Published March 1, 2016 | Version v1
Journal article

The influence of accretion rate and metallicity on thermonuclear bursts: Predictions from KEPLER models

  • 1. School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, VIC 3800 (Australia)
  • 2. Monash Centre for Astrophysics (MoCA), Monash University, VIC 3800 (Australia)

Description

Using the KEPLER hydrodynamics code, 464 models of thermonuclear X-ray bursters were performed across a range of accretion rates and compositions. We present the library of simulated burst profiles from this sample, and examine variations in the simulated light curve for different model conditions. We find that the recurrence time varies as a power law against accretion rate, and measure its slope while mixed H/He burning is occurring for a range of metallicities, finding the power law gradient to vary from η = 1.1 to 1.24. We identify the accretion rates at which mixed H/He burning stops and a transition occurs to different burning regimes. We explore how varying the accretion rate and metallicity affects burst morphology in both the rise and tail.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/819/1/46

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal
Journal Volume
819
Journal Issue
1
Series
Since 2009, the country of publication for this journal is the UK.
Journal Page Range
[14 p.]
ISSN
0004-637X
CODEN
ASJOAB

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
51049281
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; FORECASTING; HYDRODYNAMICS; METALLICITY; NEUTRON STARS; STAR ACCRETION; X RADIATION
Descriptors DEC
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; EVOLUTION; FLUID MECHANICS; IONIZING RADIATIONS; MECHANICS; RADIATIONS; SIMULATION; STAR EVOLUTION; STARS