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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

The luminosity function for stars with minus 0.6 less than or equal to M (sub nu) less than or equal to 6.5 in the globular cluster M30: Is there a problem with stellar evolution models?

The V band luminosity function (LF) for stars ranging from the tip of the giant branch to approximately 2.5 mag fainter than the main-sequence turnoff (MSTO) in M30 (=NGC 7099, GC 2137-234) is derived from CCD observations. Comparison with the theoretical LFs of Bergbusch & VandenBerg (1992) for (M/H) = -2, 16 Gyr models shows discrepancies which can be described either of two ways: (1) If the observations are normalized to the models over a few magnitudes fainter than the MSTO, then there is an excess (N (sub obs) greater than N(sub predicted)) of subgiant stars within 0.5 mag of the MSTO at the level of 4.8 sigma and an excess of stars (approximately 20%) compared to the models all along the giant branch. (2) If the normalization is made to match predicted and observed numbers of stars on the giant branch, then there is a discrepancy between models and observations in the sense that there is a broad depression in the observed LF fainter than the MSTO that is not present in the models. Consideration of LFs generated from 12 Gyr models or models adjusted to a shorter (m - M)(sub nu) = 14.5) distance modulus diminishes the magnitude of some of these discrepancies but introduces other mismatches between the observations and models. LFs constructed from stellar models that have 10% of the stellar mass in an isothermal core qualitatively match the observations better than the 'standard' models.

Bolte, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mapping the Outcomes of Stellar Evolution in the Disks of Active Galactic Nuclei

The disks of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are expected to be populated by numerous stars, either formed in the outer regions of the disk via gravitational instability or captured from the nearby nuclear star cluster. Regardless of their formation mechanism, these stars experience altered evolutionary paths, mostly shaped by the accretion of dense disk material. In this study, through the comparison of different timescales, we chart the evolutionary outcomes of these AGN stars as a function of disk radius and across a range of supermassive black hole masses, spanning from 10 6 to 10 9 M ⊙ , for two popular AGN disk models. We find that in the outer regions of the disk, stars evolve similarly to those in the interstellar medium, but in the inner and denser regions, accretion quickly turns low-mass stars into massive stars, and their fate depends on just how quickly they accrete. If accretion occurs at a faster rate than nuclear burning, they can reach a quasi-steady "immortal" state. If stars accrete faster than they can thermally adjust, runaway accretion occurs, potentially preventing a quasi-steady state and altering the disk structure. During the AGN lifetime, in the regions of the disk that produce massive stars, supernovae (SNe) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) may occur within the disk over a wide range of optical depths and ambient densities. Subsequently, in the final phase of the AGN, as the disk becomes depleted, formerly immortal stars will be unable to replenish their fuel, leading to additional SNe and GRBs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1961

NEUTRINO EMISSION PROCESSES, STELLAR EVOLUTION AND SUPERNOVA. PART II.

When the internal temperature of a star exceeds 1 BK (109 °K) the evolution is very rapid. The time scale is around 3000 years. Energy dissipated by emission of neutrinos is several orders of magnitude higher than that by optical radiation. Neutrinos have exceedingly long mean free path (∼10(exp 20) gram/cm(exp 2)) and they will escape as soon as they are produced. The star will contract to release gravitational energy to make up the energy lost to neutrinos and the internal temperature will rise to comply with the virial theorem. It is possible in this fast evolutionary phase, to neglect optical radiations all together as compared with the neutrino radiation. A set of structural equations is thus obtained. The envelope is replaced by boundary conditions. A simple model is constructed to illustrate our approach.

Star↗
NASA NTRS1971

Quantitative results of stellar evolution and pulsation theories.

The discrepancy between the masses of Cepheid variables deduced from evolution theory and pulsation theory is examined. The effect of input physics on evolutionary tracks is first discussed; in particular, changes in the opacity are considered. The sensitivity of pulsation masses to opacity changes and to the ascribed values of luminosity and effective temperature are then analyzed. The Cepheid mass discrepancy is discussed in the light of the results already obtained. Other astronomical evidence, including the mass-luminosity relation for main sequence stars, the solar neutrino flux, and cluster ages are also considered in an attempt to determine the most likely source of error in the event that substantial mass loss has not occurred.

Fricke, K.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Stellar evolution of high mass based on the Ledoux criterion for convection

Theoretical evolutionary sequences of models for stars of 15 and 30 solar masses were computed from the zero-age main sequence to the end of core helium burning. During the earliest stages of core helium depletion, the envelope rapidly expands into the red-supergiant configuration. At 15 solar mass, a blue loop on the H-R diagram ensues if the initial metals abundance, initial helium abundance, or C-12 + alpha particle reaction rate is sufficiently large, or if the 3-alpha reaction rate is sufficiently small. These quantities affect the opacity of the base of the outer convection zone, the mass of the core, and the thermal properties of the core. The blue loop occurs abruptly and fully developed when the critical value of any of these quantities is exceeded, and the effective temperature range and fraction of the lifetime of core helium burning during the slow phase of the blue loop vary surprisingly little. At 30 solar mass no blue loop occurs for any reasonable set of input parameters.

Stothers, R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Stellar evolution and pulsars.

It has been found that pulsars are rotating magnetic neutron stars, which are created during catastrophic collapses of old stars whose nuclear fuel has long since been used up. The maximum size of pulsars, based on the fastest rotation period of 33 msec, cannot exceed 100 km. The densest star the theory predicts is the neutron star. Its diameter is only 10 km. The processes producing radiation from pulsars are discussed, giving attention to a process similar to that by which a klystron operates and to a process based on a maser mechanism.

Chiu, H.-Y.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Stellar evolution at high mass with semiconvective mixing according to the Ledoux criterion

The effects of semiconvective mixing are investigated in evolutionary sequences of models for stars of 10, 15, and 30 solar masses with four different initial chemical compositions. The models are constructed using the Ledoux criterion for both the definition of convective instability and the state of convective neutrality assumed to be attained in regions with a gradient of mean molecular weight. It is shown that semiconvection is nonexistent at 10 solar masses, of minor importance at 15 solar masses, but covers most of the intermediate zone at 30 solar masses, developing into full convection if the initial hydrogen and metals abundances are high. The effects of low initial hydrogen and metals abundances are examined, and the critical importance is demonstrated of the depths of the semiconvective zone and the outer convective envelope in promoting a blue loop and determining the maximum effective temperature on the loop. The extent of the thermally stable stages of the blue-loop phase is determined.

Stothers, R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Stellar evolution from the zero-age main sequence

A consistent set of 247 evolutionary sequences extending from the ZAMS to the red-giant branch is presented for Y from 0.10 to 0.40, Z from 0.00001 to 0.10, and masses of 0.55 to 6.90 solar masses. Each sequence is started from a homogeneous ZAMS model, and almost all are evolved to the base of the red-giant branch. It is shown that: (1) the relative position of the main sequence can be determined as a function of composition; (2) theoretical luminosity functions can be derived from the relative evolutionary time scales; (3) a dip in luminosity sometimes occurs at the base of the red-giant branch and is most pronounced at larger Z values; (4) metal-poor stars evolve farther up along the main sequence before turning off toward the red-giant branch; and (5) the onset of helium burning halts the evolution across the Hertzsprung gap for the most massive and most metal-poor models, so that the star remains blue during its phase of core-helium burning.

Mengel, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Planetary nebulae and stellar evolution

Newly defined characteristics of planetary nebulae (PN) derived from analysis of a photometric survey of 57 PN are reported. The data were combined with measurements of 27 other PN made since 1918 and were found to indicate core masses ranging from 0.55-1.0 solar mass. N/O elemental abundance ratios observed were correlated with the planetary nuclei masses, and were in direct proportion. IUE data on PN that overlapped a large part of the survey indicated that the PN in the galactic disk are more massive than PN in the halo. It is suggested that PN evolve into white dwarfs, a hypothesis supported by astrometric solutions for three nearby visual binaries featuring white dwarfs with well-determined masses. It is noted, however, that PN with masses exceeding one solar mass have been sighted in the Magellanic Clouds.

Maran, S. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Primordial stellar evolution - The protostar phase

The structure and evolution of a protostar forming from a cloud composed of pure hydrogen and helium gas are calculated. Using an accretion rate of 0.0044 solar mass/yr, the collapse of the cloud is followed numerically as a sequence of steady state accretion flows onto the hydrostatic core, which grows from an initial mass of 0.01 solar mass to 10.5 solar masses. The core is surrounded by an optically thick radiative precursor for most of its evolution. The core radius reaches 47 solar radii when the mass is 1 solar mass. For sufficiently massive cores, the deep interior contracts strongly, driving out a 'luminosity wave' which reaches the surface when the mass is 8 solar masses. This results in a large increase in core radius, the establishment of surface convection, and the disappearance of the radiative precursor. The dependence of core radius on the mass and accretion rate is analytically derived, and a new table or Rosseland mean opacities for metal-free gas is presented.

Stahler, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Primordial stellar evolution - The pre-main-sequence phase

The quasi-static contraction of primordial stars composed of pure hydrogen and helium gas is studied by following numerically the evolution of a star of five solar masses from the end of protostellar accretion to the onset of hydrogen burning. Although the protostellar core of this mass is radiatively stable and undergoing nonhomologous contraction, its large surface area and luminosity force the star to a partially convective, homologously contracting state within only 100 yr. Deuterium later ignites at an off-center temperature maximum but fails to produce interior convection. The star follows a conventional premain sequence track in the HR diagram, reaching the ZAMS after 1.2 million yr, with a luminosity of 880 solar luminosities and a radius of 1.2 solar radii.

Stahler, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The core mass-radius relation for giants - A new test of stellar evolution theory

It is demonstrated here that the measurable properties of systems containing degenerate dwarfs can be used as a direct test of the core mass-radius relation for moderate-mass giants if the final stages of the loss of the envelope of the progenitor giant occurred via stable critical lobe overflow. This relation directly probes the internal structure of stars at a relatively advanced evolutionary state and is only modestly influenced by adjustable parameters. The measured properties of six binary systems, including such diverse systems as Sirius and Procyon and two millisecond pulsars, are utilized to derive constraints on the empirical core mass-radius relation, and the constraints are compared to the theoretical relation. The possibility that the final stages of envelope ejection of the giant progenitor of Sirius B occurred via critical lobe overflow in historical times is considered.

Joss, P. C.↗