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Wheeler, J. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Wheeler, J. C..

34 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Structure and evolution of irradiated accretion disks. I - Static thermal equilibrium structure. II - Dynamical evolution of a thermally unstable torus

The thermal equilibrum structure and dynamical behavior of externally irradiated accretion disks are investigated. For radiative disks only the surface layer is heated, while for convective disks the heat penetrates deeply into the disk. For sufficiently strong radiation and given irradiation flux F(irr), the disk is completely stabilized against thermal instabilities of the sort invoked to explain dwarf novae. For moderately strong irradiation there is still an unstable branch in the thermal equilibrium curve. In typical soft X-ray transients, the disk is unstable against the dwarf-nova type instability. Fixed F(irr) on accretion disk annuli reduces the amplitude and the quiescent times and increases the outburst duration of the resultant light curves. Varying F(irr) in proportion to the mass accretion rate at the disks's inner edge results in light curves with a plateau in the decay from outbursts. In the case when irradiation is suddenly switched on, a temperature inversion results which leads to the formation of an accretion corona.

Tuchman, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The early spectral phase of type Ib supernovae - Evidence for helium

A near-infrared spectrum and several optical spectra of SN 1983N obtained over a period from 10 days before maximum light to about a week after maximum and of SN 1984L from about maximum light to about 60 days later are presented. On the basis of these spectra it is argued that the first definite identification of helium in supernova ejecta near maximum light has been made. The emergence of oxygen emission lines which presage the dramatic transition to the supernebular phase is identified. Supernova atmosphere models which are consistent with the observations are presented, and it is argued that a strong departure of helium level populations from LTE is necessary. The current status of SNe Ib, the arguments that they result from core collapse in moderately massive stars, and some of the immediate work necessary to further clarify the nature of these events are summarized.

Harkness, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Supernovae 1983i and 1983v - Evidence for abundance variations in type Ib supernovae

Spectra are presented of SN 1983i 5 days after discovery and of SN 1983v 13 days after discovery. The similarity of these two spectra argues that they are of similar origin and phase. Theoretical atmosphere calculations provide evidence for a connection to the type Ib supernovae 1983n and 1984l, with SN 1983i and 1983v having a similar structure but less helium and more carbon and oxygen. Available photometry suggests that the spectra correspond to a phase about 20 days after maximum light. These spectra are consistent with an interpretation of type Ib supernovae arising in the bare cores of moderately massive stars, with individual events showing a range in He/O mass ratio from approximately 10 to less than 1.

Wheeler, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Mass transfer in cataclysmic variables - Clues from the dwarf nova period distribution

Evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis that the mean mass-transfer rate at a given orbital period is not continuous across the 2-3 hr gap in the orbital period distribution for cataclysmic variables. It is pointed out that although dwarf novae comprise nearly half (48 percent) of all disk systems with orbital periods less than 10 hr, only three systems out of the 22 with periods between 3 and 4 hr appear to be dwarf novae. The overall orbital period distribution for dwarf novae in conjunction with the predictions from current theories of dwarf nova eruptions are used to argue that mass-transfer rates must be generally higher for systems with orbital periods greater than 3 hr relative to systems with periods less than 2 hr. It is further argued that the mean mass-transfer rate at a given orbital period cannot increase more steeply than P exp 1.7 unless the white dwarf mass is positively correlated with orbital period.

Shafter, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Dwarf nova burst asymmetry and the physics of accretion disks

Far-ultraviolet observations of a burst of SS Cyg obtained with the Voyager spacecraft are presented along with optical observations. Representative V band and far-UV light curves are computed based on a thermal instability model, and the dependence of the far-UV delay and the shape of the outburst on the location in the disk where the outburst starts is examined. The results show that burst initiated at large radii produce asymmetric light curves for which the far-UV flux lags the optical flux by about half a day, as observed. For bursts starting at smaller radii, the delay is smaller and the outburst is more rounded and symmetric. For both burst types, the delay with respect to the optical is longer for larger accretion disks and at shorter wavelengths. The physical processes that will promote burst initiation in the outer disk are discussed, emphasizing that this can occur in principle with no modulation of the mass transfer rate from the companion.

Cannizzo, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Accretion instability models for dwarf novae and X-ray transients

Steady state and time dependent calculations of a model for accretion instability are presented, in which matter accumulates in a cold torus and then undergoes a thermal instability causing the matter to heat and flow down onto the central star. The model is compared to the observations of dwarf novae and certain examples of both hard and soft X-ray transients.

Cannizzo, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The vertical structure and stability of alpha model accretion disks

In order to understand the physical processes that determine the time-dependent characteristics of accretion disks, a parameter investigation is conducted of the vertically explicit structure corresponding to steady state, alpha-model thin disk accretion for accreting objects of 1 solar mass. Attention is given to the role of convection in the vertical structure and the location of critical points representing the onset of thermal instability, as well as optically thin conditions. It is shown that the temperature in quiescence is likely to be low for most of the matter, and scaling laws are presented for the fundamental properties of the vertically explicit models from which the time scales for various idealized phenomena are derived. The ordering of three disk time scales obtained should allow discrimination among different models.

Cannizzo, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Convective accretion disks and the onset of dwarf nova outbursts

Vertically integrated, steady state convective models of accretion disks have been constructed to explore the mechanism of instability in dwarf novae. The models and observations of dwarf novae suggest a picture in which transferred matter piles up in an optically thin torus. The torus eventually becomes optically thick, and the resulting convective structure is thermally unstable. Matter then flows inward, and the sudden conversion of gravitational potential energy to radiation is identified as the dwarf nova outburst. At sufficiently high mass accretion rates, the inflow is continuous.

Cannizzo, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Accretion instability models for Dwarf Novae and X-ray transients

Steady state and time dependent calculations of a model for accretion instability are presented, in which matter accumulates in a cold torus and then undergoes a thermal instability causing the matter to heat and flow down onto the central star. The model is compared to the observations of dwarf novae and certain examples of both hard and soft X-ray transients.

Cannizzo, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Time-dependent, optically thick accretion onto a black hole

A fully relativistic hydrodynamics code which incorporates diffusive radiation transport is used to study time-dependent, spherically symmetric, optically thick accretion onto a black hole. It is found that matter free-falls into the hole regardless of whether the diffusion time scale is longer or shorter than the dynamical time. Nonadiabatic heating due to magnetic field reconnection is included. The internal energy thus generated affects the flow in a purely relativistic way, again ensuring free-fall collapse of the inflowing matter. Any matter enveloping a black hole will thus be swallowed on a dynamical time scale with relatively small net release of energy. The inclusion of angular momentum will not necessarily affect this conclusion.

Gilden, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Anisotropic velocity distributions in M87 - Is a supermassive black hole necessary

A collisionless distribution of stars with an anisotropic velocity distribution is considered as a model for the cores of spherical galaxies. The first moment of the corresponding Boltzmann equation is integrated to give the resulting density and velocity dispersion profiles. These distributions plus a central point source of light give a good fit to the data from recent observations of M87 without requiring a supermassive central object. This model requires one less fitting parameter than published models incorporating a central black hole. The same model with no point source of light also provides a good fit to the normal E1 galaxy NGC 3379. The success of this model in describing the cores of both M87 and NGC 3379 suggests that a supermassive black hole is not necessary in either.

Duncan, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

X-ray bursts from magnetized accretion disks

A model for the X-ray bursts of MXB 1730-335 and 3U 1820-30 (identified with the globular cluster NGC 6624) is presented in which a burst is due to the flarelike release of magnetic energy generated and stored as a toroidal field in an accretion disk. To fit the observed parameters, this model requires compact objects of the order of 10 solar masses, presumably black holes.

Wheeler, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The black tide model of QSOs

The paper develops certain aspects of a model wherein a QSO is a massive black hole located in a dense galactic nucleus, with its growth and luminosity fueled by tidal disruption of passing stars. Cross sections for tidal disruptions are calculated, taking into account the thermal energy of stars, relativistic effects, and partial disruption removing only the outer layers of a star. Accretion rates are computed for a realistic distribution of stellar masses and evolutionary phases, the effect of the black hole on the cluster distribution is examined, and the red-giant disruption rate is evaluated for hole mass of at least 300 million solar masses, the cutoff of disruption of main-sequence stars. The results show that this black-tide model can explain QSO luminosities of at least 1 trillion suns if the black hole remains almost maximally Kerr as it grows above 100 million solar masses and if 'loss-cone' depletion of the number of stars in disruptive orbits is unimportant.

Young, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Envelope dynamics of iron-core supernova models

Wilson (1971) has found that the neutrino transport mechanism is unable to generate a supernova explosion in stars with collapsing iron cores. The present work uses Wilson's analysis to investigate the behavior of the overlying potentially explosive layers which Wilson omitted. The outer boundary of the core of Wilson's models moves in such a manner as to deliver a shock to the base of the envelope. We have numerically followed the progress of such shocks into the envelope of a realistic model obtained from evolutionary calculations. We find that only shocks so strong as to be inconsistent with our treatment are capable of ejecting material. For reasonable shocks the nuclear burning does not proceed rapidly at densities below 1,000 kg/cu cm, and the nuclear energy released is less than the shock energy in all models that come near to ejecting matter.

Barkat, Z.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Neutron-star formation in the carbon-detonation supernova.

Neutrino losses, such as those driven by the convective Urca process, may affect the evolution of stars in the mass range from 4 to 8 solar masses so as to lead to collapse of their degenerate carbon/oxygen cores. A corresponding hydrodynamic model is computed which leads to the formation of a 1.3 to 1.4 solar mass neutron star with the expulsion of a small fraction of the mass, about 0.l solar mass at about 20,000 km/sec into the overlying hydrogen envelope. This sets the stage for the Ostriker-Gunn mechanism in which Type II supernovae and pulsars are formed.

Wheeler, J. C.↗