Engineering topics

Hachisu, Izumi

Publications and source records attributed to Hachisu, Izumi.

17 records

DOE OSTI2017

A Millennium-long Evolution of the 1 yr Recurrence Period Nova—Search for Any Indication of the Forthcoming He Flash

We present 1500 cycles of hydrogen shell flashes on a 1.38 M{sub ⊙} white dwarf (WD) for a mass accretion rate of 1.6×10{sup −7} M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}, the mass ejection of which is calculated consistently with the optically thick winds. This model mimics the 1 yr recurrence period nova M31N 2008-12a. Through these hydrogen flashes a helium ash layer grows in mass and eventually triggers a helium nova outburst. Each hydrogen flash is almost identical, and there is no precursor for the forthcoming He flash either in the outburst or in the quiescent until the next He flash suddenly occurs. Thus, M31N 2008-12a is a promising candidate of He novae, outbursting in any time within a millennium. The prompt X-ray flash of He nova lasts as short as 15 minutes, with the X-ray luminosity being about half of the Eddington luminosity, making the observation difficult. In the very early phase of a He flash, the uppermost H-rich layer is convectively mixed into the deep interior and most of the hydrogen is consumed by nuclear burning. In comparison with hydrogen shell flashes of M31N 2008-12a, we expect the forthcoming He nova to have a very short prompt X-ray flash (15 minutes), a very bright optical/near-IR peak (∼3.5 mag brighter than M31N 2008-12a), a much longer nova duration (>2 yr), and a longer supersoft X-ray source phase (40–50 days or more).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Does Explosive Nuclear Burning Occur in Tidal Disruption Events of White Dwarfs by Intermediate-mass Black Holes?

We investigate nucleosynthesis in tidal disruption events (TDEs) of white dwarfs (WDs) by intermediate-mass black holes. We consider various types of WDs with different masses and compositions by means of three-dimensional (3D) smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations. We model these WDs with different numbers of SPH particles, N , from a few 10{sup 4} to a few 10{sup 7} in order to check mass resolution convergence, where SPH simulations with N > 10{sup 7} (or a space resolution of several 10{sup 6} cm) have unprecedentedly high resolution in this kind of simulation. We find that nuclear reactions become less active with increasing N and that these nuclear reactions are excited by spurious heating due to low resolution. Moreover, we find no shock wave generation. In order to investigate the reason for the absence of a shock wave, we additionally perform one-dimensional (1D) SPH and mesh-based simulations with a space resolution ranging from 10{sup 4} to 10{sup 7} cm, using a characteristic flow structure extracted from the 3D SPH simulations. We find shock waves in these 1D high-resolution simulations, one of which triggers a detonation wave. However, we must be careful of the fact that, if the shock wave emerged in an outer region, it could not trigger the detonation wave due to low density. Note that the 1D initial conditions lack accuracy to precisely determine where a shock wave emerges. We need to perform 3D simulations with ≲10{sup 6} cm space resolution in order to conclude that WD TDEs become optical transients powered by radioactive nuclei.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2017

A Self-consistent Model for a Full Cycle of Recurrent Novae—Wind Mass-loss Rate and X-Ray Luminosity

An unexpectedly slow evolution in the pre-optical-maximum phase was suggested in the very short recurrence period of nova M31N 2008-12a. To obtain reasonable nova light curves we have improved our calculation method by consistently combining optically thick wind solutions of hydrogen-rich envelopes with white dwarf (WD) structures calculated by a Henyey-type evolution code. The wind mass-loss rate is properly determined with high accuracy. We have calculated light curve models for 1.2 M {sub ⊙} and 1.38 M {sub ⊙} WDs with mass accretion rates corresponding to recurrence periods of 10 yr and 1 yr, respectively. The outburst lasts 590/29 days, in which the pre-optical-maximum phase is 82/16 days, for 1.2/1.38 M {sub ⊙}, respectively. Optically thick winds start at the end of the X-ray flash and cease at the beginning of the supersoft X-ray phase. We also present supersoft X-ray light curves including a prompt X-ray flash and later supersoft X-ray phase.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2016

X-ray flashes in recurrent novae: M31N 2008-12A and the implications of the Swift nondetection

Models of nova outbursts suggest that an X-ray flash should occur just after hydrogen ignition. However, this X-ray flash has never been observationally confirmed. We present four theoretical light curves of the X-ray flash for two very massive white dwarfs (WDs) of 1.380 and 1.385 M{sub ⊙} and for two recurrence periods of 0.5 and 1 yr. The duration of the X-ray flash is shorter for a more massive WD and for a longer recurrence period. The shortest duration of 14 hr (0.6 days) among the four cases is obtained for the 1.385 M{sub ⊙} WD with a 1 yr recurrence period. In general, a nova explosion is relatively weak for a very short recurrence period, which results in a rather slow evolution toward the optical peak. This slow timescale and the predictability of very short recurrence period novae give us a chance to observe X-ray flashes of recurrent novae. In this context, we report the first attempt, using the Swift observatory, to detect an X-ray flash of the recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a (0.5 or 1 yr recurrence period), which resulted in the nondetection of X-ray emission during the period of 8 days before the optical detection. We discuss the impact of these observations on nova outburst theory. The X-ray flash is one of the last frontiers of nova studies, and its detection is essential for understanding the pre-optical-maximum phase. We encourage further observations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2016

Shortest recurrence periods of forced Novae

We revisit hydrogen shell burning on white dwarfs (WDs) with higher mass accretion rates than the stability limit, M-dot {sub stable}, above which hydrogen burning is stable. Novae occur with mass accretion rates below the limit. For an accretion rate > M-dot {sub stable}, a first hydrogen shell flash occurs followed by steady nuclear burning, so the shell burning will not be quenched as long as the WD continuously accretes matter. On the basis of this picture, some persistent supersoft X-ray sources can be explained by binary models with high accretion rates. In some recent studies, however, the claim has been made that no steady hydrogen shell burning exists even for accretion rates > M-dot {sub stable}. We demonstrate that, in such cases, repetitive flashes occurred because mass accretion was artificially controlled. If we stop mass accretion during the outburst, no new nuclear fuel is supplied, so the shell burning will eventually stop. If we resume mass accretion after some time, the next outburst eventually occurs. In this way, we can design the duration of outburst and interpulse time with manipulated mass accretion. We call such a controlled nova a “forced nova.” These forced novae, if they exist, could have much shorter recurrence periods than “natural novae.” We have obtained the shortest recurrence periods for forced novae for various WD masses. Based on the results, we revisit WD masses of some recurrent novae, including T Pyx.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2016

THE CRITICAL MASS RATIO OF DOUBLE WHITE DWARF BINARIES FOR VIOLENT MERGER-INDUCED TYPE IA SUPERNOVA EXPLOSIONS

Mergers of carbon–oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs) are considered to be one of the potential progenitors of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Recent hydrodynamical simulations showed that the less massive (secondary) WD violently accretes onto the more massive (primary) one, carbon detonation occurs, the detonation wave propagates through the primary, and the primary finally explodes as a sub-Chandrasekhar mass SN Ia. Such an explosion mechanism is called the violent merger scenario. Based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of merging CO WDs, we derived a critical mass ratio (q{sub cr}) leading to the violent merger scenario that is more stringent than previous results. We conclude that this difference mainly comes from the differences in the initial condition of whether or not the WDs are synchronously spinning. Using our new results, we estimated the brightness distribution of SNe Ia in the violent merger scenario and compared it with previous studies. We found that our new q{sub cr} does not significantly affect the brightness distribution. We present the direct outcome immediately following CO WD mergers for various primary masses and mass ratios. We also discussed the final fate of the central system of the bipolar planetary nebula Henize 2-428, which was recently suggested to be a double CO WD system whose total mass exceeds the Chandrasekhar-limiting mass, merging within the Hubble time. Even considering the uncertainties in the proposed binary parameters, we concluded that the final fate of this system is almost certainly a sub-Chandrasekhar mass SN Ia in the violent merger scenario.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2016

Light-curve analysis of neon novae

We analyzed light curves of five neon novae, QU Vul, V351 Pup, V382 Vel, V693 CrA, and V1974 Cyg, and determined their white dwarf (WD) masses and distance moduli on the basis of theoretical light curves composed of free–free and photospheric emission. For QU Vul, we obtained a distance of d ∼ 2.4 kpc, reddening of E(B − V) ∼ 0.55, and WD mass of M{sub WD} = 0.82–0.96 M{sub ⊙}. This suggests that an oxygen–neon WD lost a mass of more than ∼0.1 M{sub ⊙} since its birth. For V351 Pup, we obtained d∼5.5 kpc, E(B−V)∼0.45, and M{sub WD}=0.98–1.1 M{sub ⊙}. For V382 Vel, we obtained d∼1.6 kpc, E(B−V)∼0.15, and M{sub WD}=1.13–1.28 M{sub ⊙}. For V693 CrA, we obtained d∼7.1 kpc, E(B−V)∼0.05, and M{sub WD}=1.15–1.25 M{sub ⊙}. For V1974 Cyg, we obtained d∼1.8 kpc, E(B−V)∼0.30, and M{sub WD}=0.95–1.1 M{sub ⊙}. For comparison, we added the carbon–oxygen nova V1668 Cyg to our analysis and obtained d∼5.4 kpc, E(B−V)∼0.30, and M{sub WD}=0.98–1.1 M{sub ⊙}. In QU Vul, photospheric emission contributes 0.4–0.8 mag at most to the optical light curve compared with free–free emission only. In V351 Pup and V1974 Cyg, photospheric emission contributes very little (0.2–0.4 mag at most) to the optical light curve. In V382 Vel and V693 CrA, free–free emission dominates the continuum spectra, and photospheric emission does not contribute to the optical magnitudes. We also discuss the maximum magnitude versus rate of decline relation for these novae based on the universal decline law.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Multi-wavelength light curve model of the one year recurrence period nova M31N 2008-12a

We present a theoretical light curve model of the recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a, the current record holder for the shortest recurrence period (1 year). We combined interior structures calculated using a Henyey-type evolution code with optically thick wind solutions of hydrogen-rich envelopes, which give the proper mass-loss rates, photospheric temperatures, and luminosities. The light curve model is calculated for a 1.38 M{sub ⊙} white dwarf (WD) with an accretion rate of 1.6×10{sup −7} M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}. This model shows a very high effective temperature (log T{sub ph} (K)⩾4.97) and a very small wind mass-loss rate ( M-dot {sub wind}⩽9.3×10{sup −6} M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}) even at the maximum expansion of the photosphere. These properties are consistent with the faint optical peak of M31N 2008-12a because the brightness of the free–free emission is proportional to the square of the mass-loss rate. The model well reproduces the short supersoft X-ray turn-on time of 6 days and turn-off time of 18 days after the outburst. The ejecta mass of our model is calculated to be 6.3×10{sup −8} M{sub ⊙}, corresponding to 37% of the accreted mass. The growth rate of the WD is 0.63 times the mass accretion rate, making it a progenitor for a SN Ia. Our light curve model predicts a bright supersoft X-ray phase one or two days before the optical peak. We encourage detection of this X-ray flash in future outbursts.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2015

A systematic study of carbon–oxygen white dwarf mergers: Mass combinations for type Ia supernovae

Mergers of two carbon–oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs) have been considered to be progenitors of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations, previous studies have claimed that mergers of CO WDs lead to SN Ia explosions either in the dynamical merger phase or the stationary rotating merger remnant phase. However, the mass range of CO WDs that lead to SNe Ia has not yet been clearly identified. In the present work, we perform systematic SPH merger simulations for the WD masses ranging from 0.5 M{sub ⊙} to 1.1 M{sub ⊙} with higher resolutions than the previous systematic surveys and examine whether or not carbon burning occurs dynamically or quiescently in each phase. We further study the possibility of SNe Ia explosions and estimate the mass range of CO WDs that lead to SNe Ia. We found that when both WDs are massive, i.e., in the mass range of 0.9 M{sub ⊙}⩽M{sub 1,2}⩽1.1 M{sub ⊙}, they can explode as an SN Ia in the merger phase. On the other hand, when the more massive WD is in the range of 0.7 M{sub ⊙}⩽M{sub 1}⩽0.9 M{sub ⊙} and the total mass exceeds 1.38 M{sub ⊙}, they can finally explode in the stationary rotating merger remnant phase. We estimate the contribution of CO WD mergers to the entire SN Ia rate in our galaxy to be of ≲9%. Thus, it might be difficult to explain all galactic SNe Ia with CO WD mergers.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Hydrodynamical evolution of merging carbon–OXYGEN white dwarfs: Their pre-supernova structure and observational counterparts

We perform smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations for merging binary carbon–oxygen (CO) WDs with masses of 1.1 and 1.0 M{sub ⊙}, until the merger remnant reaches a dynamically steady state. Using these results, we assess whether the binary could induce a thermonuclear explosion, and whether the explosion could be observed as a type Ia supernova (SN Ia). We investigate three explosion mechanisms: a helium-ignition following the dynamical merger (“helium-ignited violent merger model”), a carbon-ignition (“carbon-ignited violent merger model”), and an explosion following the formation of the Chandrasekhar mass WD (“Chandrasekhar mass model”). An explosion of the helium-ignited violent merger model is possible, while we predict that the resulting SN ejecta are highly asymmetric since its companion star is fully intact at the time of the explosion. The carbon-ignited violent merger model can also lead to an explosion. However, the envelope of the exploding WD spreads out to ∼0.1 R{sub ⊙}; it is much larger than that inferred for SN 2011fe (<0.1 R{sub ⊙}) while much smaller than that for SN 2014J (∼1 R{sub ⊙}). For the particular combination of the WD masses studied in this work, the Chandrasekhar mass model does not successfully lead to an SN Ia explosion. Besides these assessments, we investigate the evolution of unbound materials ejected through the merging process (“merger ejecta”), assuming a case where the SN Ia explosion is not triggered by the helium- or carbon-ignition during the merger. The merger ejecta interact with the surrounding interstellar medium and form a shell. The shell has a bolometric luminosity of more than 2×10{sup 35} erg s{sup −1}, lasting for ∼2×10{sup 4} years. If this is the case, the Milky Way should harbor about 10 such shells at any given time. The detection of the shell(s) can therefore rule out the helium-ignited and carbon-ignited violent merger models as major paths to SN Ia explosions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2015

A LIGHT CURVE ANALYSIS OF CLASSICAL NOVAE: FREE-FREE EMISSION VERSUS PHOTOSPHERIC EMISSION

We analyzed light curves of seven relatively slower novae, PW Vul, V705 Cas, GQ Mus, RR Pic, V5558 Sgr, HR Del, and V723 Cas, based on an optically thick wind theory of nova outbursts. For fast novae, free-free emission dominates the spectrum in optical bands rather than photospheric emission, and nova optical light curves follow the universal decline law. Faster novae blow stronger winds with larger mass-loss rates. Because the brightness of free-free emission depends directly on the wind mass-loss rate, faster novae show brighter optical maxima. In slower novae, however, we must take into account photospheric emission because of their lower wind mass-loss rates. We calculated three model light curves of free-free emission, photospheric emission, and their sum for various white dwarf (WD) masses with various chemical compositions of their envelopes and fitted reasonably with observational data of optical, near-IR (NIR), and UV bands. From light curve fittings of the seven novae, we estimated their absolute magnitudes, distances, and WD masses. In PW Vul and V705 Cas, free-free emission still dominates the spectrum in the optical and NIR bands. In the very slow novae, RR Pic, V5558 Sgr, HR Del, and V723 Cas, photospheric emission dominates the spectrum rather than free-free emission, which makes a deviation from the universal decline law. We have confirmed that the absolute brightnesses of our model light curves are consistent with the distance moduli of four classical novae with known distances (GK Per, V603 Aql, RR Pic, and DQ Her). We also discussed the reason why the very slow novae are about ∼1 mag brighter than the proposed maximum magnitude versus rate of decline relation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2014

Shortest recurrence periods of novae

Stimulated by the recent discovery of the 1 yr recurrence period nova M31N 2008-12a, we examined the shortest recurrence periods of hydrogen shell flashes on mass-accreting white dwarfs (WDs). We discuss the mechanism that yields a finite minimum recurrence period for a given WD mass. Calculating the unstable flashes for various WD masses and mass accretion rates, we identified a shortest recurrence period of about two months for a non-rotating 1.38 M {sub ☉} WD with a mass accretion rate of 3.6 × 10{sup –7} M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1}. A 1 yr recurrence period is realized for very massive (≳ 1.3 M {sub ☉}) WDs with very high accretion rates (≳ 1.5 × 10{sup –7} M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1}). We revised our stability limit of hydrogen shell burning, which will be useful for binary evolution calculations toward Type Ia supernovae.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2014

The UBV color evolution of classical novae. I. Nova-giant sequence in the color-color diagram

We identified a general course of classical nova outbursts in the B – V versus U – B color-color diagram. It is reported that novae show spectra similar to those of A-F supergiants near optical light maximum. However, they do not follow the supergiant sequence in the color-color diagram, neither the blackbody nor the main-sequence sequence. Instead, we found that novae evolve along a new sequence in the pre-maximum and near-maximum phases, which we call 'the nova-giant sequence'. This sequence is parallel to but Δ(U – B) ≈ –0.2 mag bluer than the supergiant sequence. This is because the mass of a nova envelope is much (∼10{sup –4} times) less than that of a normal supergiant. After optical maximum, its color quickly evolves back blueward along the same nova-giant sequence and reaches the point of free-free emission (B – V = –0.03, U – B = –0.97), which coincides with the intersection of the blackbody sequence and the nova-giant sequence, and remains there for a while. Then the color evolves leftward (blueward in B – V but almost constant in U – B), owing mainly to the development of strong emission lines. This is the general course of nova outbursts in the color-color diagram, which was deduced from eight well-observed novae in various speed classes. For a nova with unknown extinction, we can determine a reliable value of the color excess by matching the observed track of the target nova with this general course. This is a new and convenient method for obtaining the color excesses of classical novae. Using this method, we redetermined the color excesses of 20 well-observed novae. The obtained color excesses are in reasonable agreement with the previous results, which in turn support the idea of our general track of nova outbursts. Additionally, we estimated the absolute V magnitudes of about 30 novae using a method for time-stretching nova light curves to analyze the distance-reddening relations of the novae.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2013

Novae in globular clusters

We present the first light-curve analysis of Population II novae that appeared in M31 globular clusters. Our light-curve models, based on the optically thick wind theory, reproduce well both the X-ray turn-on and turnoff times with the white dwarf (WD) mass of about 1.2 M {sub ☉} for M31N 2007-06b in Bol 111 and about 1.37 M {sub ☉} for M31N 2010-10f in Bol 126. The transient supersoft X-ray source CXO J004345 in Bol 194 is highly likely a nova remnant of 1.2-1.3 M {sub ☉} WD. These WD masses are quite consistent with the temperatures deduced from X-ray spectra. We also present the dependence of nova light curves on the metallicity in the range from [Fe/H] = 0.4 to –2.7. Whereas strong optically thick winds are accelerated in Galactic disk novae owing to a large Fe opacity peak, only weak winds occur in Population II novae with low Fe abundance. Thus, nova light curves are systematically slow in low Fe environment. For an extremely low Fe abundance normal nova outbursts may not occur unless the WD is very massive. We encourage V or y filter observation rather than R as well as high cadence X-ray monitorings to open quantitative studies of extragalactic novae.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2013

AN X-RAY AND OPTICAL LIGHT CURVE MODEL OF THE ECLIPSING SYMBIOTIC BINARY SMC3

Some binary evolution scenarios for Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) include long-period binaries that evolve to symbiotic supersoft X-ray sources in their late stage of evolution. However, symbiotic stars with steady hydrogen burning on the white dwarf's (WD) surface are very rare, and the X-ray characteristics are not well known. SMC3 is one such rare example and a key object for understanding the evolution of symbiotic stars to SNe Ia. SMC3 is an eclipsing symbiotic binary, consisting of a massive WD and red giant (RG), with an orbital period of 4.5 years in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The long-term V light curve variations are reproduced as orbital variations in the irradiated RG, whose atmosphere fills its Roche lobe, thus supporting the idea that the RG supplies matter to the WD at rates high enough to maintain steady hydrogen burning on the WD. We also present an eclipse model in which an X-ray-emitting region around the WD is almost totally occulted by the RG swelling over the Roche lobe on the trailing side, although it is always partly obscured by a long spiral tail of neutral hydrogen surrounding the binary in the orbital plane.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1994

The stability of thick, self-gravitating disks in protostellar systems

Using numerical hydrodynamics techniques, we perform a nonlinear stability analysis of accretion disk systems that contain thick, self-gravitating disks. The systems are initially represented by a point mass M(sub c) at the center and a geometrically thick, axisymmetric disk of mass M(sub d) that supports uniform specific angular momentum and obeys an n = 3/2, polytropic equation of state. The equilibrium disk structure is uniquely defined upon the specification of two key dimensionless system parameters: M(sub d)/M(sub c) and T/absolute value of W (the ratio of rotational kinetic energy if the disk to the gravitational potential energy of the system). The focus of this work is on the identification of systems within this two-dimensional parameter space that are marginally unstable toward the development of nonaxisymmetric distortions. The geometric form and relative pattern speed of the disk's distortion as well as the likelihood of disk fragmentation as a result of such instabilities is examined, particularly in the context of protostellar systems. The value of T/absolute value of W at which thick disks first become dynamically unstable to nonaxisymmetric distortions is found to vary significantly with the mass ratio of the accertion disk system. Nonaxisymmetric eigenmodes with four distinctly different characters are identified in systems with mass ratios in the range 0.2 less than or equal to (M(sub d)/M(sub c)) less than or equal to 5.

Woodward, John W.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The origin of ultra-compact binaries

The origin of ultra-compact binaries composed of a neutron star and a low-mass (about 0.06 solar mass) white dwarf is considered. Taking account of the systemic losses of mass and angular momentum, it was found that a serious difficulty exists in the scenarios which involve tidal captures of a normal star (a main sequence star or a red giant) by a neutron star. This difficulty can be avoided if a red giant star is captured by a massive white dwarf (M is approx. greater than 1.2 solar masses), which becomes a neutron star through the accretion induced collapse.

Hachisu, Izumi↗