The 5th International Workshop on AM CVn binaries
Following successful AM CVn workshops in Nijmegen (2005), Cape Town (2008), Warwick (2012), Dallas (2016), and the virtual AMCVn4.5 held in Sept 2022, we are pleased to announce that the Fifth International Workshop on AM CVn binaries will be held at
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium, Northern Ireland, UK, between 5-8th Sept 2023.
Those attending AMCVn5 might be interested to know that the 11th workshop on sdOB stars (sdob11) will be held in Armagh between 11th-15th Sept 2023 (see here for more information).
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Background
AM CVn binaries are interacting binary systems which have orbital periods shorter than ~70 min with both components being degenerate or semi-degenerate stars. They are important because their accretion flows are hydrogen deficient and many of them are likely to be gravitational wave verification sources in the LISA band. Their numbers are sensitive tests of binary evolution models.
Since the Dallas meeting in 2016, Gaia data is providing a more robust determination of their gravitational wave signal. Moreover, new wide area surveys are discovering more systems which are enriching our knowledge of these systems. As the AMCVn4.5 meeting showed, very interesting work is being done using evolutionary models incorporated into platforms such as MESA.
The aim of the workshop is not only to bring together the active community working on AM CVn binaries but also to forge and strengthen links with related topics such as detached compact binaries, gravitational waves, post common-envelope systems, helium rich systems and related theory and modelling.
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Deadlines and Registration
Early-registration: July 16th.Abstract submission (talk/poster): July 16th.Hotel Reservation (Armagh City Hotel discounted rate): July 16th.
You can register here:
You can submit details of a talk/poster you want to present here
Please pay for registration for AMCVn5 here or for AMCVn5+sdOB11 here (please use code CONFAOP23 when paying).
Early-Career Scientists:
Subject to organizers obtaining sufficient external funding, postgraduate students will be eligible for a refund of £100 upon arrival and registration at the conference. More information will be available by May 1st.
Visas and other Authorisations
Participants are responsible for ensuring their own eligibility to enter the UK and, if required, for obtaining the appropriate visa.
The organisers can issue a formal letter of invitation to potential participant that require such a letter for visa or funding purposes. If required, please write to amcvn5@armagh.ac.uk (Subject: amcvn5 invitation) and provide your full name, institute, and contact details.
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Science Programme
Topics include:
– Population characteristics of the currently known systems
– The formation and evolution of double white dwarf binaries and related systems
– AM CVn progenitors and alternative end-products
– Long-term studies including period evolution and variability
– Hydrogen-deficient accretion
– Sub-10min systems
– Donor star evolution
– Connections with CVs, (ultra-compact) XRBs and Type Ia progenitors
– Gravitational Wave emission from compact binaries
– Exploiting upcoming facilities, surveys and missionsThe format will consist of formal presentations during the mornings, with the afternoon consisting of breakout sessions, ending with a general discussion on topics of the day. As with previous workshops, we anticipate that everyone who wishes to present a talk will be able to do so. In addition, there will be space available for posters.
Although we very much hope participants will attend in person, we plan to stream (and record) talks and the discussion at the end of each day. Please indicate on the registration form if you want to attend remotely.
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Social Programme
Plans for the social programme currently include a welcome reception, an Irish night at the Navan fort, ancient seat of the Kings of Ulster, an excursion into the countryside around Armagh including traditional Irish industry, tours of Armagh City and the Armagh Observatory, and the conference dinner. Subject to demand, there will be the possibility of a tour to the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills distillery on Saturday 9 September.
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Venue and Travel
The conference will be held at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium in the cathedral city of Armagh in Northern Ireland. The Observatory was founded in 1790 and boasts the oldest telescope still on its original mounting in the world. Opened in 1968, the Planetarium remains the longest serving public planetarium in the UK and Ireland. Armagh has enormous historical significance as the ancient seat of the kings of Ulster, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, and a major centre of the Georgian renaissance in Ireland. For further information about local places of interest, visit:
https://visitarmagh.com/places-to-explore/
https://discovernorthernireland.com/about-northern-ireland/counties/co-armagh/county-armagh/Armagh is served by three airports:
- Belfast International (BFS)
- Belfast City (BHD)
- Dublin International (DUB)
Travel to Armagh from the airport is via bus, taxi or rented car.
Although there is no train station in Armagh, there is one is in Portadown which is 10 miles from Armagh and is served by trains from Belfast and Dublin.
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Accomodation
A block of 40 rooms has been reserved for the nights of Monday 4 – Friday 8 September at the Armagh City Hotel. The room booking is inclusive of full breakfast, free wifi, use of the leisure club, complimentary car parking, and VAT. To book a room, delegates must contact the hotel’s Central Reservations office on (+44)28 3751 8888 and choose option 1, or email reservations@armaghcityhotel.com. A credit/debit card number will be required to guarantee the booking.
“Armagh Observatory” MUST be quoted at the time to qualify for the discounted rate. Please do not book your room via the hotel website as the discount rate will not be applied.
The block reservation will expire six weeks prior to the conference.
Participants wishing to stay additional nights should book early to avoid disappointment. A very limited number of low-cost rooms is available on the Observatory and Planetarium site. These will be allocated strictly on the basis of financial need. Enquiries and circumstances should be sent to Aileen McKee (aileen.mckee@armagh.ac.uk) before June 11th.
The Visit Armagh webpages offer more recommendations for accommodation, including self-catered options. You may find other options not listed on the above websites from Airbnb and booking.com.
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SOC/LOC
Scientific Organising Committee: Gavin Ramsay (Armagh, UK, Chair), Elme Breedt (Cambridge, UK), Katie Breivik (CITA, Canada), Thomas Kupfer (UCSB, USA), Ashley Ruiter (UNSW, Australia), Danny Steeghs (Warwick, UK), Patrick Woudt (UCT,South Africa)
Local Organising Committee: Marc Sarzi, Heather Alexander, Simon Jeffery, Gavin Ramsay, Sinead Mackle, Laura Scott, Aileen McKee, Ceara Ryan
