arXiv subjects

M. Carrington

Publications and source records attributed to M. Carrington.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Spin-down and reduced mass loss in early-type stars with large-scale magnetic fields

Magnetism can greatly impact the evolution of stars. In some stars with OBA spectral types there is direct evidence via the Zeeman effect for stable, large-scale magnetospheres, which lead to the spin-down of the stellar surface and reduced mass loss. So far, a comprehensive grid of stellar structure and evolution models accounting for these effects was lacking. For this reason, we computed and studied models with two magnetic braking and two chemical mixing schemes in three metallicity environments with the MESA software instrument. We find notable differences between the subgrids, which affects the model predictions and thus the detailed characterisation of stars. We are able to quantify the impact of magnetic fields in terms of preventing quasi-chemically homogeneous evolution and producing slowly-rotating, nitrogen-enriched ("Group 2") stars. Our model grid is fully open access and open source.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2022

The effects of surface fossil magnetic fields on massive star evolution: IV. Grids of models at Solar, LMC, and SMC metallicities

Magnetic fields can drastically change predictions of evolutionary models of massive stars via mass-loss quenching, magnetic braking, and efficient angular momentum transport, which we aim to quantify in this work. We use the MESA software instrument to compute an extensive main-sequence grid of stellar structure and evolution models, as well as isochrones, accounting for the effects attributed to a surface fossil magnetic field. The grid is densely populated in initial mass (3-60 M$_\odot$), surface equatorial magnetic field strength (0-50 kG), and metallicity (representative of the Solar neighbourhood and the Magellanic Clouds). We use two magnetic braking and two chemical mixing schemes and compare the model predictions for slowly-rotating, nitrogen-enriched ("Group 2") stars with observations in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We quantify a range of initial field strengths that allow for producing Group 2 stars and find that typical values (up to a few kG) lead to solutions. Between the subgrids, we find notable departures in surface abundances and evolutionary paths. In our magnetic models, chemical mixing is always less efficient compared to non-magnetic models due to the rapid spin-down. We identify that quasi-chemically homogeneous main sequence evolution by efficient mixing could be prevented by fossil magnetic fields. We recommend comparing this grid of evolutionary models with spectropolarimetric and spectroscopic observations with the goals of i) revisiting the derived stellar parameters of known magnetic stars, and ii) observationally constraining the uncertain magnetic braking and chemical mixing schemes.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv1999

Approach to Equilibrium in the Micromaser

We examine the approach to equilibrium of the micromaser. Analytic methods are first used to show that for large times (i.e. many atoms) the convergence is governed by the next to leading eigenvalue of the corresponding discrete evolution matrix. The model is then studied numerically. The numerical results confirm the phase structure expected from analytic approximation methods and agree for large times with the analysis of Elmfors et al in terms of the continuous master equation. For short times, however, we see evidence for interesting new structure not previously reported in the literature.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv1997

The general cancellation of ladder graphs at finite temperature

In some cases, an important example being at finite temperature, extreme infrared, collinear, or light-cone behaviour may cause the usual loop expansion to break down. For some of these cases higher order ladder graphs can become important. In an earlier paper it was shown that, given a particular relation between a vertex and a self-energy function, the resummation of the ladder graphs simplifies significantly when other types of graphs are included in a consistent effective expansion. In this paper we show that this assumed relation is valid for a large class of vertex and self-energy functions at finite temperature.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1997

Cancellation of ladder graphs in an effective expansion

A resummation of ladder graphs is important in cases where infrared, collinear, or light-cone singularities render the loop expansion invalid, especially at high temperature where these effects are often enhanced. It has been noted in some recent examples of this resummation that the ladder graphs are canceled by other types of terms. In this note we show that this cancellation is quite general, and for the most part algebraic.

hep-ph↗