The effects of element diffusion on the pulsational properties of variable DA white dwarf stars

We explore the effects of element diffusion due to gravitational settling and thermal and chemical diffusion on the pulsational properties of DA white dwarfs. To this end, we employ an updated evolutionary code coupled with a pulsational, finite difference code for computing the linear, non-radial g...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Córsico, Alejandro Hugo, Benvenuto, Omar Gustavo, Althaus, Leandro Gabriel, Serenelli, Aldo Marcelo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2002
País:Argentina
Institución:Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Repositorio:SEDICI (UNLP)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/84670
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84670
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ciencias Astronómicas
Stars: evolution
Stars: interiors
Stars: oscillations
White dwarfs
Descripción
Sumario:We explore the effects of element diffusion due to gravitational settling and thermal and chemical diffusion on the pulsational properties of DA white dwarfs. To this end, we employ an updated evolutionary code coupled with a pulsational, finite difference code for computing the linear, non-radial g-modes in the adiabatic approximation. We follow the evolution of a 0.55-M⊙ white dwarf model in a self-consistent way with the evolution of chemical abundance distribution as given by time-dependent diffusion processes. Results are compared with the standard treatment of diffusive equilibrium in the trace element approximation. Appreciable differences are found between the two employed treatments. We conclude that time-dependent element diffusion plays an important role in determining the whole oscillation pattern and the temporal derivative of the periods in DAV white dwarfs. In addition, we discuss the plausibility of the standard description employed in accounting for diffusion in most white dwarf asteroseismological studies.