Outer boundary conditions for evolving cool white dwarfs

Context. White dwarf evolution is essentially a gravothermal cooling process, which, for cool white dwarfs, depends on the treatment of the outer boundary conditions. Aims. We provide detailed outer boundary conditions that are appropriate to computing the evolution of cool white dwarfs by employing...

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Autores principales: Rohrmann, R. D., Althaus, Leandro Gabriel, García Berro, E., Córsico, Alejandro Hugo, Miller Bertolami, Marcelo Miguel
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2012
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Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84484
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id I19-R120-10915-84484
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Astronómicas
Stars: evolution
Stars: interiors
White dwarfs
spellingShingle Ciencias Astronómicas
Stars: evolution
Stars: interiors
White dwarfs
Rohrmann, R. D.
Althaus, Leandro Gabriel
García Berro, E.
Córsico, Alejandro Hugo
Miller Bertolami, Marcelo Miguel
Outer boundary conditions for evolving cool white dwarfs
topic_facet Ciencias Astronómicas
Stars: evolution
Stars: interiors
White dwarfs
description Context. White dwarf evolution is essentially a gravothermal cooling process, which, for cool white dwarfs, depends on the treatment of the outer boundary conditions. Aims. We provide detailed outer boundary conditions that are appropriate to computing the evolution of cool white dwarfs by employing detailed nongray model atmospheres for pure hydrogen composition. We also explore the impact on the white dwarf cooling times of different assumptions for energy transfer in the atmosphere of cool white dwarfs. Methods. Detailed nongray model atmospheres were computed by considering nonideal effects in the gas equation of state and chemical equilibrium, collision-induced absorption from molecules, and the Lyman α quasi-molecular opacity. We explored the impact of outer boundary conditions provided by updated model atmospheres on the cooling times of 0.60 and 0.90 M white dwarf sequences. Results. Our results show that the use of detailed outer boundary conditions becomes relevant for effective temperatures lower than 5800 K for sequences with 0.60 M and 6100 K with 0.90 M. Detailed model atmospheres predict ages that are up to ≈ 10% shorter at log (L/L) =-4 when compared with the ages derived using Eddington-like approximations at τ Ross = 2/3. We also analyze the effects of various assumptions and physical processes that are relevant in the calculation of outer boundary conditions. In particular, we find that the Lyα red wing absorption does not substantially affect the evolution of white dwarfs. Conclusions. White dwarf cooling timescales are sensitive to the surface boundary conditions for T eff ≤ 6000 K. Interestingly enough, nongray effects have few consequences on these cooling times at observable luminosities. In fact, collision-induced absorption processes, which significantly affect the spectra and colors of old white dwarfs with hydrogen-rich atmospheres, have no noticeable effects on their cooling rates, except throughout the Rosseland mean opacity.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Rohrmann, R. D.
Althaus, Leandro Gabriel
García Berro, E.
Córsico, Alejandro Hugo
Miller Bertolami, Marcelo Miguel
author_facet Rohrmann, R. D.
Althaus, Leandro Gabriel
García Berro, E.
Córsico, Alejandro Hugo
Miller Bertolami, Marcelo Miguel
author_sort Rohrmann, R. D.
title Outer boundary conditions for evolving cool white dwarfs
title_short Outer boundary conditions for evolving cool white dwarfs
title_full Outer boundary conditions for evolving cool white dwarfs
title_fullStr Outer boundary conditions for evolving cool white dwarfs
title_full_unstemmed Outer boundary conditions for evolving cool white dwarfs
title_sort outer boundary conditions for evolving cool white dwarfs
publishDate 2012
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84484
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AT garciaberroe outerboundaryconditionsforevolvingcoolwhitedwarfs
AT corsicoalejandrohugo outerboundaryconditionsforevolvingcoolwhitedwarfs
AT millerbertolamimarcelomiguel outerboundaryconditionsforevolvingcoolwhitedwarfs
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