Merging in the common envelope and the origin of early R-type stars

Abstract

Context. Binary systems experiencing one or two common envelope episodes during the red giant branch or the Hertzsprung gap phases can produce a single star, evolving along the Hayashi track, as a final outcome. Even if these objects are expected to be very common in nature, a proper description of their evolution and physical properties is still missing. Moreover, this scenario (red giant merging scenario) has been invoked as the progenitor systems of early-R stars, by assuming that the physical conditions developed as a consequence of the cores merging could produce the mixing into the convective envelope of fresh carbon that was synthesized during the He-flash.