171 research outputs found
The Extent and Cause of the Pre-White Dwarf Instability Strip
One of the least understood aspects of white dwarf evolution is the process
by which they are formed. We are aided, however, by the fact that many H- and
He-deficient pre-white dwarfs (PWDs) are multiperiodic g-mode pulsators.
Pulsations in PWDs provide a unique opportunity to probe their interiors, which
are otherwise inaccesible to direct observation. Until now, however, the nature
of the pulsation mechanism, the precise boundaries of the instability strip,
and the mass distribution of the PWDs were complete mysteries. These problems
must be addressed before we can apply knowledge of pulsating PWDs to improve
understanding of white dwarf formation. This paper lays the groundwork for
future theoretical investigations of these stars. In recent years, Whole Earth
Telescope observations led to determination of mass and luminosity for the
majority of the (non-central star) PWD pulsators. With these observations, we
identify the common properties and trends PWDs exhibit as a class. We find that
pulsators of low mass have higher luminosity, suggesting the range of
instability is highly mass-dependent. The observed trend of decreasing periods
with decreasing luminosity matches a decrease in the maximum (standing-wave)
g-mode period across the instability strip. We show that the red edge can be
caused by the lengthening of the driving timescale beyond the maximum
sustainable period. This result is general for ionization-based driving
mechanisms, and it explains the mass-dependence of the red edge. The observed
form of the mass-dependence provides a vital starting point for future
theoretical investigations of the driving mechanism. We also show that the blue
edge probably remains undetected because of selection effects arising from
rapid evolution.Comment: 40 pages, 6 figures, accepted by ApJ Oct 27, 199
First observations of W Virginis stars with K2: detection of period doubling
We present the first analysis of W Vir stars observed by the Kepler space
telescope in the K2 mission. Clear cycle-to-cycle variation were detected in
the light curves of KT Sco and the globular cluster member M80-V1. While the
variations in the former star seems to be irregular on the short time scale of
the K2 data, the latter appears to experience period doubling in its pulsation.
Ground-based colour data confirmed that both stars are W Vir-type pulsators,
while a comparison with historical photometric time-series data revealed
drastic period changes in both stars. For comparison we reexamine ground-based
observations of W Vir, the prototype of the class, and conclude that it shows
period doubling instead of mode beating. These results support the notion that
nonlinear dynamics plays an important role in the pulsation of W Virginis-type
stars.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Analysis of refill curve shape in ultrasound contrast agent studies
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135021/1/mp9534.pd
Extended envelopes around Galactic Cepheids III. Y Oph and alpha Per from near-infrared interferometry with CHARA/FLUOR
Unbiased angular diameter measurements are required for accurate distances to
Cepheids using the interferometric Baade Wesselink method (IBWM). The precision
of this technique is currently limited by interferometric measurements at the
1.5% level. At this level, the center-to-limb darkening (CLD) and the presence
of circumstellar envelopes (CSE) seem to be the two main sources of bias. The
observations we performed aim at improving our knowledge of the interferometric
visibility profile of Cepheids. In particular, we assess the systematic
presence of CSE around Cepheids in order determine accurate distances with the
IBWM free from CSE biased angular diameters. We observed a Cepheid (Y Oph) for
which the pulsation is well resolved and a non-pulsating yellow supergiant
(alpha Per) using long-baseline near-infrared interferometry. We interpreted
these data using a simple CSE model we previously developed. We found that our
observations of alpha Per do not provide evidence for a CSE. The measured CLD
is explained by an hydrostatic photospheric model. Our observations of Y Oph,
when compared to smaller baseline measurements, suggest that it is surrounded
by a CSE with similar characteristics to CSE found previously around other
Cepheids. We have determined the distance to Y Oph to be d=491+/-18 pc.
Additional evidence points toward the conclusion that most Cepheids are
surrounded by faint CSE, detected by near infrared interferometry: after
observing four Cepheids, all show evidence for a CSE. Our CSE non-detection
around a non-pulsating supergiant in the instability strip, alpha Per, provides
confidence in the detection technique and suggests a pulsation driven mass-loss
mechanism for the Cepheids.Comment: accepted for publication in Ap
Seismology of triple-mode classical Cepheids of the Large Magellanic Cloud
We interpret the three periods detected in OGLE LMC Cepheids SC3-360128 and
SC5-338399 as corresponding to the first three overtones of radial pulsations.
This interpretation imposes stringent constraints on parameters of the stars
and on their evolutionary status, which could only be the first crossing of the
instability strip. Evolutionary models reproducing measured periods exist only
in a restricted range of metallicities (Z=0.004-0.007). The models impose an
upper limit on the extent of overshooting from the convective core. Absolute
magnitude of each star is confined to a narrow interval. This allows to derive
a new estimate of the distance to the LMC. We obtain m-M ranging from 18.34mag
to 18.53mag, with a systematic difference between the two stars of about
0.13mag. The rates of period change predicted by the models are formally in
conflict with the derived observational limits, though the uncertainities of
measured dP/dt may be underestimated. If the discrepancy is confirmed, it would
constitute a significant challenge to the stellar evolution theory.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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