High-Energy Emission of Fast Rotating White Dwarfs
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White Dwarfs
Chandra X-Ray Observatory X-Ray Astronomy Field Guide White Dwarfs White dwarfs are among the dimmest stars in the universe. Even so, they have commanded the attention of astronomers ever since the first white dwarf was observed by optical telescopes in the middle of the 19th century. One reason for this interest is that white dwarfs represent an intriguing state of matter; another reason is that most stars, including our sun, will become white dwarfs when they reach their final, burnt-out collapsed state. A star experiences an energy crisis and its core collapses when the star's basic, non-renewable energy source - hydrogen - is used up. A shell of hydrogen on the edge of the collapsed core will be compressed and heated. The nuclear fusion of the hydrogen in the shell will produce a new surge of power that will cause the outer layers of the star to expand until it has a diameter a hundred times its present value. This is called the "red giant" phase of a star's existence. A hundred million years after the red giant phase all of the star's available energy resources will be used up. The exhausted red giant will puff off its outer layer leaving behind a hot core. This hot core is called a Wolf-Rayet type star after the astronomers who first identified these objects. This star has a surface temperature of about 50,000 degrees Celsius and is A composite furiously boiling off its outer layers in a "fast" wind traveling 6 million image of the kilometers per hour. -
Supernovae Sparked by Dark Matter in White Dwarfs
Supernovae Sparked By Dark Matter in White Dwarfs Javier F. Acevedog and Joseph Bramanteg;y gThe Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2S8, Canada yPerimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 2Y5, Canada November 27, 2019 Abstract It was recently demonstrated that asymmetric dark matter can ignite supernovae by collecting and collapsing inside lone sub-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarfs, and that this may be the cause of Type Ia supernovae. A ball of asymmetric dark matter accumulated inside a white dwarf and collapsing under its own weight, sheds enough gravitational potential energy through scattering with nuclei, to spark the fusion reactions that precede a Type Ia supernova explosion. In this article we elaborate on this mechanism and use it to place new bounds on interactions between nucleons 6 16 and asymmetric dark matter for masses mX = 10 − 10 GeV. Interestingly, we find that for dark matter more massive than 1011 GeV, Type Ia supernova ignition can proceed through the Hawking evaporation of a small black hole formed by the collapsed dark matter. We also identify how a cold white dwarf's Coulomb crystal structure substantially suppresses dark matter-nuclear scattering at low momentum transfers, which is crucial for calculating the time it takes dark matter to form a black hole. Higgs and vector portal dark matter models that ignite Type Ia supernovae are explored. arXiv:1904.11993v3 [hep-ph] 26 Nov 2019 Contents 1 Introduction 2 2 Dark matter capture, thermalization and collapse in white dwarfs 4 2.1 Dark matter capture . -
The Impact of the Astro2010 Recommendations on Variable Star Science
The Impact of the Astro2010 Recommendations on Variable Star Science Corresponding Authors Lucianne M. Walkowicz Department of Astronomy, University of California Berkeley [email protected] phone: (510) 642–6931 Andrew C. Becker Department of Astronomy, University of Washington [email protected] phone: (206) 685–0542 Authors Scott F. Anderson, Department of Astronomy, University of Washington Joshua S. Bloom, Department of Astronomy, University of California Berkeley Leonid Georgiev, Universidad Autonoma de Mexico Josh Grindlay, Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Steve Howell, National Optical Astronomy Observatory Knox Long, Space Telescope Science Institute Anjum Mukadam, Department of Astronomy, University of Washington Andrej Prsa,ˇ Villanova University Joshua Pepper, Villanova University Arne Rau, California Institute of Technology Branimir Sesar, Department of Astronomy, University of Washington Nicole Silvestri, Department of Astronomy, University of Washington Nathan Smith, Department of Astronomy, University of California Berkeley Keivan Stassun, Vanderbilt University Paula Szkody, Department of Astronomy, University of Washington Science Frontier Panels: Stars and Stellar Evolution (SSE) February 16, 2009 Abstract The next decade of survey astronomy has the potential to transform our knowledge of variable stars. Stellar variability underpins our knowledge of the cosmological distance ladder, and provides direct tests of stellar formation and evolution theory. Variable stars can also be used to probe the fundamental physics of gravity and degenerate material in ways that are otherwise impossible in the laboratory. The computational and engineering advances of the past decade have made large–scale, time–domain surveys an immediate reality. Some surveys proposed for the next decade promise to gather more data than in the prior cumulative history of astronomy. -
Grant Proposals, 1991-1999
Grant Proposals, 1991-1999 Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives Smithsonian Institution Archives Washington, D.C. Contact us at [email protected] Table of Contents Collection Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 Administrative Information .............................................................................................. 1 Descriptive Entry.............................................................................................................. 1 Names and Subjects ...................................................................................................... 1 Container Listing ............................................................................................................. 2 Grant Proposals https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_251859 Collection Overview Repository: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C., [email protected] Title: Grant Proposals Identifier: Accession 99-171 Date: 1991-1999 Extent: 17 cu. ft. (17 record storage boxes) Creator:: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Contracts and Procurement Office Language: English Administrative Information Prefered Citation Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 99-171, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Contracts and Procurement Office, Grant Proposals Descriptive Entry This accession consists of records documenting Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory projects and activities. Materials include proposals, correspondence, progress -
Neutron Stars: End State of High-Mass Stars
Chapter 13: The Stellar Graveyard 3/31/2009 Habbal Astro110http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2001/1227/index.html Chapter 13 Lecture 26 1 Low mass star High mass (>8 Msun) star Ends as a white dwarf. Ends in a supernova, leaving a neutron star or black hole 3/31/2009 Habbal Astro110 Chapter 13 Lecture 26 2 White dwarfs: end state of low-mass stars • Inert remaining cores of dead low-mass stars. • No internal energy generation: start hot and steadily cool off. Optical image X-ray image Sirius A Sirius A high mass star high mass star Sirius B Sirius B white dwarf white dwarf 3/31/2009 Habbal Astro110 Chapter 13 Lecture 26 3 White dwarfs are supported against gravitational collapse by electron degeneracy pressure 3/31/2009 Habbal Astro110 Chapter 13 Lecture 26 4 A 1 MSun white dwarf is about the same size as the Earth… ⇒ A teaspoon of white dwarf material would weight 10 tons! 3/31/2009 Habbal Astro110 Chapter 13 Lecture 26 5 More massive white dwarfs are smaller! Mass ⇒ gravitational compression ⇒ density ⇒ radius Chandrasekhar limit: white dwarfs cannot be more massive than 1.4 MSun 3/31/2009 Habbal Astro110 Chapter 13 Lecture 26 6 White dwarfs in binary systems • WDʼs gravity can accrete gas from companion star. • Accreted gas can erupt in a short modest burst of nuclear fusion: novae • However, WDs cannot BANG! be more than 1.4 MSun. • If WD accretes too much gas, it is destroyed in a white dwarf supernova 3/31/2009 Habbal Astro110 Chapter 13 Lecture 26 7 Nova: a nuclear explosion on the surface of a WD, gas is expelled and system returns to normal 3/31/2009 Habbal Astro110 Chapter 13 Lecture 26 8 One way to tell supernova types apart is with a light curve showing how the luminosity changes. -
Stellar Death: White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes
Stellar death: White dwarfs, Neutron stars & Black Holes Content Expectaions What happens when fusion stops? Stars are in balance (hydrostatic equilibrium) by radiation pushing outwards and gravity pulling in What will happen once fusion stops? The core of the star collapses spectacularly, leaving behind a dead star (compact object) What is left depends on the mass of the original star: <8 M⦿: white dwarf 8 M⦿ < M < 20 M⦿: neutron star > 20 M⦿: black hole Forming a white dwarf Powerful wind pushes ejects outer layers of star forming a planetary nebula, and exposing the small, dense core (white dwarf) The core is about the radius of Earth Very hot when formed, but no source of energy – will slowly fade away Prevented from collapsing by degenerate electron gas (stiff as a solid) Planetary nebulae (nothing to do with planets!) THE RING NEBULA Planetary nebulae (nothing to do with planets!) THE CAT’S EYE NEBULA Death of massive stars When the core of a massive star collapses, it can overcome electron degeneracy Huge amount of energy BAADE ZWICKY released - big supernova explosion Neutron star: collapse halted by neutron degeneracy (1934: Baade & Zwicky) Black Hole: star so massive, collapse cannot be halted SN1006 1967: Pulsars discovered! Jocelyn Bell and her supervisor Antony Hewish studying radio signals from quasars Discovered recurrent signal every 1.337 seconds! Nicknamed LGM-1 now called PSR B1919+21 BRIGHTNESS TIME NATURE, FEBRUARY 1968 1967: Pulsars discovered! Beams of radiation from spinning neutron star Like a lighthouse Neutron -
121012-AAS-221 Program-14-ALL, Page 253 @ Preflight
221ST MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 6-10 January 2013 LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA Scientific sessions will be held at the: Long Beach Convention Center 300 E. Ocean Blvd. COUNCIL.......................... 2 Long Beach, CA 90802 AAS Paper Sorters EXHIBITORS..................... 4 Aubra Anthony ATTENDEE Alan Boss SERVICES.......................... 9 Blaise Canzian Joanna Corby SCHEDULE.....................12 Rupert Croft Shantanu Desai SATURDAY.....................28 Rick Fienberg Bernhard Fleck SUNDAY..........................30 Erika Grundstrom Nimish P. Hathi MONDAY........................37 Ann Hornschemeier Suzanne H. Jacoby TUESDAY........................98 Bethany Johns Sebastien Lepine WEDNESDAY.............. 158 Katharina Lodders Kevin Marvel THURSDAY.................. 213 Karen Masters Bryan Miller AUTHOR INDEX ........ 245 Nancy Morrison Judit Ries Michael Rutkowski Allyn Smith Joe Tenn Session Numbering Key 100’s Monday 200’s Tuesday 300’s Wednesday 400’s Thursday Sessions are numbered in the Program Book by day and time. Changes after 27 November 2012 are included only in the online program materials. 1 AAS Officers & Councilors Officers Councilors President (2012-2014) (2009-2012) David J. Helfand Quest Univ. Canada Edward F. Guinan Villanova Univ. [email protected] [email protected] PAST President (2012-2013) Patricia Knezek NOAO/WIYN Observatory Debra Elmegreen Vassar College [email protected] [email protected] Robert Mathieu Univ. of Wisconsin Vice President (2009-2015) [email protected] Paula Szkody University of Washington [email protected] (2011-2014) Bruce Balick Univ. of Washington Vice-President (2010-2013) [email protected] Nicholas B. Suntzeff Texas A&M Univ. suntzeff@aas.org Eileen D. Friel Boston Univ. [email protected] Vice President (2011-2014) Edward B. Churchwell Univ. of Wisconsin Angela Speck Univ. of Missouri [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer (2011-2014) (2012-2015) Hervey (Peter) Stockman STScI Nancy S. -
The Cataclysmic Variable AE Aquarii: Orbital Variability in V Band
The cataclysmic variable AE Aquarii: orbital variability in V band R. Zamanov & G. Latev Institute of Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Tsarigradsko Shose 72, BG-1784 Sofia, Bulgaria [email protected] [email protected] (Submitted on 28.11.2016. Accepted on 31.01.2017) Abstract. We present 62.7 hours observations of the cataclysmic variable AE Aqr in Johnson V band. These are non-published archive electro-photometric data obtained during the time period 1993 to 1999. We construct the orbital variability in V band and obtain a Fourier fit to the double-wave quiescent light curve. The strongest flares in our data set are in phase interval 0.6 - 0.8. The data can be downloaded from http://www.astro.bas.bg/∼rz/DATA/AEAqr.elphot.dat. Key words: Stars: novae, cataclysmic variables – Accretion, accretion disks – white dwarfs – Stars: individual: AE Aqr 1 Introduction AE Aqr is a bright intermediate polar cataclysmic variable (V ≈ 11−12.3). In this semi-detached binary system a spotted K type dwarf (K0-K4 IV/V star) transfers material through the inner Lagrangian point L1 toward a magnetic white dwarf (Skidmore et al. 2003, Hill et al. 2016). It has a relatively long orbital period of 9.88 hours (Robinson et al. 1991; Echevarr´ıa et al. 2008) and an extremely short rotational period of the white dwarf of only 33 s (Patterson et al. 1980). To appear in such a state, AE Aqr should be a former supersoft X-ray binary, in which the mass transfer rate in the recent past (≈ 107 yr) has been much higher than its current value (Schenker et al. -
Msc-Whipple Analysis 2010
TWO DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF INCOMPLETE PARAMETERISED ARCHIVAL DATA FROM THE WHIPPLE 10 METRE IMAGING ATMOSPHERIC CHERENKOV TELESCOPE CENTERED ON AE AQUARII by Michael Connolly H.Dip., B.D., B.Ph., B.Sc. A dissertation submitted to the Centre for Astronomy, School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Supervisor Dr Mark Lang February 2010 Galway, Ireland MSc-Whipple Analysis 2010 Dedicated to the memory of Martin Connolly (1940-1985) Hard work and belief can accomplish, With God’s help 1. Michael Connolly Page 2 MSc-Whipple Analysis 2010 1. Michael Connolly Page 3 MSc-Whipple Analysis 2010 Contents List of Figures. 8 List of Tables. 12 Acknowledgements. 12 Abstract. 14 Chapter 1: Introduction to Thesis 1.1 Introduction. 16 1.2 Thesis Overview. 17 1.3 Personal Contribution. 18 Chapter 2: Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy 2.1 Introduction. 20 2.2 Gamma ray production in the Earth’s atmosphere. 23 2.3 Extensive Air Showers. 23 2.3.1 Pair Production. 24 2.3.2 Electron-photon cascades or electromagnetic showers. 25 2.4 Extensive air showers from two different progenitors. 26 2.4.1 Properties of gamma ray induced showers. 26 2.4.2 Properties of cosmic ray induced showers. 27 2.5 What is Cherenkov light? . 28 1. Michael Connolly Page 4 MSc-Whipple Analysis 2010 2.6 Relative incidence of high energy electromagnetic photons . 31 2.7 History. 33 2.8 VHE gamma ray sources and production. 38 2.8.1 Physical processes involved in gamma ray production. -
Blasts from the Past Historic Supernovas
BLASTS from the PAST: Historic Supernovas 185 386 393 1006 1054 1181 1572 1604 1680 RCW 86 G11.2-0.3 G347.3-0.5 SN 1006 Crab Nebula 3C58 Tycho’s SNR Kepler’s SNR Cassiopeia A Historical Observers: Chinese Historical Observers: Chinese Historical Observers: Chinese Historical Observers: Chinese, Japanese, Historical Observers: Chinese, Japanese, Historical Observers: Chinese, Japanese Historical Observers: European, Chinese, Korean Historical Observers: European, Chinese, Korean Historical Observers: European? Arabic, European Arabic, Native American? Likelihood of Identification: Possible Likelihood of Identification: Probable Likelihood of Identification: Possible Likelihood of Identification: Possible Likelihood of Identification: Definite Likelihood of Identification: Definite Likelihood of Identification: Possible Likelihood of Identification: Definite Likelihood of Identification: Definite Distance Estimate: 8,200 light years Distance Estimate: 16,000 light years Distance Estimate: 3,000 light years Distance Estimate: 10,000 light years Distance Estimate: 7,500 light years Distance Estimate: 13,000 light years Distance Estimate: 10,000 light years Distance Estimate: 7,000 light years Distance Estimate: 6,000 light years Type: Core collapse of massive star Type: Core collapse of massive star Type: Core collapse of massive star? Type: Core collapse of massive star Type: Thermonuclear explosion of white dwarf Type: Thermonuclear explosion of white dwarf? Type: Core collapse of massive star Type: Thermonuclear explosion of white dwarf Type: Core collapse of massive star NASA’s ChANdrA X-rAy ObServAtOry historic supernovas chandra x-ray observatory Every 50 years or so, a star in our Since supernovas are relatively rare events in the Milky historic supernovas that occurred in our galaxy. Eight of the trine of the incorruptibility of the stars, and set the stage for observed around 1671 AD. -
Progenitors of Neutron Star-Forming Supernovae
Progenitors of Neutron Star- forming Supernovae Ken Nomoto (Kavli IPMU, U. Tokyo) Neutron star-forming supernovae 1) Magnetar-forming supernovae - GRB (XRF)-supernovae ? - Superluminous supernovae ? 2) Electron capture supernovae 3) Accretion induced collapse (AIC) of white dwarfs GRB-SN Connection (GRB 030329 / SN 2003dh) Stanek et al (2003) ; Hjorth et al (2003) Broad Lines! Spectraf Supernovae & Hypernovae Ic: no H, no strong He, SiII Ia no strong Si O Ca He Ib Hypernovae: Ic broad features 94I blended lines Hyper 97ef -novae “Large mass at 98bw high velocities” Patat et al. (1999) Iwamoto et al. Spectral Fitting: SN1997ef (2000) Too Narrow Features 51 E51=E/10 erg Normal SN (E51=1) Small Mej Hypernova (E51=20) Broad Features Large Mej at High Vel. GRB-SN SN2003dh SN2003lw SN1998bw SN2006aj SN1997ef SN2002ap SN1994I 56Co-decay CO Star Models for SNe Ic Parameters [M , E, M(56Ni)] H-rich ej He Light Curve Spectra 56 Fe 1/2 E ∝ Mej τ ~ [τdyn • τdiffusion] C+O 56 1/2 Co R κ Mej ~ • M Si V R c C+O 56Ni Fe ∝ κ½M ¾E -¼ Collapse ej 56Ni E ∝ M 3 Mms/M MC+O/M ej ~ 40 13.8 ~ 35 11.0 ~ 22 5.0 SNe [Mms-E relation] (Rapidly rotating BH?) Nomoto et al. (2003) 56 SNe [Mms-M( Ni) relation] Nomoto et al. (2003) Magnetar – X Ray Flash – Optical Light Curve ? • XRF 060218/ SN 2006aj (& XRF100316D/SN 2010bh) (Pian+, Chornock+, Bufano+) Small Oxygen Mass < 1.3 M Mej ~ 2 M (Mms ~ 20 M) 51 E ~ 2 x 10 erg 56 M( Ni)~0.2M SN06aj • Neutron Star- forming SN ? • Magnetar-driven XRF ? Magnetar-powered LC? SN Ib 2005bf: Double Peak Light Curve SUBARU observations 56 M( Ni) < 0.07 M Maeda et al. -
Search for Gamma-Ray Emission from AE Aquarii with Seven Years of FERMI-LAT Observations
Search for gamma-ray emission from AE Aquarii with seven years of FERMI-LAT observations Jian Li1, Diego F. Torres1,2, Nanda Rea1,3, Emma de O˜na Wilhelmi1, Alessandro Papitto4, Xian Hou5, & Christopher W. Mauche6 ABSTRACT AE Aquarii (AE Aqr) is a cataclysmic binary hosting one of the fastest rotating (Pspin = 33.08 s) white dwarfs known. Based on seven years of Fermi Large Area Tele- scope (LAT) Pass 8 data, we report on a deep search for gamma-ray emission from æ. Using X-ray observations from ASCA, XMM-Newton, Chandra, Swift, Suzaku, and NuSTAR, spanning 20 years, we substantially extend and improve the spin ephemeris of æ. Using this ephemeris, we searched for gamma-ray pulsations at the spin period of the white dwarf. No gamma-ray pulsations were detected above 3 σ significance. Neither phase-averaged gamma-ray emission nor gamma-ray variability of æ is de- tected by Fermi-LAT. We impose the most restrictive upper limit to the gamma-ray flux from æ to date: 1.3 × 10−12 erg cm−2 s−1 in the 100 MeV–300 GeV energy range, providing constraints on models. Subject headings: gamma rays: stars — cataclysmic binary: individual: æ 1. Introduction Cataclysmic variables (CVs) are semi-detached binaries consisting of a white dwarf (WD) and a companion star, usually a red dwarf. æ is a bright (V≈11, Welsh et al. 1999) CV hosting one of the fastest rotating WDs known (Pspin = 33.08 s, Patterson 1979) and a K 4-5 V secondary; it is arXiv:1608.06662v1 [astro-ph.HE] 23 Aug 2016 1Institute of Space Sciences (IEEC-CSIC), Campus UAB, Carrer de Magrans s/n, 08193 Barcelona, Spain 2Instituci´oCatalana de Recerca i Estudis Avanc¸ats (ICREA), E-08010 Barcelona, Spain 3Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 94249, NL-1090-GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands 4INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, via di Frascati 33, I-00040 Monte Porzio Catone, Roma, Italy 5Key Laboratory for the Structure and Evolution of Celestial Objects, Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650216, China.