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arXiv 1401.7348astro-ph.SR
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灾变前双星的磁吸积开关?

A magnetic accretion switch in pre-cataclysmic binaries?

Jeremy J. Drake, Cecilia Garraffo, Dai Takei, Boris Gaensicke

摘要:

我们研究了周期为3.62小时的前激变双星和行星宿主候选者QS Vir(DA+M2-4)的白矮星组分中Si和C的表面丰度所暗示的质量吸积速率。重力沉降的扩散时间尺度意味着1999年观测时期的$\dot{M} \sim 10^{-16}M_\odot$年$^{-1}$,这比2006年{ \it XMM-牛顿}观测测量的低三个数量级。这是第一次在分离的前CV中看到大的吸积速率变化。在最近的日食计时研究中,在一个14年偏心轨道上的第三个天体太遥远了,不足以干扰中央双星来影响吸积。假设在{ \it XMM-牛顿}观测之前的日冕物质抛射可能解释更高的吸积速率,但这类事件的隐含规模和频率似乎太大了。我们建议吸积是最有可能的调制作为风的“吸积开关”,一种机制,可以通过X射线和紫外线监测的二次磁周期。如果是这样的话,QS Vir和类似的pre-CV可以提供强有力的见解到目前为止难以理解的激变变量和M矮磁层,以及质量和角动量损失率。

英文摘要:

We have investigated the mass accretion rate implied by published surface abundances of Si and C in the white dwarf component of the 3.62 hr period pre-cataclysmic binary and planet host candidate QS Vir (DA+M2-4). Diffusion timescales for gravitational settling imply $\dot{M} \sim 10^{-16}M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ for the 1999 epoch of the observations, which is three orders of magnitude lower than measured from a 2006 {\it XMM-Newton} observation. This is the first time that large accretion rate variations have been seen in a detached pre-CV. A third body in a 14 yr eccentric orbit suggested in a recent eclipse timing study is too distant to perturb the central binary sufficiently to influence accretion. A hypothetical coronal mass ejection just prior to the {\it XMM-Newton} observation might explain the higher accretion rate, but the implied size and frequency of such events appear too great. We suggest accretion is most likely modulated by a magnetic cycle on the secondary acting as a wind "accretion switch", a mechanism that can be tested by X-ray and ultraviolet monitoring. If so, QS Vir and similar pre-CVs could provide powerful insights into hitherto inscrutable cataclysmic variable and M dwarf magnetospheres, and mass and angular momentum loss rates.

机构、总结、中文摘要均由AI分析而来,可能存在错误,请以论文正文为准。

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