Engineering topics

Saumon, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Saumon, D..

9 records

DOE OSTI2021

Gemini Planet Imager Spectroscopy of the Dusty Substellar Companion HD 206893 B

We present new near-infrared Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) spectroscopy of HD 206893 B, a substellar companion orbiting within the debris disk of its F5V star. The J, H, K1, and K2 spectra from GPI demonstrate the extraordinarily red colors of the object, confirming it as the reddest substellar object observed to date. The significant flux increase throughout the infrared presents a challenging atmosphere to model with existing grids. Best-fit values vary from 1200 to 1800 K for effective temperature and from 3.0 to 5.0 for log(g), depending on which individual wavelength band is fit and which model suite is applied. The extreme redness of the companion can be partially reconciled by invoking a high-altitude layer of submicron dust particles, similar to dereddening approaches applied to the peculiar red field L dwarf population. However, reconciling the HD 206893 B spectra with even those of the reddest low-gravity L dwarf spectra still requires the contribution of additional atmospheric dust, potentially due to the debris disk environment in which the companion resides. Orbit fitting from 4 yr of astrometric monitoring is consistent with a ∼30 yr period, an orbital inclination of 147°, and a semimajor axis of 10 au, well within the estimated disk inner radius of ∼50 au. As one of a very few substellar companions imaged interior to a circumstellar disk, the properties of this system offer important dynamical constraints on companion–disk interaction and provide a benchmark for substellar and planetary atmospheric study.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2020

Review of the first charged-particle transport coefficient comparison workshop

We present the results of the first Charged-Particle Transport Coefficient Code Comparison Workshop, which was held in Albuquerque, NM October 4–6, 2016. In this first workshop, scientists from eight institutions and four countries gathered to compare calculations of transport coefficients including thermal and electrical conduction, electron–ion coupling, inter-ion diffusion, ion viscosity, and charged particle stopping powers. In this paper, we give general background on Coulomb coupling and computational expense, review where some transport coefficients appear in hydrodynamic equations, and present the submitted data. Large variations are found when either the relevant Coulomb coupling parameter is large or computational expense causes difficulties. Understanding the general accuracy and uncertainty associated with such transport coefficients is important for quantifying errors in hydrodynamic simulations of inertial confinement fusion and high-energy density experiments.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2020

Diffusion coefficients in the envelopes of white dwarfs

The diffusion of elements is a key process in understanding the unusual surface composition of white dwarfs and their spectral evolution. The diffusion coefficients of Paquette et al. have been widely used to model diffusion in white dwarfs. In this work, we perform new calculations of the coefficients of interdiffusion and ionic thermal diffusion with (1) a more advanced model that uses a recent modification of the calculation of the collision integrals that is more suitable for the partially ionized, partially degenerate, and moderately coupled plasma and (2) classical molecular dynamics. The coefficients are evaluated for silicon and calcium in white dwarf envelopes of hydrogen and helium. A comparison of our results with Paquette et al. shows that the latter systematically underestimates the coefficient of interdiffusion yet provides reliable estimates for the relatively weakly coupled plasmas found in nearly all types of stars, as well as in white dwarfs with hydrogen envelopes. In white dwarfs with cool helium envelopes (${T}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ < 15,000 K), the difference grows to more than a factor of two. We also explored the effect of the ionization model used to determine the charges of the ions and found that it can be a substantial source of discrepancy between different calculations. Finally, we consider the relative diffusion timescales of Si and Ca in the context of the pollution of white dwarf photospheres by accreted planetesimals and find factor of ≳3 differences between calculations based on Paquette et al. and our model.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2016

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of the Y0 WISEP J173835.52+273258.9 and the Y1 WISE J035000.32-565830.2: the Importance of Non-Equilibrium Chemistry

We present new near-infrared spectra, obtained at Gemini Observatory, for two Y dwarfs: WISE J035000.32−565830.2 (W0350) and WISEP J173835.52+273258.9 (W1738). A FLAMINGOS-2 R = 540 spectrum was obtained for W0350, covering 1.0 < λ micrometer < 1.7, and a cross-dispersed GNIRS R = 2800 spectrum was obtained for W1738, covering 0.993 - 1.087 micrometer, 1.191 - 1.305 micrometer, 1.589 - 1.631 micrometer, and 1.985 - 2.175 micrometer, in four orders. We also present revised Y JH photometry for W1738, using new NIRI Y and J imaging, and a re-analysis of the previously published NIRI H band images. We compare these data, together with previously published data for late-T and Y dwarfs, to cloud-free models of solar metallicity, calculated both in chemical equilibrium and with disequilibrium driven by vertical transport. We find that for the Y dwarfs the non-equilibrium models reproduce the near-infrared data better than the equilibrium models. The remaining discrepancies suggest that fine-tuning the CH4/CO and NH3/N2 balance is needed. Improved trigonometric parallaxes would improve the analysis. Despite the uncertainties and discrepancies, the models reproduce the observed near-infrared spectra well. We find that for the Y0, W1738, T(sub eff) = 425 +/- 25K and log g = 4.0 +/- 0.25, and for the Y1, W0350, T(sub eff) = 350 +/- 25K and log g = 4.0 +/- 0.25. W1738 may be metal-rich. Based on evolutionary models, these temperatures and gravities correspond to a mass range for both Y dwarfs of 3 - 9 Jupiter masses, with W0350 being a cooler, slightly older, version of W1738; the age of W0350 is 0.3 - 3 Gyr, and the age of W1738 is 0.15 - 1 Gyr.

two Y dwarfs↗

NASA NTRS2007

Moderate-Resolution Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph Observations of M, L, and T Dwarfs

We present 10-19 micrometers moderate-resolution spectra of 10 M dwarfs, one L dwarf, and two T dwarf systems obtained with the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. The IRS allows us to examine molecular spectroscopic features/lines at moderate spectral resolution in a heretofore untapped wavelength regime. These R = (lamda)/(Delta)(lamda) approximately equal to 600 spectra allow for a more detailed examination of clouds and nonequilibrium chemistry, as well as the molecular features of H2O, NH3, and other trace molecular species that are the hallmarks of these objects. A cloud-free model best fits our mid-infrared spectrum of the T1 dwarf (Sigma) Indi Ba, and we find that the NH3 feature in (Sigma) Indi Bb is best explained by a nonequilibrium abundance due to vertical transport in its atmosphere.We examined a set of objects (mostly M dwarfs) in multiple systems to look for evidence of emission features, which might indicate an atmospheric temperature inversion, as well as trace molecular species; however, we found no evidence of either.

low mass brown dwarfs↗

NASA NTRS1995

New model atmospheres for very cool white dwarfs with mixed H/He and pure He compositions

New model atmosphere calculations for very cool white dwarfs with mixed H/He and pure He compositions are presented. The hydrogen-rich models incorporate improved cross section calculations of the collision-induced absorption by molecular hydrogen due to collisions with H2, H, and He. The effects associated with variations in the effective temperature (T(sub eff) greater than or equal to 4000 and less than or equal to 10,000 K), the surface gravity (log g greater than or equal to 7.5 and less than or equal to 9.5), and the chemical composition (N(He)/N(H) greater than or equal to O and less than or equal to 100) are investigated. Results from earlier calculations are confirmed qualitatively, but a more detailed comparison reveals large quantitative deviations. Cool white dwarfs with mixed H/He chemical compositions are shown to be easily recognizable from their predicted strong infrared flux deficiency. Pure helium model calculations are described as well. These include a modified version of the recently developed equation of state of D. Saumon and G. Chabrier. Nonideal effects brought about by various equations of state are explored in detail. For the purpose of this analysis, a model of pressure ionization based on an accurate description of the interactions in a mostly atomic helium fluid is developed. The effects of pressure ionization are shown to be the most important issue in the model calculations. A critical discussion of previous generations of pure helium model calculations is presented. Finally, broadband color indices are provided for the complete model grid.

Bergeron, P.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Cool zero-metallicity stellar atmospheres

Very low mass stars and brown dwarfs have low effective temperatures and their atmospheric opacities are provided by heavy elements which form a host of strongly absorbing molecules. We present a study of the atmospheres and emergent spectra of these objects in the limiting case of zero metallicity. A grid of atmosphere models is presented, based on updated opacities for H/He mixtues, in particular for the collision-induced absorption by H2 which plays an important role in these atmospheres. The emergent spectra bear little resemblance to the corresponding blackbody emission and become bluer as the effective temperature is lowered. The atmosphere models are coupled with interior calculations to obtain accurate physical and photometric characteristics for the low-mass end of the zero-metallicity main sequence. This provides a useful boundary in the Hertzsprung-Russel diagram to interpret observations of low-metallicity stars.

Saumon, D.↗

NASA NTRS1993

An expanded set of brown dwarf and very low mass star models

We present in this paper updated and improved theoretical models of brown dwarfs and late M dwarfs. The evolution and characteristics of objects between 0.01 and 0.2 solar mass are exhaustively investigated and special emphasis is placed on their properties at early ages. The dependence on the helium fraction, deuterium fraction, and metallicity of the masses, effective temperature and luminosities at the edge of the hydrogen main sequence are calculated. We derive luminosity functions for representative mass functions and compare our predictions to recent cluster data. We show that there are distinctive features in the theoretical luminosity functions that can serve as diagnostics of brown dwarf physics. A zero-metallicity model is presented as a bound to or approximation of a putative extreme halo population.

Burrows, A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Fluid hydrogen at high density - The plasma phase transition

A new model equation of state is applied, based on realistic interparticle potentials and a self-consistent treatment of the internal levels, to fluid hydrogen at high density. This model shows a strong connection between molecular dissociation and pressure ionization. The possibility of a first-order plasma phase transition is considered, and for which both the evolution in temperature and the critical point is given.

Saumon, D.↗