A state-of-the-art understanding of the physics and evolution of close binary stars is briefly reviewed. The review is based, on the one hand, on numerical simulation of the evolution of their components and the processes that accompany that evolution and, on the other hand, on the entire set of observational information in all ranges of electromagnetic and gravitation-wave radiation. These concepts underlie modern astrophysics, the most extensive laboratory, wherein the properties of matter in the Universe and the Universe itself are explored. We present the modern picture of the evolution of close binary stars, the development of which has been driving to a significant extent progress on the concepts of physics and evolution of astronomical objects for the last 50 years.

Keywords: binary starts, observational data, theoretical models, explosive processes, evolution, neutron stars, degenerate dwarfs, black holes, gravitational waves PACS: 95.85.Sz, 97.60.−s, 97.80.−d (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2019.03.038547 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2020/3/a/ 000537856300001 2-s2.0-85086635083 2020PhyU...63..209T Citation: Tutukov A V, Cherepashchuk A M "Evolution of close binary stars: theory and observations" Phys. Usp. 63 209–244 (2020) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 25th, January 2019, revised: 7th, March 2019, accepted: 20th, March 2019 Оригинал: Тутуков А В, Черепащук А М «Эволюция тесных двойных звёзд: теория и наблюдения» УФН 190 225–263 (2020); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2019.03.038547