X-ray irradiation of white dwarf atmospheres: The soft X-ray spectrum of AM Herculis

Details X-ray irradiation of white dwarf atmospheres: The soft X-ray spectrum of AM Herculis X-ray irradiation of white dwarf atmospheres: The soft X-ray spectrum of AM Herculis

Jan 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994a%26a...281..119v&link_type=abstract

Astronomy and Astrophysics (ISSN 0004-6361), vol. 281, no. 1, p. 119-128

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

49

Abundance, Atmospheric Models, Radiative Transfer, Stellar Atmospheres, Stellar Models, White Dwarf Stars, X Ray Stars, Compton Effect, Heao 1, Iteration, Stellar Luminosity, X Ray Spectra

Scientific paper

We present model atmosphere calculations of white dwarfs irradiated at the surface by hard x-rays. We use a self-consistent treatment of Compton scattering as a noncoherent scattering process. The opacities include the photoionization edges of all individual subshells of the most abundant ions of 15 elements. Because of an 'inverse' blanketing effect we find a strong optically-thin temperature inversion above the photosphere. The emerging spectra are characterized by strong absorption edges which decrease in size with increasing irradiation. The numerical results are used to fit EXOSAT 1000 lines/mm-transmission-grating observations of the soft (0.1-0.3 keV) x-ray spectrum of AM Herculis in the reversed soft x-ray mode. Atmospheres with all the soft X-ray luminosity originating from large optical depths cannot explain the observed spectrum. Instead, a substantial fraction of the soft x-ray luminosity might be due to irradiation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

X-ray irradiation of white dwarf atmospheres: The soft X-ray spectrum of AM Herculis does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with X-ray irradiation of white dwarf atmospheres: The soft X-ray spectrum of AM Herculis, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and X-ray irradiation of white dwarf atmospheres: The soft X-ray spectrum of AM Herculis will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-862824