Binary life after the AGB - towards a unified picture

Abstract

A unified evolutionary scheme that includes post-AGB systems, barium stars, symbiotics, and related systems, explaining their similarites as well as differences. Can we construct it? We compare these various classes of objects in order to construct a consistent picture. Special attention is given to the comparison of the barium pollution and symbiotic phenomena. Finally, we outline a `transient torus' evolutionary scenario that makes use of the various observational and theoretical hints and aims at explaining the observed characteristics of the relevant systems.

8 pages, 3 figures, uses baltlat5.sty. Invited review, to appear in a special issue of the Baltic Astronomy - the proceedings of "Evolution and chemistry of symbiotic stars, binary post-AGB and related objects" (Wierzba, Poland, 28-30 August 2006). Also available at http://www.astro.ulb.ac.be/Html/ps.html#PRS