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At least 127 records · Page 7

The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope, Exploding Stars, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes

Since August, 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has been scanning the sky, producing a full-sky image every three hours. These cosmic gamma-rays come from extreme astrophysical phenomena, many related to exploding stars (supernovae) or what these explosions leave behind: supernova remnants, neutron stars, and black holes. This talk uses sample Fermi results, plus simple demonstrations, to illustrate the exotic properties of these endpoints of stellar evolution.

Thompson, David J.↗

The Star Formation Rate Efficiency of Neutral Atomic-Dominated Hydrogen Gas in the Ooutskirts of Star-Forming Galaxies From z approx. 1 to z approx. 3

Current observational evidence suggests that the star formation rate (SFR)efficiency of neutral atomic hydrogen gas measured in damped Ly(alpha) systems (DLAs) at z approx. 3 is more than 10 times lower than predicted by the Kennicutt-Schmidt (KS)relation. To understand the origin of this deficit, and to investigate possible evolution with redshift and galaxy properties, we measure the SFR efficiency of atomic gas at z approx. 1, z approx. 2, and z approx. 3 around star-forming galaxies. We use new robust photometric redshifts in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field to create galaxy stacks in these three redshift bins, and measure the SFR efficiency by combining DLA absorber statistics with the observed rest-frame UV emission in the galaxies' outskirts. We find that the SFR efficiency of H I gas at z > 1 is approx. 1%-3% of that predicted by the KS relation. Contrary to simulations and models that predict a reduced SFR efficiency with decreasing metallicity and thus with increasing redshift, we find no significant evolution in the SFR efficiency with redshift. Our analysis instead suggests that the reduced SFR efficiency is driven by the low molecular content of this atomic-dominated phase, with metallicity playing a secondary effect in regulating the conversion between atomic and molecular gas. This interpretation is supported by the similarity between the observed SFR efficiency and that observed in local atomic-dominated gas, such as in the outskirts of local spiral galaxies and local dwarf galaxies.

Rafelski, Marc↗

Theoretical studies of massive stars. II - Evolution of a 15 solar-mass star from carbon shell burning to iron core collapse

The evolution of a Population I star of 15 solar masses is described from the carbon shell burning stage to the formation and collapse of an iron core. An unusual aspect of the evolution is that neon ignition occurs off-center and neon burning propagates inward by a series of shell flashes. The extent of the core burning is generally smaller than the Chandrasekhar mass, so that most of the nuclear energy generation occurs in shell sources. Because of degeneracy and the influence of rapid convective mixing, these shell sources are unstable and the core goes through large excursions in temperature and density. The small core also causes the shell sources to converge into a narrow mass region slightly above the Chandrasekhar mass. Thus, the final nucleosynthesis yields are generally small, with silicon being most strongly enhanced with respect to solar system abundances.

Sparks, W. M.↗

Outer atmospheres of cool stars. VIII - IUE observations and chromospheric models for the supergiant stars Beta Draconis, Epsilon Geminorum, and Alpha Orionis

A semiempirical modeling of stellar chromospheres is extended to late-type supergiants, where computations match high-resolution, absolute-flux profiles of the Ca II K and Mg II h and k lines. IUE UV spectra of Epsilon Gem and Alpha Ori show no evidence of emission lines formed at temperatures greater than 10,000 K, leading to the computation of chromospheric models extending to 10 to the -6th g/sq cm at temperatures that rise to 6500 K for the former star and 7000 K for the latter. By contrast, the C II-IV, Si IV, and He II and N V strong emission lines of Beta Dra lead to a tentative chromospheric model extension to 16,000 K at 0.012 dynes/sq cm. It is pointed out that the Ca II and Mg II line analyses presented, which assume hydrostatic equilibrium with only thermal and turbulent components to the pressure, imply nearly plane-parallel chromospheres even in the case of Alpha Ori.

Basri, G. S.↗