Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Leandro G. Althaus

Publications and source records attributed to Leandro G. Althaus.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Pulsational instabilities driven by the $ε$ mechanism in hot pre-horizontal branch stars I. The Hot-Flasher Scenario

The $ε$ mechanism is a self-excitation mechanism of stellar pulsations which acts in regions inside the star where nuclear burning takes place. It has been shown that the $ε$ mechanism can excite pulsations in models of hot pre-horizontal branch stars, and that the shortest periods of LS IV-14$^{\circ}$116 could be explained that way. We aim to study the $ε$ mechanism in stellar models appropriate for hot pre-horizontal branch stars to predict their pulsational properties and the instability domain in the $\log g-\log T_{\rm eff}$ plane. We perform detailed computations of non-adiabatic non-radial pulsations on stellar models during the helium subflashes just before the helium-core burning phase. We find an instability domain of long-period gravity modes due to the $ε$ mechanism in the $\log g-\log T_{\rm eff}$ plane at roughly $22000\,{\rm K} \lesssim T_{\rm eff}\lesssim 50000\,$K and $4.67 \lesssim \log g \lesssim 6.15$. Consequently, we find instabilities due to the $ε$ mechanism on pre-extreme horizontal branch stellar models ($T_{\rm eff}\gtrsim 22000\,$K), but not on pre-blue horizontal branch stellar models ($T_{\rm eff}\lesssim 21000\,$K). The periods of excited modes range between $\sim 200$ and $\sim2000\,$s. Comparison with the three known pulsating He-rich subdwarfs shows that $ε$ mechanism can excite gravity modes in stars with similar surface properties, but in our models it is only able to excite modes in the range of the shortest observed periods. We predict a new instability strip for hot-subdwarf stars of which LS IV-14$^{\circ}$116 could be the first inhabitant. Based on simple estimates we expect 1 to 10 stars in the current samples of hot-subdwarf stars to be pulsating by the $ε$ mechanism. Our results could constitute a theoretical basis for future searches of pulsators in the Galactic field.

astro-ph.SR↗

Pulsating low-mass white dwarfs in the frame of new evolutionary sequences: V. Asteroseismology of ELMV white dwarf stars

Many pulsating low-mass white-dwarf stars have been detected in the last years in the field of our Galaxy. Given that some of them exhibit multiperiodic variation of brightness, it is possible to probe their interiors through asteroseismology. We present a detailed asteroseismological study of all the known low-mass variable white dwarf stars based on a complete set of fully evolutionary models representative of low-mass He-core white dwarf stars. We employed adiabatic radial and nonradial pulsation periods for low-mass white dwarf models with stellar masses ranging from $0.1554$ to $0.4352\ M_{\odot}$, that were derived by simulating the nonconservative evolution of a binary system consisting of an initially $1 M_{\odot}$ ZAMS star and a $1.4 M_{\odot}$ neutron star companion. We estimated the mean period spacing for the stars under study and then we used the comparison between the observed period spacing with the average of the computed period spacings for our grid of models to constrain the stellar mass. We also employed the individual observed periods of every known pulsating low-mass white dwarf star, to search for a representative seismological model. We found that even though the stars under analysis exhibit few periods and the period fits show multiplicity of solutions, it is possible to find seismological models whose mass and effective temperature are in agreement with the values given by spectroscopy, for most of the cases. In the two cases where we could extract the period spacing from the set of observed periods, this method led to values of the stellar masses substantially larger than expected for this type of stars. The results presented in this work show in the one hand, the need for further photometric searches, and on the other hand, some improvements of the theoretical models, in order to place the asteroseismological results on a firmer ground.

astro-ph.SR↗

Evolutionary sequences for hydrogen-deficient white dwarfs

We present a set of full evolutionary sequences for white dwarfs with hydrogen-deficient atmospheres. We take into account the evolutionary history of the progenitor stars, all the relevant energy sources involved in the cooling, element diffusion in the very outer layers, and outer boundary conditions provided by new and detailed non-gray white dwarf model atmospheres for pure helium composition. These model atmospheres are based on the most up-to-date physical inputs. Our calculations extend down to very low effective temperatures, of $\sim 2\,500$~K, provide a homogeneous set of evolutionary cooling tracks that are appropriate for mass and age determinations of old hydrogen-deficient white dwarfs, and represent a clear improvement over previous efforts, which were computed using gray atmospheres.

astro-ph.SR↗

Pulsating low-mass white dwarfs in the frame of new evolutionary sequences: IV. The secular rate of period change

We present a theoretical assessment of the expected temporal rates of change of periods ($\dotΠ$) for low-mass ($M_{\star}/M_{\sun} \lesssim 0.45$) and extremely low-mass (ELM, $M_{\star}/M_{\sun} \lesssim 0.18-0.20$) white-dwarf stars, based on fully evolutionary low-mass He-core white dwarf and pre-white dwarf models. Our analysis is based on a large set of adiabatic periods of radial and nonradial pulsation modes computed on a suite of low-mass He-core white dwarf and pre-white dwarf models with masses ranging from $0.1554$ to $0.4352 M_{\sun}$. We compute the secular rates of period change of radial ($\ell= 0$) and nonradial ($\ell= 1, 2$) $g$ and $p$ modes for stellar models representative of ELMV and pre-ELMV stars, as well as for stellar objects that are evolving just before the occurrence of CNO flashes at the early cooling branches. We found that the theoretically expected magnitude of $\dotΠ$ of $g$ modes for pre-ELMVs are by far larger than for ELMVs. In turn, $\dotΠ$ of $g$ modes for models evolving before the occurrence of CNO flashes are larger than the maximum values of the rates of period change predicted for pre-ELMV stars. Regarding $p$ and radial modes, we found that the larger absolute values of $\dotΠ$ correspond to pre-ELMV models. We conclude that any eventual measurement of a rate of period change for a given pulsating low-mass pre-white dwarf or white dwarf star could shed light about its evolutionary status. Also, in view of the systematic difficulties in the spectroscopic classification of stars of the ELM Survey, an eventual measurement of $\dotΠ$ could help to confirm that a given pulsating star is an authentic low-mass white dwarf and not a star from another stellar population.

astro-ph.SR↗

Asteroseismology of ZZ Ceti stars with fully evolutionary white dwarf models: I. The impact of the uncertainties from prior evolution on the period spectrum

ZZ Ceti stars are pulsating white dwarfs with a carbon-oxygen core build up during the core helium burning and thermally pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch phases. Through the interpretation of their pulsation periods by means of asteroseismology, details about their origin and evolution can be inferred. The whole pulsation spectrum exhibited by ZZ Ceti stars strongly depends on the inner chemical structure. At present, there are several processes affecting the chemical profiles that are still not accurately determined. We present a study of the impact of the current uncertainties of the white dwarf formation and evolution on the expected pulsation properties of ZZ Ceti stars. Our analysis is based on a set of carbon-oxygen core white dwarf models with masses $0.548$ and $0.837 M_{\sun}$ derived from full evolutionary computations from the ZAMS to the ZZ Ceti domain. We have considered models in which we varied the number of thermal pulses, the amount of overshooting, and the $^{12}$C$(α,γ)^{16}$O reaction rate within their uncertainties. We explore the impact of these major uncertainties in prior evolution on the chemical structure and the expected pulsation spectrum. We find that these uncertainties yield significant changes in the $g$-mode pulsation periods. We conclude that the uncertainties in the white dwarf progenitor evolution should be be taken into account in detailed asterseismological analysis of these pulsating stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

The evolution of white dwarfs resulting from helium-enhanced, low-metallicity progenitor stars

Some globular clusters host multiple stellar populations with different chemical abundance patterns. This is particularly true for $ω$ Centauri, which shows clear evidence of a helium- enriched sub-population characterized by a helium abundance as high as $Y= 0.4$. We present a whole and consistent set of evolutionary tracks from the ZAMS to the white dwarf stage appropriate for the study of the formation and evolution of white dwarfs resulting from the evolution of helium-rich progenitors. Different issues of the white dwarf evolution and their helium-rich progenitors have been explored. In particular, the final mass of the remnants, the role of overshooting during the thermally-pulsing phase, and the cooling of the resulting white dwarfs differ markedly from the evolutionary predictions of progenitor stars with standard initial helium abundance. Finally, the pulsational properties of the resulting white dwarfs are also explored. We find that, for the range of initial masses explored in this paper, the final mass of the helium-rich progenitors is markedly larger than the final mass expected from progenitors with the usual helium abundance. We also find that progenitors with initial mass smaller than $M_\star \simeq 0.65\,M_\odot$ evolve directly into helium-core white dwarfs in less than 14~Gyr, and that for larger progenitor masses the evolution of the resulting low-mass carbon-oxygen white dwarfs is dominated by residual nuclear burning. For helium-core white dwarfs, we find that they evolve markedly faster than their counterparts coming from standard progenitors. Also, in contrast with what occurs for white dwarfs resulting from progenitors with the standard helium abundance, the impact of residual burning on the cooling time of white dwarfs is not affected by the occurrence of overshooting during the thermally-pulsing phase of progenitor stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

An asteroseismic constraint on the mass of the axion from the period drift of the pulsating DA white dwarf star L19-2

We employ an asteroseismic model of L19-2, a relatively massive ($M_{\star} \sim 0.75 M_{\sun}$) and hot ($T_{\rm eff} \sim 12\,100$ K) pulsating DA (H-rich atmosphere) white dwarf star (DAV or ZZ Ceti variable), and use the observed values of the temporal rates of period change of its dominant pulsation modes ($Π\sim 113$ s and $Π\sim 192$ s), to derive a new constraint on the mass of the axion, the hypothetical non-barionic particle considered as a possible component of the dark matter of the Universe. If the asteroseismic model employed is an accurate representation of L19-2, then our results indicate hints of extra cooling in this star, compatible with emission of axions of mass $m_{\rm a} \cos^2 β\lesssim 25$ meV or an axion-electron coupling constant of $g_{\rm ae} \lesssim 7 \times 10^{-13}$.

astro-ph.SR↗

Pulsations powered by hydrogen shell burning in white dwarfs

In the absence of a third dredge-up episode during the asymptotic giant branch phase, white dwarf models evolved from low-metallicity progenitors have a thick hydrogen envelope, which makes hydrogen shell burning be the most important energy source. We investigate the pulsational stability of white dwarf models with thick envelopes to see whether nonradial $g$-mode pulsations are triggered by hydrogen burning, with the aim of placing constraints on hydrogen shell burning in cool white dwarfs and on a third dredge-up during the asymptotic giant branch evolution of their progenitor stars. We construct white-dwarf sequences from low-metallicity progenitors by means of full evolutionary calculations, and analyze their pulsation stability for the models in the range of effective temperatures $T_{\rm eff} \sim 15\,000\,-\, 8\,000$ K. We demonstrate that, for white dwarf models with masses $M_{\star} \lesssim 0.71\,\rm M_{\sun}$ and effective temperatures $8\,500 \lesssim T_{\rm eff} \lesssim 11\,600$ K that evolved from low-metallicity progenitors ($Z= 0.0001$, $0.0005$, and $0.001$) the dipole ($\ell= 1$) and quadrupole ($\ell=2$) $g_1$ modes are excited mostly due to the hydrogen-burning shell through the $\varepsilon$-mechanism, in addition to other $g$ modes driven by either the $κ-γ$ or the convective driving mechanism. However, the $\varepsilon$ mechanism is insufficient to drive these modes in white dwarfs evolved from solar-metallicity progenitors. We suggest that efforts should be made to observe the dipole $g_1$ mode in white dwarfs associated with low-metallicity environments, such as globular clusters and/or the galactic halo, to place constraints on hydrogen shell burning in cool white dwarfs and the third dredge-up episode during the preceding asymptotic giant branch phase.

astro-ph.SR↗

The effect of $^{22}$Ne diffusion in the evolution and pulsational properties of white dwarfs with solar metallicity progenitors

Because of the large neutron excess of $^{22}$Ne, this isotope rapidly sediments in the interior of the white dwarfs. This process releases an additional amount of energy, thus delaying the cooling times of the white dwarf. This influences the ages of different stellar populations derived using white dwarf cosmochronology. Furthermore, the overabundance of $^{22}$Ne in the inner regions of the star, modifies the Brunt-Väisälä frequency, thus altering the pulsational properties of these stars. In this work, we discuss the impact of $^{22}$Ne sedimentation in white dwarfs resulting from Solar metallicity progenitors ($Z=0.02$). We performed evolutionary calculations of white dwarfs of masses $0.528$, $0.576$, $0.657$ and $0.833$ M$_{\sun}$, derived from full evolutionary computations of their progenitor stars, starting at the Zero Age Main Sequence all the way through central hydrogen and helium burning, thermally-pulsing AGB and post-AGB phases. Our computations show that at low luminosities ($\log(L/L_{\sun})\la -4.25$), $^{22}$Ne sedimentation delays the cooling of white dwarfs with Solar metallicity progenitors by about 1~Gyr. Additionally, we studied the consequences of $^{22}$Ne sedimentation on the pulsational properties of ZZ~Ceti white dwarfs. We find that $^{22}$Ne sedimentation induces differences in the periods of these stars larger than the present observational uncertainties, particularly in more massive white dwarfs.

astro-ph.SR↗

Asteroseismology of the GW Virginis stars SDSS J0349-0059 and VV 47

We present an asteroseismological study of SDSS J0349-0059 and VV 47 aimed mainly at deriving their total mass on the basis of state-of-the-art PG 1159 evolutionary models. We compute adiabatic nonradial $g$-mode pulsation periods for PG 1159 evolutionary models with stellar masses ranging from $0.515$ to $0.741\ M_{\sun}$, that take into account the complete evolution of the progenitor stars. We first estimate a mean period spacing for both SDSS J0349-0059 and VV 47. By comparing the observed period spacing with the asymptotic period spacing we obtain $M_{\star}\sim 0.569\ M_{\sun}$ for SDSS J0349-0059 and $M_{\star}\sim 0.523\ M_{\sun}$ for VV 47. If we compare the observed period spacing with the average of the computed period spacings we found $M_{\star}\sim 0.535\ M_{\sun}$ for SDSS J0349-0059 and $M_{\star}\sim 0.528 M_{\sun}$ for VV 47. Searching for the best period fit we found, in the case of SDSS J0349-0059, an asteroseismological model with $M_{\star}= 0.542\ M_{\sun}$ and $T_{\rm eff}= 91\, 255\ $K. For VV 47, we could not find a unique and unambiguous asteroseismological model. Finally, for SDSS J0349-0059, we determined the rotation period as being $P_{\rm rot}= 1/Ω\sim 0.407$ days. The results presented in this work constitute a further step in the study of GW Vir stars through asteroseismology in the frame of fully evolutionary models of PG 1159 stars. In particular, once again it is shown the potential of asteroseismology to derive stellar masses of PG 1159 stars with an unprecedented precision.

astro-ph.SR↗

Is the central binary system of the planetary nebula Henize 2-428 a Type Ia supernova progenitor?

We critically discuss the recent observations of the binary system at the center of the bipolar planetary nebula Henize 2-428. We find that the proposed explanation of two equal-mass degenerate objects with a total mass larger than the Chandrasekhar limiting mass that supposedly will merge in less than a Hubble time, possibly leading to a SN~Ia, is controversial. This hypothesis relies on the assumption that the variability of the He II 5412A spectral line is due to two absorption components. Instead, we propose that it can be accounted for by a broad absorption line from the central system on top of which there is a narrow emission line from the nebula. This prompted us to study if the binary system can be made of a degenerate star and a low-mass main sequence companion, or of two degenerate objects of smaller mass. We find that although both scenarios can account for the existence of two symmetric broad minima in the light curve, the second one agrees better with observations. We thus argue that the claim that Henize 2-428 provides observational evidence supporting the double-degenerate scenario for SN~Ia is premature.

astro-ph.SR↗

Pulsating low-mass white dwarfs in the frame of new evolutionary sequences: II. Nonadiabatic analysis

Low-mass ($M_{\star}/M_{\sun} \lesssim 0.45$) white dwarfs, including the so called extremely low-mass white dwarfs (ELM, $M_{\star}/M_{\sun } \lesssim 0.18-0.20$), are being currently discovered in the field of our Galaxy through dedicated photometric surveys. The fact that some of them pulsate opens the unparalleled chance for sounding their interiors. We present a detailed nonadiabatic pulsational analysis of such stars based on a new set of He-core white-dwarf models with masses ranging from $0.1554$ to $0.4352 M_{\sun}$ derived by computing the non-conservative evolution of a binary system consisting of an initially $1 M_{\sun}$ ZAMS star and a $1.4 M_{\sun}$ neutron star. We have computed nonadiabatic radial modes and nonradial g and p modes to assess the dependence of the pulsational stability properties of these objects with stellar parameters such as the stellar mass, the effective temperature, and the convective efficiency. We found that a dense spectrum of unstable radial modes and nonradial g and p modes are driven by the kappa-gamma mechanism due to the partial ionization of H in the stellar envelope, in addition to low-order unstable g modes characterized by short pulsation periods which are significantly excited by H burning via the epsilon mechanism of mode driving. In all the cases, the characteristic times required for the modes to reach amplitudes large enough as to be observable (the $e$-folding times) are always shorter than cooling timescales. We explore the dependence of the ranges of unstable mode periods (the longest and shortest excited periods) with the effective temperature, the stellar mass, the convective efficiency, and the harmonic degree of the modes. We also compare our theoretical predictions with the excited modes observed in the seven known variable low-mass white dwarfs (ELMVs), and found an excellent agreement.

astro-ph.SR↗

White dwarf evolutionary sequences for low-metallicity progenitors: The impact of third dredge-up

We present new white dwarf evolutionary sequences for low-metallicity progenitors. White dwarf sequences have been derived from full evolutionary calculations that take into account the entire history of progenitor stars, including the thermally-pulsing and the post-asymptotic giant branch phases. We show that for progenitor metallicities in the range 0.00003--0.001, and in the absence of carbon enrichment due to the occurrence of a third dredge-up episode, the resulting H envelope of the low-mass white dwarfs is thick enough to make stable H burning the most important energy source even at low luminosities. This has a significant impact on white dwarf cooling times. This result is independent of the adopted mass-loss rate during the thermally-pulsing and post-AGB phases, and the planetary nebulae stage. We conclude that in the absence of third dredge-up episodes, a significant part of the evolution of low-mass white dwarfs resulting from low-metallicity progenitors is dominated by stable H burning. Our study opens the possibility of using the observed white dwarf luminosity function of low-metallicity globular clusters to constrain the efficiency of third dredge up episodes during the thermally-pulsing AGB phase of low-metallicity progenitors.

astro-ph.SR↗

Testing Fundamental Particle Physics with the Galactic White Dwarf Luminosity Function

Recent determinations of the white dwarf luminosity function (WDLF) from very large surveys have extended our knowledge of the WDLF to very high luminosities. It has been shown that the shape of the luminosity function of white dwarfs (WDLF) is a powerful tool to test the possible properties and existence of fundamental weakly interacting subelectronvolt particles. This, together with the availability of new full evolutionary white dwarf models that are reliable at high luminosities, have opened the possibility of testing particle emission in the core of very hot white dwarfs. We use the available WDLFs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey to constrain the values of the neutrino magnetic dipole moment ($μ_ν$) and the axion-electron coupling constant ($g_{ae}$) of DFSZ-axions.

hep-ph↗

Revisiting the axion bounds from the Galactic white dwarf luminosity function

It has been shown that the shape of the luminosity function of white dwarfs (WDLF) is a powerful tool to check for the possible existence of DFSZ-axions, a proposed but not yet detected type of weakly interacting particles. With the aim of deriving new constraints on the axion mass, we compute in this paper new theoretical WDLFs on the basis of WD evolving models that incorporate for the feedback of axions on the thermal structure of the white dwarf. We find that the impact of the axion emission into the neutrino emission can not be neglected at high luminosities ($M_{\rm Bol}\lesssim 8$) and that the axion emission needs to be incorporated self-consistently into the evolution of the white dwarfs when dealing with axion masses larger than $m_a\cos^2β\gtrsim 5$ meV (i.e. axion-electron coupling constant $g_{ae}\gtrsim 1.4\times 10^{-13}$). We went beyond previous works by including 5 different derivations of the WDLF in our analysis. Then we have performed $χ^2$-tests to have a quantitative measure of the assessment between the theoretical WDLFs ---computed under the assumptions of different axion masses and normalization methods--- and the observed WDLFs of the Galactic disk. While all the WDLF studied in this work disfavour axion masses in the range suggested by asteroseismology ($m_a\cos^2β\gtrsim 10$ meV; $g_{ae}\gtrsim 2.8\times 10^{-13}$) lower axion masses can not be discarded from our current knowledge of the WDLF of the Galactic Disk. A larger set of completely independent derivations of the WDLF of the galactic disk as well as a detailed study of the uncertainties of the theoretical WDLFs is needed before quantitative constraints on the axion-electron coupling constant can be made.

hep-ph↗

The white dwarf cooling sequence of 47 Tucanae

47 Tucanae is one of the most interesting and well observed and theoretically studied globular clusters. This allows us to study the reliability of our understanding of white dwarf cooling sequences, to confront different methods to determine its age, and to assess other important characteristics, like its star formation history. Here we present a population synthesis study of the cooling sequence of the globular cluster 47 Tucanae. In particular, we study the distribution of effective temperatures, the shape of the color-magnitude diagram, and the corresponding magnitude and color distributions. We do so using an up-to-date population synthesis code based on Monte Carlo techniques, that incorporates the most recent and reliable cooling sequences and an accurate modeling of the observational biases. We find a good agreement between our theoretical models and the observed data. Thus, our study, rules out previous claims that there are still missing physics in the white dwarf cooling models at moderately high effective temperatures. We also derive the age of the cluster using the termination of the cooling sequence, obtaining a good agreement with the age determinations using the main-sequence turn-off. Finally, we find that the star formation history of the cluster is compatible with that btained using main sequence stars, which predict the existence of two distinct populations. We conclude that a correct modeling of the white dwarf population of globular clusters, used in combination with the number counts of main sequence stars provides an unique tool to model the properties of globular clusters.

astro-ph.GA↗

Importance of Tides for Periastron Precession in Eccentric Neutron Star - White Dwarf Binaries

Although not nearly as numerous as binaries with two white dwarfs, eccentric neutron star-white dwarf (NS-WD) binaries are important gravitational-wave (GW) sources for the next generation of space-based detectors sensitive to low frequency waves. Here we investigate periastron precession in these sources as a result of general relativistic, tidal, and rotational effects; such precession is expected to be detectable for at least some of the detected binaries of this type. Currently, two eccentric NS-WD binaries are known in the galactic field, PSR J1141-6545 and PSR B2303+46, both of which have orbits too wide to be relevant in their current state to GW observations. However, population synthesis studies predict the existence of a significant Galactic population of such systems. Though small in most of these systems, we find that tidally induced periastron precession becomes important when tides contribute to more than 3% of the total precession rate. For these systems, accounting for tides when analyzing periastron precession rate measurements can improve estimates of the WD component mass inferred and, in some cases, will prevent us from misclassifying the object. However, such systems are rare due to rapid orbital decay. To aid the inclusion of tidal effects when using periastron precession as a mass measurement tool, we derive a function that relates the WD radius and periastron precession constant to the WD mass.

astro-ph.SR↗

Constraining the neutrino magnetic dipole moment from white dwarf pulsations

Pulsating white dwarf stars can be used as astrophysical laboratories to constrain the properties of weakly interacting particles. Comparing the cooling rates of these stars with the expected values from theoretical models allows us to search for additional sources of cooling due to the emission of axions, neutralinos, or neutrinos with magnetic dipole moment. In this work, we derive an upper bound to the neutrino magnetic dipole moment using an estimate of the rate of period change of the pulsating DB white dwarf star PG 1351+489. By comparing the theoretical rate of change of period expected for this star with the rate of change of period with time of PG 1351+489, we assess the possible existence of additional cooling by neutrinos with magnetic dipole moment. Our models suggest the existence of some additional cooling in this pulsating DB white dwarf, consistent with a non-zero magnetic dipole moment. Our upper limit for the neutrino magnetic dipole moment is somewhat less restrictive than, but still compatible with, other limits inferred from the white dwarf luminosity function or from the color-magnitude diagram of the Globular cluster M5. Further improvements of the measurement of the rate of period change of the dominant pulsation mode of PG 1351+489 will be necessary to confirm our bound.

astro-ph.SR↗