371 research outputs found
The Yale-Potsdam Stellar Isochrones (YaPSI)
We introduce the Yale-Potsdam Stellar Isochrones (YaPSI), a new grid of
stellar evolution tracks and isochrones of solar-scaled composition. In an
effort to improve the Yonsei-Yale database, special emphasis is placed on the
construction of accurate low-mass models (Mstar < 0.6 Msun), and in particular
of their mass-luminosity and mass-radius relations, both crucial in
characterizing exoplanet-host stars and, in turn, their planetary systems. The
YaPSI models cover the mass range 0.15 to 5.0 Msun, densely enough to permit
detailed interpolation in mass, and the metallicity and helium abundance ranges
[Fe/H] = -1.5 to +0.3, and Y = 0.25 to 0.37, specified independently of each
other (i.e., no fixed Delta Y/Delta Z relation is assumed). The evolutionary
tracks are calculated from the pre-main sequence up to the tip of the red giant
branch. The isochrones, with ages between 1 Myr and 20 Gyr, provide UBVRI
colors in the Johnson-Cousins system, and JHK colors in the homogeneized
Bessell & Brett system, derived from two different semi-empirical Teff-color
calibrations from the literature. We also provide utility codes, such as an
isochrone interpolator in age, metallicity, and helium content, and an
interface of the tracks with an open-source Monte Carlo Markov-Chain tool for
the analysis of individual stars. Finally, we present comparisons of the YaPSI
models with the best empirical mass- luminosity and mass-radius relations
available to date, as well as isochrone fitting of well-studied steComment: 17 pages, 14 figures; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Asteroseismology and interferometry of the red giant star epsilon Oph
The GIII red giant star epsilon Oph has been found to exhibit several modes
of oscillation by the MOST mission. We interpret the observed frequencies of
oscillation in terms of theoretical radial p-mode frequencies of stellar
models. Evolutionary models of this star, in both shell H-burning and core
He-burning phases of evolution, are constructed using as constraints a
combination of measurements from classical ground-based observations (for
luminosity, temperature, and chemical composition) and seismic observations
from MOST. Radial frequencies of models in either evolutionary phase can
reproduce the observed frequency spectrum of epsilon Oph almost equally well.
The best-fit models indicate a mass in the range of 1.85 +/- 0.05 Msun with
radius of 10.55 +/- 0.15 Rsun. We also obtain an independent estimate of the
radius of epsilon Oph using high accuracy interferometric observations in the
infrared K' band, using the CHARA/FLUOR instrument. The measured limb darkened
disk angular diameter of epsilon Oph is 2.961 +/- 0.007 mas. Together with the
Hipparcos parallax, this translates into a photospheric radius of 10.39 +/-
0.07 Rsun. The radius obtained from the asteroseismic analysis matches the
interferometric value quite closely even though the radius was not constrained
during the modelling.Comment: 11 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic
Space and Ground Based Pulsation Data of Eta Bootis Explained with Stellar Models Including Turbulence
The space telescope MOST is now providing us with extremely accurate low
frequency p-mode oscillation data for the star Eta Boo. We demonstrate in this
paper that these data, when combined with ground based measurements of the high
frequency p-mode spectrum, can be reproduced with stellar models that include
the effects of turbulence in their outer layers. Without turbulence, the l=0
modes of our models deviate from either the ground based or the space data by
about 1.5-4.0 micro Hz. This discrepancy can be completely removed by including
turbulence in the models and we can exactly match 12 out of 13 MOST frequencies
that we identified as l=0 modes in addition to 13 out of 21 ground based
frequencies within their observational 2 sigma tolerances. The better agreement
between model frequencies and observed ones depends for the most part on the
turbulent kinetic energy which was taken from a 3D convection simulation for
the Sun.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, ApJ in pres
Inclusion of turbulence in solar modeling
The general consensus is that in order to reproduce the observed solar p-mode
oscillation frequencies, turbulence should be included in solar models.
However, until now there has not been any well-tested efficient method to
incorporate turbulence into solar modeling. We present here two methods to
include turbulence in solar modeling within the framework of the mixing length
theory, using the turbulent velocity obtained from numerical simulations of the
highly superadiabatic layer of the sun at three stages of its evolution. The
first approach is to include the turbulent pressure alone, and the second is to
include both the turbulent pressure and the turbulent kinetic energy. The
latter is achieved by introducing two variables: the turbulent kinetic energy
per unit mass, and the effective ratio of specific heats due to the turbulent
perturbation. These are treated as additions to the standard thermodynamic
coordinates (e.g. pressure and temperature). We investigate the effects of both
treatments of turbulence on the structure variables, the adiabatic sound speed,
the structure of the highly superadiabatic layer, and the p-mode frequencies.
We find that the second method reproduces the SAL structure obtained in 3D
simulations, and produces a p-mode frequency correction an order of magnitude
better than the first method.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure
Simulating the outer layers of Procyon A: a comparison with the Sun
Compared to the Sun, the atmospheric structure and convective flow in Procyon
A exhibit the following characteristics: (1) the highly superadiabatic
transition layer (SAL) is located at much shallower optical depth; it is in a
dynamically active region, and its outer region is located part of the time in
the optically thin atmosphere; (2) the outer region of the SAL moves from an
optically thin region to thick region and back again over a time of 20-30
minutes. This motion, which is driven by the granulation, takes place in a time
approximately half the turnover time of the largest granules; The main reason
for the radically different radiative-convective behaviour in Procyon A
compared to the Sun is the role played by turbulent eddies in determining the
overall flow/thermal structure. The turbulent pressure and turbulent kinetic
energy can exceed 50 % of the local gas pressure (compared to about 10-20 % in
the Sun). The Procyon A simulation thus reveals two distinct timescales - the
autocorrelation time of the vertical velocity and the characteristic timescale
of the SAL which is tied to granulation. Just below the surface the
autocorrelation decay time is about 5 minutes in Procyon A, and the SAL motion
timescale is 20-30 mins. When the SAL penetrates the optically thin region
there are efficient radiative losses and the peak of the SAL is low. We
speculate that these losses damp out the relative amplitudes in luminosity
(temperature fluctuations) compared to velocity (Doppler). Although this will
not affect the frequencies of the peaks in the power spectrum, it will probably
lower the average amplitude of the peaks relative to the noise background.Comment: 18 pages 10 figure
A Preliminary Seismic Analysis of 51 Peg: Large and Small Spacings from Standard Models
We present a preliminary theoretical seismic study of the astronomically
famous star 51 Peg. This is done by first performing a detailed analysis within
the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (HRD). Using the Yale stellar evolution code
(YREC), a grid of stellar evolutionary tracks has been constructed for the
masses 1.00 M_sun, 1.05 M_sun and 1.10 M_sun, in the metallicity range
Z=0.024-0.044, and for values of the Galactic helium enrichment ratio DY/DZ in
the range 0-2.5. Along these evolutionary tracks, we select 75 stellar model
candidates that fall within the 51 Peg observational error box in the HRD (all
turn out to have masses of 1.05 M_sun and 1.10 M_sun. The corresponding
allowable age range for these models, which depends sensitively on the
parameters of the model, is relatively large and is ~2.5 - 5.5 Gyr. For each of
the 75 models, a non-radial pulsation analysis is carried out, and the large
and small frequency spacings are calculated. The results show that just
measuring the large and small frequency spacings will greatly reduce the
present uncertainties in the derived physical parameters and in the age of 51
Peg. Finally we discuss briefly refinements in the physics of the models and in
the method of analysis which will have to be included in future models to make
the best of the precise frequency determinations expected from space
observations.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publicaton by Ap
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