arXiv subjects

W. Riedel

Publications and source records attributed to W. Riedel.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Modeling the UV-photon irradiation of CS$_2$-bearing ices in the laboratory with the pyRate gas-grain astrochemical code. New insights into the missing sulfur problem

Observations indicate that the total abundance of S-bearing species in dense clouds is orders of magnitude lower than the cosmic sulfur abundance. Addressing this "missing sulfur problem" requires a combination of astronomical observations, laboratory experiments, and theoretical models. In this work, we use the pyRate astrochemical model to simulate the VUV photon irradiation of a CO$_2$:CS$_2$ ice mixture at 10 K in the laboratory, with the goal of supporting the interpretation of the experimental results and testing our current understanding of the sulfur evolution in interstellar ices. For this purpose, the astrochemical model was adapted to the experimental conditions, and the chemical network was compiled from several sources to ensure that all known reactions involving sulfur species were included. The results indicate that nondiffusive chemistry is necessary to reproduce the formation of S-bearing species observed in the experiment. However, some discrepancies were found in the major S-bearing ice chemistry products predicted by the model and the experiment. The compounds OCS, CS, and SO are overpredicted by the model, while it falls short in accounting for $\rm SO_2$ and sulfur allotropes. These discrepancies are likely due to a combination of an incomplete knowledge of the chemical reactions at play (either because of missing reactions and/or because of unconstrained reaction barriers), and uncertainties in the experimental analysis. This work represents the first effort to model the chemistry of a multicomponent ice analog with a rate-equation based code, and highlights the complementary nature of theoretical and experimental astrochemistry to disentangle the chemical evolution of sulfur in the interstellar medium.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

High deuteration of methanol in L1544

Isotopic fractionation is a very powerful tool to follow the evolution of material from one stage to the next in the star-formation process. Pre-stellar cores exhibit some of the highest levels of deuteration because their physical conditions greatly favor deuteration processes. Deuteration maps are a measure of the effectiveness of the deuteration across the core, and they are useful to study both the deuteration as well as the formation mechanism of the main species. Methanol is the simplest O-bearing complex organic molecule (COM) detected in the interstellar medium (ISM). It represents the beginning of molecular complexity in star-forming regions, thus a complete understanding of its formation and deuteration is a necessary step to understand the development of further chemical complexity. In this paper, we use single-dish observations with the IRAM 30 m telescope and state-of-the-art chemical models to investigate the deuteration of methanol towards the prototypical pre-stellar core L1544. We also compare the results of the chemical models with previous observations of deuterated methanol towards the pre-stellar cores HMM1 and L694-2. The spectra extracted from the CHD$_2$OH map show that the emission is concentrated in the center and towards the north-west of the core. Using deep observations towards the dust and the methanol peaks of the core, we derive a very large deuterium fraction for methanol ($\sim20\%$) towards both peaks. The comparison of our observational results with chemical models has highlighted the importance of H-abstraction processes in the formation and deuteration of methanol. Deep observations combined with state-of-the-art chemical models are of fundamental importance in understanding the development of molecular complexity in the ISM. Our analysis also shows the importance of non-LTE effects when measuring the D/H ratios in methanol.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Modelling Deuterated Isotopologues of Methanol toward the Pre-Stellar Core L1544

Aims. We aim to improve a previous model for the prediction of column densities and deuterium fractions of non- and singly deuterated methanol. Thereby, we try to identify crucial chemical and physical parameters, for which the study of deuteration could provide valuable additional constraints. Methods. We employed a gas-grain chemical code to devise a model that is in agreement with the observed column density and deuterium fraction profiles of the innermost region of the pre-stellar core L1544. For that purpose, we developed a new treatment of reactive desorption, deriving an individual reactive desorption efficiency for every product species in a chemical reaction, that depends on the reaction enthalpy and type of underlying surface. Furthermore, we explored several options to promote the diffusion of hydrogen and deuterium atoms over the surface of interstellar dust grains, in order to increase methanol formation. Results. Our fiducial model employs diffusion by quantum tunneling of hydrogen and deuterium atoms, resulting in CH$_3$OH and CH$_2$DOH column densities that are approximately an order of magnitude lower than the observed values, which improves the results compared to the previous model by a factor 10. The $N$(CH$_2$DOH)/$N$(CH$_3$OH) ratio is reproduced within a factor of 1.2 for the centre and 1.8 for the position of the methanol peak. Given the large uncertainties that chemical models typically have, we consider our predictions to be in agreement with the observations. In general, we conclude that a diffusion process with a high diffusion rate needs to be employed to obtain methanol column densities that are in accordance with the observed values. Also, we find that the introduction of abstraction reactions into the methanol formation scheme suppresses deuteration, when used in combination with a high diffusion rate.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

Dual Mode Operation of a Hydromagnetic Plasma Thruster to Achieve Tunable Thrust and Specific Impulse

We report here on initial studies of a pulsed hydromagnetic plasma gun that can operate in either a pre-filled or a gas-puff mode on demand. These modes enable agile and responsive performance through tunable thrust and specific impulse. Operation with a molecular nitrogen propellant is demonstrated to show that the hydromagnetic thruster is a candidate technology for air-harvesting and drag compensation in very low Earth orbit. Dual mode operation is achieved by leveraging propellant gas dynamics to change the fill fraction and flow collisionality within the thruster. This results in the formation of distinct modes that are characterized by the current-driven hydromagnetic waves that they allow, namely a magneto-deflagration and magneto-detonation respectively. These modes can be chosen by changing the time propellant is allowed to diffuse into the thruster based on the desired performance. Using time-of-flight emission diagnostics to characterize near-field flow velocities, we find that a relatively dramatic transition occurs between modes, with exhaust velocities ranging from 10 km/s to 55 km/s in deflagration and detonation regimes, respectively. Simulations of the processed mass bit offers a first glimpse into possible thruster performance confirming a broad range and tradeoff between specific impulse (2600 - 5600 sec) and thrust (up to 31 mN) when operating in a burst mode.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Properties of OB star-black hole systems derived from detailed binary evolution models

The recent gravitational wave measurements have demonstrated the existence of stellar mass black hole binaries. It is essential for our understanding of massive star evolution to identify the contribution of binary evolution to the formation of double black holes. A promising way to progress is investigating the progenitors of double black hole systems and comparing predictions with local massive star samples such as the population in 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Methods. To this purpose, we analyse a large grid of detailed binary evolution models at LMC metallicity with initial primary masses between 10 and 40 Msun, and identify which model systems potentially evolve into a binary consisting of a black hole and a massive main sequence star. We then derive the observable properties of such systems, as well as peculiarities of the OB star component. We find that about 3% of the LMC late O and early B stars in binaries are expected to possess a black hole companion, when assuming stars with a final helium core mass above 6.6 M to form black holes. While the vast majority of them may be X-ray quiet, our models suggest that these may be identified in spectroscopic binaries, either by large amplitude radial velocity variations ( > 50 km s ) and simultaneous nitrogen surface enrichment, or through a moderate radial velocity ( > 10 km/s ) and simultaneously rapid rotation of the OB star. The predicted mass ratios are such that main sequence companions could be excluded in most cases. A comparison to the observed OB+WR binaries in the LMC, Be/X-ray binaries, and known massive BH binaries supports our conclusion. We expect spectroscopic observations to be able to test key assumptions in our models, with important implications for massive star evolution in general, and for the formation of double-black hole mergers in particular.

astro-ph.SR↗