Massive binary evolution

Understanding the evolution of massive binaries is essential for understanding many observed classes of stellar systems, ranging from Algols to X-ray binaries, recycled pulsars, double-neutron-star systems and quite possibly gamma-ray burst sources. Here recent progress and some of the main remaining uncertainties are being reviewed, particularly emphasizing stellar mergers and their possible implications for supernovae like SN 1987A, Thorne-Zytkow objects and eta Car-like eruptions. It is shown how binary evolution can affect both the envelope and the core structure of a massive star, explaining - at least in part - the observed diversity of core-collapse supernovae and potentially producing different kick distributions for systems in binaries. Various ideas linking gamma-ray bursts to massive binaries are also being discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.