IALP   13078
INSTITUTO DE ASTROFISICA LA PLATA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Oscillatory secular modes: the thermal micropulses
Autor/es:
GAUTSCHY, A.; ALTHAUS, L. G.
Revista:
ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
Editorial:
EDP Sciences
Referencias:
Año: 2007 vol. 471 p. 911 - 923
ISSN:
0004-6361
Resumen:
Aims.Stars in the narrow mass range of about 2.5 and 3.5 Msolar can
develop a thermally unstable He-burning shell during its ignition phase.
We study, from the point of view secular stability theory, these
so-called thermal micropulses and investigate their properties; the
thermal pulses constitute a convenient conceptual laboratory to look
thoroughly into the physical properties of a helium-burning shell during
the whole thermally pulsing episode. Methods: Linear stability analyses
were performed on a large number of 3 Msolar star models toward the
end of their core helium-burning and the beginning of the double shell
burning phase. The stellar models were not assumed to be in thermal
equilibrium. Results: The thermal mircopulses - and we conjecture all
other thermal pulse episodes encountered by shell burning stars - can be
understood as the nonlinear finite-amplitude realization of an
oscillatory secular instability that prevails during the whole thermal
pulsing episode. Hence, the cyclic nature of the thermal pulses can be
traced back to a linear instability concept.