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At least 235 records · Page 13

CARBON-RICH PRESOLAR GRAINS FROM MASSIVE STARS: SUBSOLAR {sup 12}C/{sup 13}C AND {sup 14}N/{sup 15}N RATIOS AND THE MYSTERY OF {sup 15}N

Carbon-rich grains with isotopic anomalies compared to the Sun are found in primitive meteorites. They were made by stars, and carry the original stellar nucleosynthesis signature. Silicon carbide grains of Type X and C and low-density (LD) graphites condensed in the ejecta of core-collapse supernovae. We present a new set of models for the explosive He shell and compare them with the grains showing {sup 12}C/{sup 13}C and {sup 14}N/{sup 15}N ratios lower than solar. In the stellar progenitor H was ingested into the He shell and not fully destroyed before the explosion. Different explosion energies and H concentrations are considered. If the supernova shock hits the He-shell region with some H still present, the models can reproduce the C and N isotopic signatures in C-rich grains. Hot-CNO cycle isotopic signatures are obtained, including a large production of {sup 13}C and {sup 15}N. The short-lived radionuclides {sup 22}Na and {sup 26}Al are increased by orders of magnitude. The production of radiogenic {sup 22}Ne from the decay of {sup 22}Na in the He shell might solve the puzzle of the Ne-E(L) component in LD graphite grains. This scenario is attractive for the SiC grains of type AB with {sup 14}N/{sup 15}N ratios lower than solar, and provides an alternative solution for SiC grains originally classified as nova grains. Finally, this process may contribute to the production of {sup 14}N and {sup 15}N in the Galaxy, helping to produce the {sup 14}N/{sup 15}N ratio in the solar system.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The development of explosions in axisymmetric ab initio core-collapse supernova simulations of 12–25 M{sub ⊙} STARS

We present four ab initio axisymmetric core-collapse supernova simulations initiated from 12, 15, 20, and 25 M{sub ⊙} zero-age main sequence progenitors. All of the simulations yield explosions and have been evolved for at least 1.2 s after core bounce and 1 s after material first becomes unbound. These simulations were computed with our Chimera code employing RbR spectral neutrino transport, special and general relativistic transport effects, and state-of-the-art neutrino interactions. Continuing the evolution beyond 1 s after core bounce allows the explosions to develop more fully and the processes involved in powering the explosions to become more clearly evident. We compute explosion energy estimates, including the negative gravitational binding energy of the stellar envelope outside the expanding shock, of 0.34, 0.88, 0.38, and 0.70 Bethe (B ≡ 10{sup 51} erg) and increasing at 0.03, 0.15, 0.19, and 0.52 B s{sup −1}, respectively, for the 12, 15, 20, and 25 M{sub ⊙} models at the endpoint of this report. We examine the growth of the explosion energy in our models through detailed analyses of the energy sources and flows. We discuss how the explosion energies may be subject to stochastic variations as exemplfied by the effect of the explosion geometry of the 20 M{sub ⊙} model in reducing its explosion energy. We compute the proto-neutron star masses and kick velocities. We compare our results for the explosion energies and ejected {sup 56}Ni masses against some observational standards despite the large error bars in both models and observations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

PTF1 J082340.04+081936.5: a hot subdwarf B star with a low-mass white dwarf companion in an 87-minute orbit

We present the discovery of the hot subdwarf B star (sdB) binary PTF1 J082340.04+081936.5. The system has an orbital period of P{sub orb} = 87.49668(1) minutes (0.060761584(10) days), making it the second-most compact sdB binary known. The light curve shows ellipsoidal variations. Under the assumption that the sdB primary is synchronized with the orbit, we find a mass of M{sub sdB}=0.45{sub −0.07}{sup +0.09} M{sub ⊙}, a companion white dwarf mass of M{sub WD}=0.46{sub −0.09}{sup +0.12} M{sub ⊙}, and a mass ratio of q=((M{sub WD})/(M{sub sdB}))=1.03{sub −0.08}{sup +0.10}. The future evolution was calculated using the MESA stellar evolution code. Adopting a canonical sdB mass of M{sub sdB}=0.47 M{sub ⊙}, we find that the sdB still burns helium at the time it will fill its Roche lobe if the orbital period was less than 106 minutes at the exit from the last common envelope (CE) phase. For longer CE exit periods, the sdB will have stopped burning helium and turned into a C/O white dwarf at the time of contact. Comparing the spectroscopically derived logg and T{sub eff} with our MESA models, we find that an sdB model with a hydrogen envelope mass of 5×10{sup −4} M{sub ⊙} matches the measurements at a post-CE age of 94 Myr, corresponding to a post-CE orbital period of 109 minutes, which is close to the limit to start accretion while the sdB is still burning helium.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Extended Gamma-Ray Emission from the G25.0+0.0 Region: A Star-forming Region Powered by the Newly Found OB Association?

We report a study of extended γ -ray emission with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope , which is likely to be the second case of a γ -ray detection from a star-forming region (SFR) in our Galaxy. The LAT source is located in the G25 region, 1.°7 × 2.°1 around ( l , b ) = (25.°0, 0.°0). The γ -ray emission is found to be composed of two extended sources and one pointlike source. The extended sources have similar sizes of about 1.°4 × 0.°6. An ∼0.°4 diameter subregion of one has a photon index of Γ = 1.53 ± 0.15, and is spatially coincident with HESS J1837−069, likely a pulsar wind nebula. The other parts of the extended sources have a photon index of Γ = 2.1 ± 0.2 without significant spectral curvature. Given their spatial and spectral properties, they have no clear associations with sources at other wavelengths. Their γ -ray properties are similar to those of the Cygnus cocoon SFR, the only firmly established γ -ray detection of an SFR in the Galaxy. Indeed, we find bubble-like structures of atomic and molecular gas in G25, which may be created by a putative OB association/cluster. The γ -ray emitting regions appear confined in the bubble-like structure; similar properties are also found in the Cygnus cocoon. In addition, using observations with the XMM-Newton , we find a candidate young massive OB association/cluster G25.18+0.26 in the G25 region. We propose that the extended γ -ray emission in G25 is associated with an SFR driven by G25.18+0.26. Based on this scenario, we discuss possible acceleration processes in the SFR and compare them with the Cygnus cocoon.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Diluted axion star collisions with neutron stars

Diluted axion star, a self-gravitating object with the quantum pressure balancing gravity, has been predicted in many models with a QCD axion or axion-like particle. It can be formed in the early universe and composes a sizable fraction of dark matter. One could detect the transient radio signals when it passes by a magnetar with the axion particle converted into photon in the magnetic field. Using both numerical and semi-analytic approaches, we simulate the axion star's dynamic evolution and estimate the fraction of axion particles that can have a resonance conversion during such a collision event. We have found that both self-gravity and quantum pressure are not important after the diluted axion star enters the Roche radius. A free-fall approximate can capture individual particle trajectories very well. Finally, with some optimistic cosmological and astrophysical assumptions, the QCD axion parameter space can be probed from detecting such a collision event by radio telescopes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Shedding far-ultraviolet light on the donor star and evolutionary state of the neutron-star LMXB Swift J1858.6−0814

ABSTRACT The evolution of accreting X-ray binary systems is closely coupled to the properties of their donor stars. Consequently, we can constrain the evolutionary track a system is by establishing the nature of its donor. Here, we present far-ultraviolet (far-UV) spectroscopy of the transient neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary J1858 in different accretion states (low-hard, high-hard, and soft). All of these spectra exhibit anomalous N v, C iv, Si iv, and He ii lines, suggesting that its donor star has undergone CNO processing. We also determine the donor’s effective temperature, Td ≃ 5700 K, and radius, Rd ≃ 1.7 R⊙, based on photometric observations obtained during quiescence. Lastly, we leverage the transient nature of the system to set an upper limit of $\dot{M}_{\rm acc} \lesssim 10^{-8.5}~{\rm M}_{\odot }~\mathrm{ yr}^{-1}$ on the present-day mass-transfer rate. Combining these with the orbital period of the system, Porb = 21.3 h, we search for viable evolution paths. The initial donor masses in the allowed solutions span the range 1 M⊙ ≲ Md,i ≲ 3.5 M⊙. All but the lowest masses in this range are consistent with the strong CNO-processing signature in the UV line ratios. The present-day donor mass in the permitted tracks are 0.5 M⊙ ≲ Md,obs ≲ 1.3 M⊙, higher than suggested by eclipse modelling. Since Porb is close to the so-called bifurcation period, both converging and diverging binary tracks are permitted. If the former is confirmed, J1858 will end its life as an ultracompact system with a substellar donor.

Castro Segura, N. (ORCID:0000000258700443)↗

Extracting nuclear symmetry energies at high densities from observations of neutron stars and gravitational waves

By numerically inverting the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov (TOV) equation using an explicitly isospin-dependent parametric Equation of State (EOS) of dense neutron-rich nucleonic matter, a restricted EOS parameter space is established using observational constraints on the radius, maximum mass, tidal deformability and causality condition of neutron stars (NSs). The constraining band obtained for the pressure as a function of energy (baryon) density is in good agreement with that extracted recently by the LIGO+Virgo Collaborations from their improved analyses of the NS tidal deformability in GW170817. Rather robust upper and lower boundaries on nuclear symmetry energies are extracted from the observational constraints up to about twice the saturation density ρ 0 of nuclear matter. More quantitatively, the symmetry energy at 2ρ 0 is constrained to E sym (2ρ 0 )=46.9±10.1 E sym (2ρ 0 ) = 46.9 ± 10.1 MeV excluding many existing theoretical predictions scattered between E sym (2ρ 0 )=15 and 100 MeV. Moreover, by studying variations of the causality surface where the speed of sound equals that of light at central densities of the most massive neutron stars within the restricted EOS parameter space, the absolutely maximum mass of neutron stars is found to be 2.40 M ⊙ approximately independent of the EOSs used. Finally, this limiting mass is consistent with findings of several recent analyses and numerical general relativity simulations about the maximum mass of the possible super-massive remanent produced in the immediate aftermath of GW170817. deformability.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Structure of the star field in the direction of the cluster NGC 6913. 2: Spatial distribution of stars

The space density function for the stars was determined in the Mikly Way field around NGC 6913 in the direction l = 76.9 deg, b = + 0.6 deg (along the local spiral arm toward Cygnus) by means of BV-photometry and spectral classification. O-B3 stars are concentrated at distances of 1 - 2 kpc, the density shows maximum at a distance of 1.6 kpc. There are also concentrations of O-B3 stars at distances of 1.9 and 2.5 kpc. The density for classes AV - FV shows maximum between 400 and 500 pc.

Kolesnik, L. N.↗

The evolution of rotating stars. 1: Method and exploratory calculations for a 7 solar mass star

A method was developed which allows us to study the evolution of rotating stars beyond the main sequence stage. Four different cases of redistribution of angular momentum in an evolving star are considered. Evolutionary sequences for a 7 solar mass star, rotating according to these different cases, were computed from the ZAMS to the double shell source stage. Each sequence was begun with a (typical) equatorial velocity of 210 km/sec. On the main sequence, the effects of rotation are of minor importance. As the core contracts during later stages, important effects arise in all physically plausible cases. The outer regions of the cores approach critical velocities and develop unstable angular velocity distributions. The effects of these instabilities should significantly alter the subsequent evolution.

Endal, A. S.↗

The evolution of rotating stars. I - Method and exploratory calculations for a 7-solar-mass star

A method is developed which allows the evolution of rotating stars to be studied well beyond the main-sequence stage. Four different cases of redistribution of angular momentum in an evolving star are considered. Evolutionary sequences for a 7-solar-mass star, rotating according to these different cases, were computed from the zero-age main-sequence to the double-shell-source stage. Each sequence was begun with a (typical) equatorial rotational velocity of 210 km/s. On the main sequence, the effects of rotation are of minor importance. However, as the core contracts during later stages, important effects arise in all physically plausible cases. The outer regions of the cores approach critical velocities and develop unstable angular-velocity distributions. The effects of these instabilities should significantly alter the subsequent evolution.

Endal, A. S.↗

Multiple scattering in reflection nebulae. I - A Monte Carlo approach. II - Uniform plane-parallel nebulae with foreground stars. III - Nebulae with embedded illuminating stars

A method for calculating the surface brightness distribution on a plane-parallel reflection nebula of uniform density illuminated by a star located either in front of, behind, or arbitrarily inside the scattering medium is proposed. The Monte Carlo technique is used to find solutions to the radiative transfer problem. The scattering properties of the nebular particles are parameterized by the albedo for single scattering and a three-parameter analytic phase function. Calculations are then presented for the surface brightness distribution across the face of such nebulae with (1) a foreground star and (2) immersed stars. The calculations include the full effects of multiple scattering, are independent of a particular assumed grain material or size distribution, and are applicable to any wavelength region for which observations can be obtained.

Witt, A. N.↗

Circumstellar material around rapidly rotating B stars. I - Nonemission-line stars

Evidence of low-velocity circumstellar material around a number of rapidly rotating nonemission-line B stars is sought. No evidence is found for circumstellar shell lines in any of the stars observed. If circumstellar material is present, then these results place constraints on the physical properties of the envelope. Furthermore, contamination of interstellar line profiles with circumstellar components in rapidly rotating non-Be stars is, in general, negligible.

Oegerle, W. R.↗

X-ray emission from pre-main-sequence stars, molecular clouds and star formation

The pre-main sequence X-ray emitting stars observed in molecular clouds appear to provide the bulk of the ionization. Newly forming stars therefore control the coupling of the magnetic field to the cloud. Since this coupling itself is believed to be responsible for the rate of cloud collapse, it is suggested that there is a natural feedback mechanism, involving observed X-rays, which is capable of regulating molecular cloud evolution and the rate of star formation.

Silk, J.↗

Optical region elemental abundance analyses of B and A stars. V - The normal stars Theta Leonis, Tau Herculis, 14 Cygni, and 5 Aquarii

Abundance analyses using optical region data and fully line-blanketed model atmospheres have been performed for four sharp-lined normal B and A type stars. The microturbulent velocities of all the stars are found to follow the same relation with temperature. Some of the stars studied in this paper are found to have one or two anomalous abundances, such as the zirconium abundance of Theta Leo.

Adelman, S. J.↗

Radial velocities of extreme helium stars and of hot sdO stars

Radial velocities measured from the spectra of nearly all of the extreme helium stars and very hot sdO stars discovered by Drilling (1983) are presented. The radial velocities are plotted against Galactic longitude. The large dispersion in radial velocity for the Galactic plane extreme helium stars, particularly for those which lie in the direction of the Galactic center, indicates that they do not have circular orbits and hence belong to an old population. The dispersion in radial velocity of the sdOs is similar to that of the 'local' planetary nebulae.

Drilling, John S.↗

Einstein Observatory survey of X-ray emission from solar-type stars - The late F and G dwarf stars

Results of a volume-limited X-ray survey of stars of luminosity classes IV and V in the spectral range F7-G9 observed with the Einstein Observatory are presented. Using survival analysis techniques, the stellar X-ray luminosity function in the 0.15-4.0 keV energy band for both single and multiple sources. It is shown that the difference in X-ray luminosity between these two classes of sources is consistent with the superposition of individual components in multiple-component systems, whose X-ray properties are similar to those of the single-component sources. The X-ray emission of the stars in our sample is well correlated with their chromospheric CA II H-K line emission and with their projected equatorial rotational velocity. Comparison of the X-ray luminosity function constructed for the sample of the dG stars of the local population with the corresponding functions derived elsewhere for the Hyades, the Pleiades, and the Orion Ic open cluster confirms that the level of X-ray emission decreases with stellar age.

Maggio, A.↗