Stellar Envelope Research Articles

Globular Cluster Formation at High Density: A Model for Elemental Enrichment with Fast Recycling of Massive-star Debris

Abstract The self-enrichment of massive star clusters by p-processed elements is shown to increase significantly with increasing gas density as a result of enhanced star formation rates and stellar scatterings compared to the lifetime of a massive star. Considering the type of cloud core where a globular cluster (GC) might have formed, we follow the evolution and enrichment of the gas and the time dependence of stellar mass. A key assumption is that interactions between massive stars are important at high density, including interactions between massive stars and massive-star binaries that can shred stellar envelopes. Massive-star interactions should also scatter low-mass stars out of the cluster. Reasonable agreement with the observations is obtained for a cloud-core mass of ∼4 × 106 M ⊙ and a density of ∼2 × 106 cm−3. The results depend primarily on a few dimensionless parameters, including, most importantly, the ratio of the gas consumption time to the lifetime of a massive star, which has to be low, ∼10%, and the efficiency of scattering low-mass stars per unit dynamical time, which has to be relatively large, such as a few percent. Also for these conditions, the velocity dispersions of embedded GCs should be comparable to the high gas dispersions of galaxies at that time, so that stellar ejection by multistar interactions could cause low-mass stars to leave a dwarf galaxy host altogether. This could solve the problem of missing first-generation stars in the halos of Fornax and WLM.

EXPLORING THE HELIUM CORE OF THE δ SCUTI STAR COROT 102749568 WITH ASTEROSEISMOLOGY

ABSTRACT Based on regularities in rotational splitting, we seek possible multiplets for the observed frequencies of CoRoT 102749568. There are 21 sets of multiplets identified, including four sets of multiplets with l = 1, nine sets of multiplets with l = 2, and eight sets of multiplets with l = 3. In particular, there are three complete triplets (f 10, f 12, f 14), (f 31, f 34, f 35), and (f 41, f 43, f 44). The rotational period of CoRoT 102749568 is estimated to be days. When doing model fittings, three l = 1 modes (f 12, f 34, and f 43) and the radial first overtone f 13 are used. Our results shows that the three nonradial modes (f 12, f 34, and f 43) are mixed modes, which mainly provide constraints on the helium core. The radial first overtone f 13 mainly provides constraint on the stellar envelope. Hence the size of the helium core of CoRoT 102749568 is determined to be = 0.148 ± 0.003 M ⊙ and = 0.0581 ± 0.0007 R ⊙. The fundamental parameters of CoRoT 102749568 are determined to be M = 1.54 ± 0.03 M ⊙, , , , K, R = 2.916 ± 0.039 R ⊙, and L = 17.12 ± 1.13 L ⊙.

PROPAGATION OF RELATIVISTIC, HYDRODYNAMIC, INTERMITTENT JETS IN A ROTATING, COLLAPSING GRB PROGENITOR STAR

ABSTRACT The prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is characterized by rapid variabilities, which may be a direct reflection of the unsteady central engine. We perform a series of axisymmetric 2.5-dimensional simulations to study the propagation of relativistic, hydrodynamic, intermittent jets through the envelope of a GRB progenitor star. A realistic rapidly rotating star is incorporated as the background of jet propagation, and the star is allowed to collapse due to the gravity of the central black hole. By modeling the intermittent jets with constant-luminosity pulses with equal on and off durations, we investigate how the half period, T, affects the jet dynamics. For relatively small T values (e.g., 0.2 s), the jet breakout time t bo depends on the opening angle of the jet, with narrower jets more penetrating and reaching the surface at shorter times. For T ≤ 1 s, the reverse shock (RS) crosses each pulse before the jet penetrates through the stellar envelope. As a result, after the breakout of the first group of pulses at t bo, several subsequent pulses vanish before penetrating the star, causing a quiescent gap. For larger half periods (T = 2.0 and 4.0 s), all the pulses can successfully penetrate through the envelope, since each pulse can propagate through the star before the RS crosses the shell. Our results may interpret the existence of a weak precursor in some long GRBs, given that the GRB central engine injects intermittent pulses with a half period T ≤ 1 s. The observational data seem to be consistent with such a possibility.

The asteroseismic surface effect from a grid of 3D convection simulations – I. Frequency shifts from convective expansion of stellar atmospheres

Abstract We analyse the effect on adiabatic stellar oscillation frequencies of replacing the near-surface layers in 1D stellar structure models with averaged 3D stellar surface convection simulations. The main difference is an expansion of the atmosphere by 3D convection, expected to explain a major part of the asteroseismic surface effect, a systematic overestimation of p-mode frequencies due to inadequate surface physics. We employ pairs of 1D stellar envelope models and 3D simulations from a previous calibration of the mixing-length parameter, α. That calibration constitutes the hitherto most consistent matching of 1D models to 3D simulations, ensuring that their differences are not spurious, but entirely due to the 3D nature of convection. The resulting frequency shift is identified as the structural part of the surface effect. The important, typically non-adiabatic, modal components of the surface effect are not included in this analysis, but relegated to future papers. Evaluating the structural surface effect at the frequency of maximum mode amplitude, νmax , we find shifts from δν = −0.8 μHz for giants at log g = 2.2 to − 35 μHz for a (Teff = 6901 K, log g = 4.29) dwarf. The fractional effect δν(νmax )/νmax , ranges from −0.1 per cent for a cool dwarf (4185 K, 4.74) to −6 per cent for a warm giant (4962 K, 2.20).

Light or heavy supermassive black hole seeds: the role of internal rotation in the fate of supermassive stars

Supermassive black holes are a key ingredient of galaxy evolution. However, their origin is still highly debated. In one of the leading formation scenarios, a black hole of ∼100 M⊙ results from the collapse of the inner core of a supermassive star (≳104–5 M⊙), created by the rapid accumulation (≳0.1 M⊙ yr−1) of pristine gas at the centre of newly formed galaxies at z ∼ 15. The subsequent evolution is still speculative: the remaining gas in the supermassive star can either directly plunge into the nascent black hole or part of it can form a central accretion disc, whose luminosity sustains a surrounding, massive, and nearly hydrostatic envelope (a system called a ‘quasi-star’). To address this point, we consider the effect of rotation on a quasi-star, as angular momentum is inevitably transported towards the galactic nucleus by the accumulating gas. Using a model for the internal redistribution of angular momentum that qualitatively matches results from simulations of rotating convective stellar envelopes, we show that quasi-stars with an envelope mass greater than a few 105 M| $_{\odot } \times (\rm black\ hole\ mass/100\,\mathrm{M}_{\odot })^{0.82}$ | have highly sub-Keplerian gas motion in their core, preventing gas circularization outside the black hole's horizon. Less massive quasi-stars could form but last for only ≲104 yr before the accretion luminosity unbinds the envelope, suppressing the black hole growth. We speculate that this might eventually lead to a dual black hole seed population: (i) massive (>104 M⊙) seeds formed in the most massive (>108 M⊙) and rare haloes; (ii) lighter (∼102 M⊙) seeds to be found in less massive and therefore more common haloes.

Magnetic activity of interacting binaries

AbstractInteracting binaries provide unique parameter regimes, both rapid rotation and tidal distortion, in which to test stellar dynamo theories and study the resulting magnetic activity. Close binaries such as cataclysmic variables (CVs) have been found to differentially rotate, and so can provide testbeds for tidal dissipation efficiency in stellar convective envelopes, with implications for both CV and planet-star evolution. Furthermore, CVs show evidence of preferential emergence of magnetic flux tubes towards the companion star, as well as large, long-lived prominences that form preferentially within the binary geometry. Moreover, RS CVn binaries also show clear magnetic interactions between the two components in the form of coronal X-ray emission. Here, we review several examples of magnetic interactions in different types of close binaries.

On extreme transient events from rotating black holes and their gravitational wave emission

The super-luminous object ASASSN-15lh (SN2015L) is an extreme event with a total energy $E_{rad}\simeq 1.1\times 10^{52}$ erg in black body radiation on par with its kinetic energy $E_k$ in ejecta and a late time plateau in the UV, that defies a nuclear origin. It likely presents a new explosion mechanism for hydrogen-deprived supernovae. With no radio emission and no H-rich environment we propose to identify $E_{rad}$ with dissipation of a baryon-poor outflow in the optically thick remnant stellar envelope produced by a central engine. By negligible time scales of light crossing and radiative cooling of the envelope, SN2015L's light curve closely tracks the evolution of this engine. We here model its light curve by the evolution of black hole spin, during angular momentum loss in Alv\'en waves to matter at the Inner Most Stable Circular Orbit (ISCO). The duration is determined by $\sigma=M_T/M$ of the torus mass $M_T$ around the black hole of mass $M$: $\sigma\sim 10^{-7}$ and $\sigma\sim 10^{-2}$ for SN2015L and, respectively, a long GRB. The observed electromagnetic radiation herein represents a minor output of the rotational energy $E_{rot}$ of the black hole, while most is radiated unseen in gravitational radiation. This model explains the high-mass slow-spin binary progenitor of GWB150914, as the remnant of two CC-SNe in an intra-day binary of two massive stars. This model rigorously predicts a change in magnitude $\Delta m\simeq 1.15$ in the light curve post-peak, in agreement with the light curve of SN2015L with no fine-tuning.

The discovery of a planetary candidate around the evolved low-massKeplergiant star HD 175370

We report on the discovery of a planetary companion candidate with a minimum mass M sin i = 4.6 ± 1.0 MJupiter orbiting the K2 III giant star HD 175370 (KIC 007940959). This star was a target in our programme to search for planets around a sample of 95 giant stars observed with Kepler. This detection was made possible using precise stellar radial velocity measurements of HD 175370 taken over five years and four months using the coudé echelle spectrograph of the 2-m Alfred Jensch Telescope and the fibre-fed echelle spectrograph High Efficiency and Resolution Mercator Echelle Spectrograph of the 1.2-m Mercator Telescope. Our radial velocity measurements reveal a periodic (349.5 ± 4.5 d) variation with a semi-amplitude K = 133 ± 25 m s− 1, superimposed on a long-term trend. A low-mass stellar companion with an orbital period of ∼88 yr in a highly eccentric orbit and a planet in a Keplerian orbit with an eccentricity e = 0.22 are the most plausible explanation of the radial velocity variations. However, we cannot exclude the existence of stellar envelope pulsations as a cause for the low-amplitude radial velocity variations and only future continued monitoring of this system may answer this uncertainty. From Kepler photometry, we find that HD 175370 is most likely a low-mass red giant branch or asymptotic giant branch star.

Asteroseismology of theδScuti star HD 50844

Aims. We aim to probe the internal structure and investigate more detailed information of the $\delta$ Scuti star HD 50844 with asteroseismology. Methods. We analyse the observed frequencies of the $\delta$ Scuti star HD 50844 obtained by Balona (2014), and search for possible multiplets based on the rotational splitting law of g-mode. We tried to disentangle the frequency spectra of HD 50844 by means of the rotational splitting only. We then compare them with theoretical pulsation modes, which correspond to stellar evolutionary models with various sets of initial metallicity and stellar mass, to find the best-fitting model. Results. There are three multiplets including two complete triplets and one incomplete quintuplet, in which mode identifications for spherical harmonic degree $l$ and azimuthal number $m$ are unique. The corresponding rotational period of HD 50844 is found to be 2.44$^{+0.13}_{-0.08}$ days. The physical parameters of HD 50844 are well limited in a small region by three modes identified as nonradial ones ($f_{11}$, $f_{22}$, and $f_{29}$) and by the fundamental radial mode ($f_{4}$). Our results show that the three nonradial modes ($f_{11}$, $f_{22}$, and $f_{29}$) are all mixed modes, which mainly represent the property of the helium core. The fundamental radial mode ($f_{4}$) mainly represents the property of the stellar envelope. In order to fit these four pulsation modes, both the helium core and the stellar envelope must be matched to the actual structure of HD 50844. Finally, the mass of the helium core of HD 50844 is estimated to be 0.173 $\pm$ 0.004 $M_{\odot}$ for the first time. The physical parameters of HD 50844 are determined to be $M=$ 1.81 $\pm$ 0.01 $M_{\odot}$, $Z=$ 0.008 $\pm$ 0.001. $T_{\rm eff}=$ 7508 $\pm$ 125 K, log$g=$ 3.658 $\pm$ 0.004, $R=$ 3.300 $\pm$ 0.023 $R_{\odot}$, $L=$ 30.98 $\pm$ 2.39 $L_{\odot}$.

Metallicity dependence of turbulent pressure and macroturbulence in stellar envelopes

Macroturbulence, introduced as a fudge to reproduce the width and shape of stellar absorption lines, reflects gas motions in stellar atmospheres. While in cool stars, it is thought to be caused by convection zones immediately beneath the stellar surface, the origin of macroturbulence in hot stars is still under discussion. Recent works established a correlation between the turbulent-to-total pressure ratio inside the envelope of stellar models and the macroturbulent velocities observed in corresponding Galactic stars. To probe this connection further, we evaluated the turbulent pressure that arises in the envelope convective zones of stellar models in the mass range 1-125 Msun based on the mixing-length theory and computed for metallicities of the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud. We find that the turbulent pressure contributions in models with these metallicities located in the hot high-luminosity part of the Hertzsprung-Russel (HR) diagram is lower than in similar models with solar metallicity, whereas the turbulent pressure in low-metallicity models populating the cool part of the HR-diagram is not reduced. Based on our models, we find that the currently available observations of hot massive stars in the Magellanic Clouds appear to support a connection between macroturbulence and the turbulent pressure in stellar envelopes. Multidimensional simulations of sub-surface convection zones and a larger number of high-quality observations are necessary to test this idea more rigorously.

The outer envelopes of globular clusters – I. NGC 7089 (M2)

We present the results of a wide-field imaging survey of the periphery of the Milky Way globular cluster NGC 7089 (M2). Data were obtained with MegaCam on the Magellan Clay Telescope, and the Dark Energy Camera on the Blanco Telescope. We find that M2 is embedded in a diffuse stellar envelope extending to a radial distance of at least $\sim 60^{\prime}$ ($\sim 210$ pc) -- five times the nominal tidal radius of the cluster. The envelope appears nearly circular in shape, has a radial density decline well described by a power law of index $\gamma = -2.2 \pm 0.2$, and contains approximately $1.6\%$ of the luminosity of the entire system. While the origin of the envelope cannot be robustly identified using the presently available data, the fact that M2 also hosts stellar populations exhibiting a broad dispersion in the abundances of both iron and a variety of neutron capture elements suggests that this object might plausibly constitute the stripped nucleus of a dwarf Galaxy that was long ago accreted and destroyed by the Milky Way.

Massive relic galaxies prefer dense environments

We study the preferred environments of $z \sim 0$ massive relic galaxies ($M_\star \gtrsim 10^{10}~\mathrm{M_\odot}$ galaxies with little or no growth from star formation or mergers since $z \sim 2$). Significantly, we carry out our analysis on both a large cosmological simulation and an observed galaxy catalogue. Working on the Millennium I-WMAP7 simulation we show that the fraction of today massive objects which have grown less than 10 per cent in mass since $z \sim 2$ is ~0.04 per cent for the whole massive galaxy population with $M_\star > 10^{10}~\mathrm{M_\odot}$. This fraction rises to ~0.18 per cent in galaxy clusters, confirming that clusters help massive galaxies remain unaltered. Simulations also show that massive relic galaxies tend to be closer to cluster centres than other massive galaxies. Using the New York University Value-Added Galaxy Catalogue, and defining relics as $M_\star \gtrsim 10^{10}~\mathrm{M_\odot}$ early-type galaxies with colours compatible with single-stellar population ages older than 10 Gyr, and which occupy the bottom 5-percentile in the stellar mass-size distribution, we find $1.11 \pm 0.05$ per cent of relics among massive galaxies. This fraction rises to $2.4 \pm 0.4$ per cent in high-density environments. Our findings point in the same direction as the works by Poggianti et al. and Stringer et al. Our results may reflect the fact that the cores of the clusters are created very early on, hence the centres host the first cluster members. Near the centres, high-velocity dispersions and harassment help cluster core members avoid the growth of an accreted stellar envelope via mergers, while a hot intracluster medium prevents cold gas from reaching the galaxies, inhibiting star formation.

ENTROPY IN ADIABATIC REGIONS OF CONVECTION SIMULATIONS

ABSTRACT One of the largest sources of uncertainty in stellar models is caused by the treatment of convection in stellar envelopes. One-dimensional stellar models often make use of the mixing length or equivalent approximations to describe convection, all of which depend on various free parameters. There have been attempts to rectify this by using 3D radiative-hydrodynamic simulations of stellar convection, and in trying to extract an equivalent mixing length from the simulations. In this Letter, we show that the entropy of the deeper, adiabatic layers in these simulations can be expressed as a simple function of log g and log T eff , which holds potential for calibrating stellar models in a simple and more general manner.

Solar r-process-constrained actinide production in neutrino-driven winds of supernovae

Long-lived radioactive nuclei play an important role as nucleo-cosmochronometers and as cosmic tracers of nucleosynthetic source activity. In particular nuclei in the actinide region like thorium, uranium, and plutonium can testify to the enrichment of an environment by the still enigmatic astrophysical sources that are responsible for the production of neutron-rich nuclei by the rapid neutron-capture process (r-process). Supernovae and merging neutron-star (NS) or NS-black hole binaries are considered as most likely sources of the r-nuclei. But arguments in favour of one or the other or both are indirect and make use of assumptions; they are based on theoretical models with remaining simplifications and shortcomings. An unambiguous observational determination of a production event is still missing. In order to facilitate searches in this direction, e.g.\ by looking for radioactive tracers in stellar envelopes, the interstellar medium or terrestrial reservoirs, we provide improved theoretical estimates and corresponding uncertainty ranges for the actinide production ($^{232}$Th, $^{235,236,238}$U, $^{237}$Np, $^{244}$Pu, and $^{247}$Cm) in neutrino-driven winds of core-collapse supernovae. Since state-of-the-art supernova models do not yield r-process viable conditions ---but still lack, for example, the effects of strong magnetic fields--- we base our investigation on a simple analytical, Newtonian, adiabatic and steady-state wind model and consider the superposition of a large number of contributing components, whose nucleosynthesis-relevant parameters (mass weight, entropy, expansion time scale, and neutron excess) are constrained by the assumption that the integrated wind nucleosynthesis closely reproduces the solar system distribution of r-process elements. We also test the influence of uncertain nuclear physics.

THE CARNEGIE-IRVINE GALAXY SURVEY. IV. A METHOD TO DETERMINE THE AVERAGE MASS RATIO OF MERGERS THAT BUILT MASSIVE ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES

ABSTRACT Many recent observations and numerical simulations suggest that nearby massive, early-type galaxies (ETGs) were formed through a “two-phase” process. In the proposed second phase, the extended stellar envelope was accumulated through many dry mergers. However, details of the past merger history of present-day ellipticals, such as the typical merger mass ratio, are difficult to constrain observationally. Within the context and assumptions of the two-phase formation scenario, we propose a straightforward method, using photometric data alone, to estimate the average mass ratio of mergers that contributed to the build-up of massive elliptical galaxies. We study a sample of nearby massive elliptical galaxies selected from the Carnegie-Irvine Galaxy Survey, using two-dimensional analysis to decompose their light distribution into an inner, denser component plus an extended, outer envelope, each having a different optical color. The combination of these two substructures accurately recovers the negative color gradient exhibited by the galaxy as whole. The color difference between the two components ( 〈 Δ ( B – V ) 〉 ≃ 0.10 mag; 〈 Δ ( B – R ) 〉 ≃ 0.14 mag), based on the slope of the M *–color relation for nearby ETGs, can be translated into an estimate of the average mass ratio of the mergers. The rough estimate, 1:5 to 1:10, is consistent with the expectation of the two-phase formation scenario, suggesting that minor mergers were largely responsible for building up the outer stellar envelopes of present-day massive ellipticals. With the help of accurate photometry, large sample sizes and more choices of colors promised by ongoing and future surveys, the approach proposed here can provide more insights into the growth of massive galaxies during the last few Gyr.

ON THE ROLE OF TACHOCLINES IN SOLAR AND STELLAR DYNAMOS

ABSTRACT Rotational shear layers at the boundary between radiative and convective zones, tachoclines, play a key role in the process of magnetic field generation in solar-like stars. We present two sets of global simulations of rotating turbulent convection and dynamo. The first set considers a stellar convective envelope only; the second one, aiming at the formation of a tachocline, also considers the upper part of the radiative zone. Our results indicate that the resulting properties of the mean flows and dynamo, such as the growth rate, saturation energy, and mode, depend on the Rossby number (Ro). For the first set of models either oscillatory (with ∼2 yr period) or steady dynamo solutions are obtained. The models in the second set naturally develop a tachocline, which in turn leads to the generation of a strong mean magnetic field. Since the field is also deposited in the stable deeper layer, its evolutionary timescale is much longer than in the models without a tachocline. Surprisingly, the magnetic field in the upper turbulent convection zone evolves on the same timescale as the deep field. These models result in either an oscillatory dynamo with a ∼30 yr period or a steady dynamo depending on Ro. In terms of the mean-field dynamo coefficients computed using the first-order smoothing approximation, the field evolution in the oscillatory models without a tachocline seems to be consistent with dynamo waves propagating according to the Parker–Yoshimura sign rule. In the models with tachoclines the dynamics is more complex and involves other transport mechanisms as well as tachocline instabilities.

Erratum: Inverse-Compton drag on a highly magnetized GRB jet in stellar envelope

Erratum: Inverse-Compton drag on a highly magnetized GRB jet in stellar envelope

Neutron star high‐mass binaries as the origin of SGR/AXP

AbstractA close high‐mass binary system consisting of a neutron star (NS) and a massive OB supergiant companion is expected to lead to a Thorne‐Żytkow object (TZO) structure, which consists of a NS core and a stellar envelope. We use the scenario machine program to calculate the formation tracks of TZOs in close high‐mass NS binaries and their subsequent evolution. We propose and demonstrate that the explosion and instant contraction of a TZO structure leave its stellar remnant as a soft gamma‐ray repeater and an anomalous X‐ray pulsar respectively. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The assembly of stellar haloes in massive Early-Type Galaxies

AbstractMassive (Mstellar ⩾ 5×1010 M⊙) Early-Type Galaxies (ETGs) must build an outer stellar envelope over cosmic time in order to account for their remarkable size evolution. This is similar to what occurs to nearby Late-Type Galaxies (LTGs), which create their stellar haloes out of the debris of lower mass systems. We analysed the outer parts of massive ETGs at z < 1 by exploiting the Hubble Ultra Deep Field imaging. These galaxies store 10-30% of their stellar mass at distances 10 < R/kpc < 50, in contrast to the low percentages (< 5%) found for LTGs. We find evidence for a progressive outskirt development with redshift driven solely via merging.

Merging binary black holes formed through chemically homogeneous evolution in short-period stellar binaries

We explore a newly proposed channel to create binary black holes of stellar origin. This scenario applies to massive, tight binaries where mixing induced by rotation and tides transports the products of hydrogen burning throughout the stellar envelopes. This slowly enriches the entire star with helium, preventing the build-up of an internal chemical gradient. The stars remain compact as they evolve nearly chemically homogeneously, eventually forming two black holes, which, we estimate, typically merge 4--11 Gyr after formation. Like other proposed channels, this evolutionary pathway suffers from significant theoretical uncertainties, but could be constrained in the near future by data from advanced ground-based gravitational-wave detectors. We perform Monte Carlo simulations of the expected merger rate over cosmic time to explore the implications and uncertainties. Our default model for this channel yields a local binary black hole merger rate of about $10$ Gpc$^{-3}$ yr$^{-1}$ at redshift $z=0$, peaking at twice this rate at $z=0.5$. This means that this channel is competitive, in terms of expected rates, with the conventional formation scenarios that involve a common-envelope phase during isolated binary evolution or dynamical interaction in a dense cluster. The events from this channel may be distinguished by the preference for nearly equal-mass components and high masses, with typical total masses between 50 and 110 $\textrm{M}_\odot$. Unlike the conventional isolated binary evolution scenario that involves shrinkage of the orbit during a common-envelope phase, short time delays are unlikely for this channel, implying that we do not expect mergers at high redshift.