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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Magnetic Inhibition Of Convection And The Fundamental Properties Of Low-Mass Stars. I. Stars With A Radiative Core, Gregory A. Feiden, Brian Chaboyer Dec 2013

Magnetic Inhibition Of Convection And The Fundamental Properties Of Low-Mass Stars. I. Stars With A Radiative Core, Gregory A. Feiden, Brian Chaboyer

Dartmouth Scholarship

Magnetic fields are hypothesized to inflate the radii of low-mass stars—defined as less massive than 0.8 M —in detached eclipsing binaries (DEBs). We investigate this hypothesis using the recently introduced magnetic Dartmouth stellar evolution code. In particular, we focus on stars thought to have a radiative core and convective outer envelope by studying in detail three individual DEBs: UV Psc, YY Gem, and CU Cnc. Our results suggest that the stabilization of thermal convection by a magnetic field is a plausible explanation for the observed model-radius discrepancies. However, surface magnetic field strengths required by the models are significantly stronger …


Optical And X-Ray Studies Of 10 X-Ray-Selected Cataclysmic Binaries, John R. Thorstensen, Jules Halpern Sep 2013

Optical And X-Ray Studies Of 10 X-Ray-Selected Cataclysmic Binaries, John R. Thorstensen, Jules Halpern

Dartmouth Scholarship

We report on ground-based optical observations of 10 cataclysmic binaries that were discovered through their X-ray emission. Time-resolved radial velocity spectroscopy yields unambiguous orbital periods for eight objects and ambiguous results for the remaining two. The orbital periods range from 87 minutes to 9.38 hr. We also obtained time-series optical photometry for six targets, four of which have coherent pulsations. These periods are 1218 s for 1RXS J045707.4+452751, 628 s for AX J1740.2–2903, 477 s for AX J1853.3–0128, and 935 s for IGR J19267+1325. A total of seven of the sources have coherent oscillations in X-rays or optical, indicating that …


A Bayesian Approach To Deriving Ages Of Individual Field White Dwarfs, Erin M. O'Malley, Ted Von Hippel, David A. Van Dyk Aug 2013

A Bayesian Approach To Deriving Ages Of Individual Field White Dwarfs, Erin M. O'Malley, Ted Von Hippel, David A. Van Dyk

Dartmouth Scholarship

We apply a self-consistent and robust Bayesian statistical approach to determine the ages, distances, and zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) masses of 28 field DA white dwarfs (WDs) with ages of approximately 4-8 Gyr. Our technique requires only quality optical and near-infrared photometry to derive ages with <15% uncertainties, generally with little sensitivity to our choice of modern initial-final mass relation. We find that age, distance, and ZAMS mass are correlated in a manner that is too complex to be captured by traditional error propagation techniques. We further find that the posterior distributions of age are often asymmetric, indicating that the standard approach to deriving WD ages can yield misleading results.


The Fast And Furious Decay Of The Peculiar Type Ic Supernova 2005ek, M. R. Drout, A. M. Soderberg, P. A. Mazzali, J. T. Parrent Aug 2013

The Fast And Furious Decay Of The Peculiar Type Ic Supernova 2005ek, M. R. Drout, A. M. Soderberg, P. A. Mazzali, J. T. Parrent

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present extensive multi-wavelength observations of the extremely rapidly declining Type Ic supernova (SN Ic), SN 2005ek. Reaching a peak magnitude of MR = –17.3 and decaying by ~3 mag in the first 15 days post-maximum, SN 2005ek is among the fastest Type I supernovae observed to date. The spectra of SN 2005ek closely resemble those of normal SN Ic, but with an accelerated evolution. There is evidence for the onset of nebular features at only nine days post-maximum. Spectroscopic modeling reveals an ejecta mass of ~0.3 M that is dominated by oxygen (~80%), while the pseudo-bolometric light …


Orbital, Superhump And Superorbital Periods In The Cataclysmic Variables Aq Mensae And Im Eridani, E. Armstrong, J. Patterson, E. Michelsen, John Thorstensen Jul 2013

Orbital, Superhump And Superorbital Periods In The Cataclysmic Variables Aq Mensae And Im Eridani, E. Armstrong, J. Patterson, E. Michelsen, John Thorstensen

Dartmouth Scholarship

We report photometric detections of orbital and superorbital signals, and negative orbital sidebands, in the light curves of the nova-like cataclysmic variables AQ Mensae and IM Eridani. The frequencies of the orbital, superorbital, and sideband signals are 7.0686 (3), 0.263 (3), and 7.332 (3) cycles per day (c/d) in AQ Mensae, and 6.870 (1), 0.354 (7), and 7.226 (1) c/d in IM Eridani. We also find a spectroscopic orbital frequency in IM Eridani of 6.86649 (2) c/d. These observations can be reproduced by invoking an accretion disc that is tilted with respect to the orbital plane. This model works well …


Multi-Wavelength Observations Of Supernova 2011ei: Time-Dependent Classification Of Type Iib And Ib Supernovae And Implications For Their Progenitors, Dan Milisavljevic, Raffaella Margutti, Alicia M. Soderberg, Giuliano Pignata, Laura Chomiuk, Robert A. Fesen Mar 2013

Multi-Wavelength Observations Of Supernova 2011ei: Time-Dependent Classification Of Type Iib And Ib Supernovae And Implications For Their Progenitors, Dan Milisavljevic, Raffaella Margutti, Alicia M. Soderberg, Giuliano Pignata, Laura Chomiuk, Robert A. Fesen

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present X-ray, UV/optical, and radio observations of the stripped-envelope, core-collapse supernova (SN) 2011ei, one of the least luminous SNe IIb or Ib observed to date. Our observations begin with a discovery within 1 day of explosion and span several months afterward. Early optical spectra exhibit broad, Type II-like hydrogen Balmer profiles that subside rapidly and are replaced by Type Ib-like He-rich features on the timescale of one week. High-cadence monitoring of this transition suggests that absorption attributable to a high velocity (> 12,000 km/s) H-rich shell is not rare in Type Ib events. Radio observations imply a shock velocity …


The Interior Structure Constants As An Age Diagnostic For Low-Mass, Pre-Main-Sequence Detached Eclipsing Binary Stars, Gregory A. Feiden, Aaron Dotter Feb 2013

The Interior Structure Constants As An Age Diagnostic For Low-Mass, Pre-Main-Sequence Detached Eclipsing Binary Stars, Gregory A. Feiden, Aaron Dotter

Dartmouth Scholarship

We propose a novel method for determining the ages of low-mass, pre-main-sequence stellar systems using the apsidal motion of low-mass detached eclipsing binaries. The apsidal motion of a binary system with an eccentric orbit provides information regarding the interior structure constants of the individual stars. These constants are related to the normalized stellar interior density distribution and can be extracted from the predictions of stellar evolution models. We demonstrate that low-mass, pre-main-sequence stars undergoing radiative core contraction display rapidly changing interior structure constants (greater than 5% per 10 Myr) that, when combined with observational determinations of the interior structure constants …