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arXiv 0704.1278astro-ph
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吸积中子星表面层的湍流混合

Turbulent Mixing in the Surface Layers of Accreting Neutron Stars

Anthony L. Piro, Lars Bildsten

摘要:

在吸积过程中,一颗中子星(NS)由于角动量通过其表面层被传输而旋转起来。我们研究了由此产生的差异旋转的配置文件,专注于这对I型X射线爆发的影响。主要粘度可能由泰勒-斯普鲁特发电机提供。径向和方位磁场分量的强度分别为~10^5 G和~10^10 G。这导致在X射线爆发的感兴趣的深度几乎均匀旋转。一个剩余的小切变将吸积的角动量向内传递到NS内部。虽然这种剪切几乎不产生粘性加热,但它可以引发湍流混合。详细的模拟将需要充分理解混合的后果,但我们的模型说明了一些一般特征。混合有最大的影响时,浮力在成分之间的不连续性增生的物质和灰烬被克服。这发生在高吸积率,低自旋频率,或可能取决于从以前的爆发灰烬。我们发现了两种新的燃烧方式。第一种是在含有来自灰烬的较重元素混合物的层中点燃。如果点火发生在混合层的底部,则重复时间可能短至约5-30分钟。这也许可以解释某些爆发的短重现时间,但仍需要不完全燃烧来解释这些爆发的能量学。当混合足够强时,发现第二个区域,其中吸积氦混合足够深以稳定燃烧,淬灭X射线爆发。我们推测,观测到的X射线暴性质的变化在十分之一的爱丁顿吸积率是从这个机制。稳定的氦燃烧产生的富碳物质对于触发和助长超级爆发非常重要。(节略)

英文摘要:

During accretion a neutron star (NS) is spun up as angular momentum is transported through its surface layers. We study the resulting differentially rotating profile, focusing on the impact this has for type I X-ray bursts. The predominant viscosity is likely provided by the Tayler-Spruit dynamo. The radial and azimuthal magnetic field components have strengths of ~10^5 G and ~10^10 G, respectively. This leads to nearly uniform rotation at the depths of interest for X-ray bursts. A remaining small shear transmits the accreted angular momentum inward to the NS interior. Though this shear gives little viscous heating, it can trigger turbulent mixing. Detailed simulations will be required to fully understand the consequences of mixing, but our models illustrate some general features. Mixing has the greatest impact when the buoyancy at the compositional discontinuity between accreted matter and ashes is overcome. This occurs at high accretion rates, at low spin frequencies, or may depend on the ashes from the previous burst. We then find two new regimes of burning. The first is ignition in a layer containing a mixture of heavier elements from the ashes. If ignition occurs at the base of the mixed layer, recurrence times as short as ~5-30 minutes are possible. This may explain the short recurrence time of some bursts, but incomplete burning is still needed to explain these bursts' energetics. When mixing is sufficiently strong, a second regime is found where accreted helium mixes deep enough to burn stably, quenching X-ray bursts. We speculate that the observed change in X-ray burst properties near one-tenth the Eddington accretion rate is from this mechanism. The carbon-rich material produced by stable helium burning would be important for triggering and fueling superbursts. (abridged)

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