscillation ν₀(ν _G ) is highlighted.