From supernova feedback to Milky Way Black Holes: Using cogsworth to perform self-consistent population synthesis with galactic dynamics

Feedback from massive stars shapes the formation and evolution of galaxies, and is essential for reproducing their observed properties. The vast majority of these massive stars are formed in binaries, yet many parameters within binary stellar evolution remain poorly constrained. One avenue for improving constraints on these parameters is by using positions and kinematics of massive stars. Binary interactions can leave significant imprints on these parameters, ejecting massive stars rapidly from their birth sites. I will present a new code, cogsworth, which combines population synthesis and galactic dynamics self-consistently, providing the theoretical infrastructure necessary to make detailed predictions for the positions and kinematics of many different massive stellar populations.
In this talk, I will demonstrate how one can use cogsworth to make predictions for a range of observable binary products, from massive runaway stars and X-ray binaries, to supernovae and short gamma-ray bursts. I will highlight how cogsworth enables you to plot detailed evolution and orbits of specific binaries, track present-day positions of specific subpopulations and convert intrinsic populations to observables in Gaia. I will show how binary interactions can delay and displace supernova feedback in galaxies. This can reduce the efficiency of feedback close to star-forming regions, and potentially initiate star formation in new areas of the galaxy. I’ll also share some preliminary work on the spatial distribution of black holes in the Milky Way and prospects for constraining binary evolution with microlensed sources.