Abstract We seek signatures of the current experimental 12 C α , γ 16 O reaction rate probability distribution function in the pulsation periods of carbon–oxygen white dwarf (WD) models. We find that adiabatic g-modes trapped by the interior carbon-rich layer offer potentially useful signatures of this reaction rate probability distribution function. Probing the carbon-rich region is relevant because it forms during the evolution of low-mass stars under radiative helium-burning conditions, mitigating the impact of convective mixing processes. We make direct quantitative connections between the pulsation periods of the identified trapped g-modes in variable WD models and the current experimental 12 C α , γ 16 O reaction rate probability distribution function. We find an average spread in relative period shifts of Δ P / P ≃ ±2% for the identified trapped g-modes over the ±3 σ uncertainty in the 12 C α , γ 16 O reaction rate probability distribution function—across the effective temperature range of observed DAV and DBV WDs and for different WD masses, helium shell masses, and hydrogen shell masses. The g-mode pulsation periods of observed WDs are typically given to six to seven significant figures of precision. This suggests that an astrophysical constraint on the 12 C α , γ 16 O reaction rate could, in principle, be extractable from the period spectrum of observed variable WDs.
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Seismic Signatures of the 12 C(α, γ) 16 O Reaction Rate in White Dwarf Models with Overshooting
Abstract We consider the combined effects that overshooting and the12C(α,γ)16O reaction rate have on variable white dwarf (WD) stellar models. We find that carbon–oxygen (CO) WD models continue to yield pulsation signatures of the current experimental12C(α,γ)16O reaction rate probability distribution function when overshooting is included in the evolution. These signatures hold because the resonating mantle region, encompassing ≃0.2M⊙in a typical ≃0.6M⊙WD model, still undergoes radiative helium burning during the evolution to a WD. Our specific models show two potential low-order adiabatic g-modes,g2andg6, that signalize the12C(α,γ)16O reaction rate probability distribution function. Both g-mode signatures induce average relative period shifts of ΔP/P= 0.44% and ΔP/P= 1.33% forg2andg6, respectively. We find thatg6is a trapped mode, and theg2period signature is inversely proportional to the12C(α,γ)16O reaction rate. Theg6period signature generally separates the slower and faster reaction rates, and has a maximum relative period shift of ΔP/P= 3.45%. We conclude that low-order g-mode periods from CO WDs may still serve as viable probes for the12C(α,γ)16O reaction rate probability distribution function when overshooting is included in the evolution.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1927130
- PAR ID:
- 10543931
- Publisher / Repository:
- IOP
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Volume:
- 954
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 0004-637X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 51
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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