Hydrogen and helium flashes in the envelopes of accreting neutron stars

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

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Bursts, Neutron Stars, Stellar Envelopes, Stellar Mass Accretion, Thermonuclear Reactions, Carbon, Helium, Hydrogen, Stellar Structure

Scientific paper

A simple analytical method has been developed to investigate thermonuclear flashes in the degenerate envelope of an accreting neutron star. It is shown that if the accretion rate is greater than 10 to the -10.5th solar masses/yr, then stationary hydrogen burning stabilized by beta(+) decay occurs. If the accretion rate is in the range 10 to the -11.5th to 10 to the 10.5th solar masses/yr, the accreted hydrogen may burn in long flashes. If the accretion rate is less than 10 to the 11.5th solar masses/yr, the hydrogen burning immediately leads to helium ignition. It is shown that a single neutron star accreting matter from the interstellar medium at a rate of 10 to the -15th solar masses/yr may ignite helium in a pycnonuclear regime which leads to thermonuclear runaway with 10 to the 44th ergs of energy released. Helium and carbon flashes are discussed.

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