arXiv subjects

Joris Vos

Publications and source records attributed to Joris Vos.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

The orbits of subdwarf-B + main-sequence binaries: III. The period - eccentricity distribution

The predicted orbital-period distribution of the subdwarf-B (sdB) population is bi-modal with a peak at short (< 10 days) and long (> 500 days) periods. Observationally, many short-period sdB systems are known, but only few wide sdB binaries have been studied in detail. Based on a long-term monitoring program the wide sdB sample has been increased, finding an unexpected correlation between the eccentricity and period. In this article we present the orbital solution and spectral analysis of four new systems, BD-7.5977, EC11031-1348, TYC2084-448-1 and TYC3871-835-1, and update the orbital solution of PG1104+243. Using the whole sample of wide sdBs, we aim at finding possible correlations between orbital and spectral properties, with as goal improving theoretical models of Roche-lobe overflow. High-resolution spectra were obtained to determine the radial velocities of both the sdB and MS components. Surface gravities and temperatures of both component were derived from photometric spectral-energy distributions. Spectral parameters of the cool companion were verified using the GSSP code. Furthermore the amount of accreted mass was estimated. Orbital parameters matching the earlier observed period-eccentricity relation were found for three systems, while TYC 2084-448-1 is found to have a lower eccentricity than expected from the period-eccentricity trend indicated by the other systems. Based on new observations, the orbit of PG 1104+243 has a small but significant eccentricity of 0.04 $\pm$ 0.02, matching other systems with similar periods. Furthermore, a correlation between accreted mass and orbital period was found, as well as a possible relation between the initial mass-ratio and the final period-eccentricity. The wide sdB-binary sample shows interesting possible correlations between orbital and spectral properties. However, a larger sample is necessary to statistically validate them.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Testing eccentricity pumping mechanisms to model eccentric long period sdB binaries with MESA

Hot subdwarf-B stars in long-period binaries are found to be on eccentric orbits, even though current binary-evolution theory predicts those objects to be circularised before the onset of Roche-lobe overflow (RLOF). We aim to find binary-evolution mechanisms that can explain these eccentric long-period orbits, and reproduce the currently observed period-eccentricity diagram. Three different processes are considered; tidally-enhanced wind mass-loss, phase-dependent RLOF on eccentric orbits and the interaction between a circumbinary disk and the binary. The binary module of the stellar-evolution code MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics) is extended to include the eccentricity-pumping processes. The effects of different input parameters on the final period and eccentricity of a binary-evolution model are tested with MESA. The end products of models with only tidally-enhanced wind mass-loss can indeed be eccentric, but these models need to lose too much mass, and invariably end up with a helium white dwarf that is too light to ignite helium. Within the tested parameter space, no sdBs in eccentric systems are formed. Phase-dependent RLOF can reintroduce eccentricity during RLOF, and could help to populate the short-period part of the period-eccentricity diagram. When phase-dependent RLOF is combined with eccentricity pumping via a circumbinary disk, the higher eccentricities can be reached as well. A remaining problem is that these models favour a distribution of higher eccentricities at lower periods, while the observed systems show the opposite. The models presented here are potentially capable of explaining the period-eccentricity distribution of long-period sdB binaries, but further theoretical work on the physical mechanisms is necessary.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

SD1000 Collaboration: Hunting down the subdwarf populations

Separating the subdwarf populations may shed light on their formation history and give unique insights into the atmospheric processes that are thought to be responsible for their abundance diversity. Such a task requires complex and time consuming spectral analyses, which we started to tailor to our objectives a year ago. Here we report the updates that have been made over the past year and will be the standard method in SD1000.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

KIC 1718290: A Helium-rich V1093-Her-like Pulsator on the Blue Horizontal Branch

We introduce the first g-mode pulsator found to reside on the classical blue horizontal branch. One year of Kepler observations of KIC 1718290 reveals a rich spectrum of low-amplitude modes with periods between one and twelve hours, most of which follow a regular spacing of 276.3 s. This mode structure strongly resembles that of the V1093Her pulsators, with only a slight shift towards longer periods. Our spectroscopy, however, reveals KIC 1718290 to be quite distinct from the sdB stars that show V1093Her pulsations, which all have surface gravities higher than log g = 5.1 and helium abundances depleted by at least an order of magnitude relative to the solar composition. We find that KIC1718290 has T_eff = 22 100K, log g = 4.72, and a super-solar helium abundance (log N(He)/N(H) = -0.45). This places it well above the extreme horizontal branch, and rather on the very blue end of the classical horizontal branch, where shell hydrogen burning is present. We conclude that KIC 1718290 must have suffered extreme mass loss during its first giant stage, but not sufficient to reach the extreme horizontal branch.

astro-ph.SR↗