Local simulations of common-envelope dynamical inspiral

Impact of rotation, accretion, and stratification

¹ Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Astronomisches Rechen-Institut Mönchhofstr. 12-14 D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
² Heidelberger Institut für Theoretische Studien Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
³ Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Institut für Theoretische Astrophysik Philosophenweg 12 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

^★ Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Received: 11 November 2025
Accepted: 4 January 2026

Abstract

Common envelope evolution is a crucial phase in binary stellar evolution. Current global three-dimensional simulations lack the resolution to capture the small-scale dynamics around the embedded companion, while local wind-tunnel simulations always approximate the companion’s orbital motion as linear rather than as rotation around the center of mass. We investigated how rotation, accretion, and stratification influence small-scale gas dynamics, gravitational drag and lift forces, and the spin-up rate of the companion. We performed three-dimensional local hydrodynamic simulations of a 0.2 M_⊙ compact companion plunging into the envelope of a 2 M_⊙ red giant in a reference frame rotating at the companion’s orbital angular velocity, using the Athena++ code. The presence of stratification generates an inward directed force, which is partially opposed by a rotation-induced outward lift force. Both the resulting inward directed force and the drag force, strongly influenced by stratification, would affect the evolution of the binary separation. We propose revised semi-analytical prescriptions for both drag and lift forces. Without accretion and for sufficiently small gravitational softening radii, a quasi-hydrostatic bubble forms around the companion, while accretion prevents its formation and converts kinetic energy into heat that could contribute to the envelope ejection. Drag and lift forces are only marginally affected by accretion. The companion spin-up rate varies non-monotonically in time, first increasing and then decreasing as it plunges deeper into the envelope. These results motivate future magnetohydrodynamic simulations to investigate how accretion, rotation, and stratification affect magnetic amplification and how magnetic fields, in turn, influence mass and angular momentum accretion rates, as well as the drag and lift force exerted on the companion.