Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2010-10-12
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
6 pages, to be published in the proceedings of the 17th European White Dwarf Workshop that was held in Tubingen, Germany, on A
Scientific paper
Elements heavier than hydrogen or helium that are present in the atmospheres of white dwarfs with effective temperatures lower than 25,000 K, are believed to be the result of accretion. By measuring the abundances of these elements and by assuming a steady-state accretion, we can derive the composition of the accreted matter and infer its source. The presence of radiative levitation, however, may affect the determination of the accretion rate. We present time-dependent diffusion calculations that take into account radiative levitation and accretion. The calculations are performed on C, N, O, Ne, Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ar, and Ca in hydrogen-rich white dwarf models with effective temperatures lower than 25,000 K and a gravity of log g = 8.0. We show that in the presence of accretion, the abundance of an element supported by the radiative levitation is given by the equilibrium between the radiative and gravitational accelerations, unless the abundance predicted by the steady-state accretion is much greater than the abundance supported by the radiative acceleration.
Chayer Pierre
Dupuis Jean
No associations
LandOfFree
Effect of Radiative Levitation on Calculations of Accretion Rates in White Dwarfs 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 Effect of Radiative Levitation on Calculations of Accretion Rates in White Dwarfs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Effect of Radiative Levitation on Calculations of Accretion Rates in White Dwarfs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-225923