arXiv subjects

G. Chabrier

Publications and source records attributed to G. Chabrier.

96 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv1998

Equation of state of fully ionized electron-ion plasmas

Thermodynamic quantities of Coulomb plasmas consisting of point-like ions immersed in a compressible, polarizable electron background are calculated for ion charges Z=1 to 26 and for a wide domain of plasma parameters ranging from the Debye-Hueckel limit to the crystallization point and from the region of nondegenerate to fully degenerate nonrelativistic or relativistic electrons. The calculations are based on the linear-response theory for the electron-ion interaction, including the local-field corrections in the electronic dielectric function. The thermodynamic quantities are calculated in the framework of the N-body hypernetted-chain equations and fitted by analytic expressions. We present also accurate analytic approximations for the free energy of the ideal electron gas at arbitrary degeneracy and relativity and for the excess free energy of the one-component plasma of ions (OCP) derived from Monte Carlo simulations. The extension to multi-ionic mixtures is discussed within the framework of the linear mixing rule. These formulae provide a completely analytic, accurate description of the thermodynamic quantities of fully ionized electron-ion Coulomb plasmas, a useful tool for various applications from liquid state theory to dense stellar matter.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv1998

Cepheid models based on self-consistent stellar evolution and pulsation calculations: the right answer?

We have computed stellar evolutionary models for stars in a mass range characteristic of Cepheid variables ($3<m/\Msol<12$) for different metallicities representative of the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds populations. The stellar evolution calculations are coupled to a linear non adiabatic stability analysis to get self-consistent mass-period-luminosity relations. The period - luminosity relation as a function of metallicity is analysed and compared to the recent EROS observations in the Magellanic Clouds. The models reproduce the observed width of the instability strips for the SMC and LMC. We determine a statistical P-L relationship, taking into account the evolutionary timescales and a mass distribution given by a Salpeter mass function. Excellent agreement is found with the SMC PL relationship determined by Sasselov et al. (1997). The models reproduce the change of slope in the P-L relationship near $P\sim 2.5$ days discovered recently by the EROS collaboration (Bauer 1997; Bauer et al. 1998) and thus explain this feature in term of stellar evolution. Some discrepancy, however, remains for the LMC Cepheids. The models are also in good agreement with Beat Cepheids observed by the MACHO and EROS collaborations. We show that most of the 1H/2H Beat Cepheids have not yet ignited central helium burning; they are just evolving off the Main Sequence toward the red giant branch.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

Towards a consistent model of the Galaxy: II. Derivation of the model

We use the calculations derived in a previous paper (Méra, Chabrier and Schaeffer, 1997), based on observational constraints arising from star counts, microlensing experiments and kinematic properties, to determine the amount of dark matter under the form of stellar and sub-stellar objects in the different parts of the Galaxy. This yields the derivation of different mass-models for the Galaxy. In the light of all the afore-mentioned constraints, we discuss two models that correspond to different conclusions about the nature and the location of the Galactic dark matter. In the first model there is a small amount of dark matter in the disk, and a large fraction of the dark matter in the halo is still undetected and likely to be non-baryonic. The second, less conventional model is consistent with entirely, or at least predominantly baryonic dark matter, under the form of brown dwarfs in the disk and white dwarfs in the dark halo. We derive observational predictions for these two models which should be verifiable by near future infrared and microlensing observations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

Towards a consistent model of the Galaxy: I. kinematic properties, star counts and microlensing observations

We examine the most recent observational constraints arising from i) small-scale and large-scale Galactic dynamical properties, ii) star counts at faint magnitude and iii) microlensing experiments. From these constraints, we determine the halo and disk stellar mass functions and stellar content down to the bottom of the main sequence, which yields the normalization of the halo/disk total stellar population, and we infer the contributions of sub-stellar objects to the mass budget of the various Galactic regions. The consistent analysis of star counts and of the overall microlensing observations in the Bulge are compatible with a small contribution of brown dwarfs to the Galactic mass budget $ρ_{BD}/ρ_* \leq 0.2 $. However the separate bulge/disk analysis based on the bulge clump giants is compatible with a substantial population of disk brown dwarfs, $Σ_{BD}/Σ_*\leq 1 $. More statistics of microlensing events towards the Galactic center and a better determination of the velocity dispersions in the bulge should break this degeneracy of solutions. For the halo, we show that a steep mass-function in the dark halo is excluded and that low-mass stars and brown dwarfs represent a negligible fraction of the halo dark matter, and thus of the observed events towards the LMC. The nature of these events remains a puzzle and halo white dwarfs remain the least unlikely candidates.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

Internal temperatures and cooling of neutron stars with accreted envelopes

The relationships between the effective surface (T_e) and internal temperatures of neutron stars (NSs) with and without accreted envelopes are calculated for T_e > 5\times10^4 K using new data on the equation of state and opacities in the outer NS layers. We examine various models of accreted layers (H, He, C, O shells produced by nuclear transformations in accreted matter). We employ new Opacity Library (OPAL) radiative opacities for H, He, and Fe. In the outermost NS layers, we implement the modern OPAL equation of state for Fe, and the Saumon-Chabrier equation of state for H and He. The updated thermal conductivities of degenerate electrons include the Debye-Waller factor for the electron-phonon scattering in solidified matter, while in liquid matter they include the contributions from electron-ion collisions (evaluated with non-Born corrections and with the ion structure factors in responsive electron background) and from the electron-electron collisions. For T_e < 10^{5.5} K, the electron conduction in non-degenerate layers of the envelope becomes important, reducing noticeably the temperature gradient. The accreted matter further decreases this gradient at T_e > 10^5 K. Even a small amount of accreted matter (with mass > 10^{-16} Msun) affects appreciably the NS cooling, leading to higher T_e at the neutrino cooling stage and to lower T_e at the subsequent photon stage.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1995

A Theory of Extrasolar Giant Planets

We present a broad suite of models of extrasolar giant planets (EGP's), ranging in mass from 0.3 to 15 Jupiter masses. The models predict luminosity (both reflected and emitted) as a function of age, mass, deuterium abundance and distance from parent stars of various spectral type. We also explore the effects of helium mass fraction, rotation rate and the presence of a rock-ice core. The models incorporate the most accurate available equation of state for the interior, including a new theory for the enhancement of deuterium fusion by electron screening which is potentially important in these low mass objects. The results of our calculations reveal the enormous sensitivity of EGP's to the presence of the parent star, particularly for G and earlier spectral types. They also show a strong sensitivity of the flux contrast in the mid-infrared between parent star and EGP to the mass and age of the EGP's. We interpret our results in terms of search strategies for ground- and space-based observatories in place or anticipated in the near future.

astro-ph↗