Disk wind in young binaries with low-mass secondary components: Optical observational manifestations

We consider a model of a young binary with a low-mass secondary component. Mass accretion from the remnants of the protostellar cloud onto the binary components is assumed to take place in accordance with current models; i.e., it proceeds mainly onto the low-mass component. The accretion is accompanied by mass outflow (disk wind), whose low-velocity component can be partially captured by the primary component. As a result, an asymmetric common envelope is formed. Its densest part is involved in the orbital motion of the secondary and can periodically shield the primary component of the binary from the observer. Assuming a standard dust-to-gas ratio for the disk wind (1: 100), we calculated the possible photometric effects from such eclipses and showed that they could be observed even at moderate accretion rates onto the low-mass binary component, ∼10⁻⁸–10⁻⁹ M _⊙ per year. In this case, the parameters of the minima depend on the model of the disk wind, on the ratio of its characteristic velocity to the orbital velocity of the secondary, and on its orbital inclination to the line of sight. These results can form the basis for interpreting a wide range of phenomena observed in young stars, such as the activity cycles in UX Ori stars, the unusually broad minima in some young eclipsing systems, etc., and for searching for substellar objects and massive protoplanets. In addition, the peripheral parts of the gas and dust disk around a young binary can fall within the shadow zone produced by the opaque part of the common envelope. In such cases, a shadow from the common envelope must be observed on the disk; this shadow must move over the disk following the orbital motion of the low-mass component. Detection and investigation of such structures in the images of protoplanetary disks may become a method of searching for protoplanets and studying binaries at early stages of their evolution.     

Type-Ia supernovae in semidetached binaries

We consider the evolutionary scenarios for close binaries that lead to the formation of semidetached systems in which a white dwarf can accumulate the Chandrasekhar mass through mass accretion from its companion, a main sequence star or a subgiant of mass M ～ 2M_⊙. Such dwarfs probably explode as type-Ia supernovae or collapse to form a neutron star. The population synthesis method is used to analyze the dependence of the model rate of these events in the Galaxy on the common envelope parameter, the mass transfer rate, and the response of a main-sequence star to helium accretion at an intermediate evolutionary stage. The rate of explosions in semidetached systems of this type in the Galaxy was found to be no higher than ?0.2×10^?3 yr^?1, which is less than 10% of the lower level for the empirically estimated SNe Ia rate.     

Evolution of low-mass helium stars in semidetached binaries

We systematically investigate the evolution of low-mass (0.35, 0.40, and 0.65M _⊙) helium donors in semidetached binaries with white-dwarf accretors. The initial periods of the binaries are chosen in such a way that the helium abundance in the center of the models at the time of Roche lobe overflow varies between Y _c = 0.98 and Y _c ? 0.1. The results of our calculations can be used to analyze the formation scenarios and evolutionary status of AM CVn stars. We show that the minimum orbital periods of the semidetached binaries depend weakly on the total mass of the components and the evolutionary phase of the donor at the time of Roche lobe overflow and are 9–10 min. The differences in the mass transfer rates after P _orb reaches its minimum in the range P _orb ≈ 10–40 min do not exceed a factor of ～2.5. For P _orb ? 20 min, the mass-losing stars are weakly degenerate homogeneous cooling objects; the He, C, N, O, and Ne abundances depend on the evolutionary phase at which Roche lobe overflow occurred. For the binaries that are currently believed to be the most probable candidates for AM CVn stars with helium donors, Y ? 0.4, X _C ? 0.3, X _O ? 0.25, and X _N ? 0.5 × 10^?2. In the binaries under consideration, once P _orb ≈ 40 min has been reached, the mass loss time scale begins to exceed the thermal time scale of the donors, the latter begin to contract, their matter becomes degenerate, and the populations of AMCVn stars with white-dwarf and helium-star progenitors of their donors probably merge together.     

Hydrodynamic processes in young binaries as a source of cyclic variations in circumstellar extinction

Hydrodynamic models of a young binary accreting matter from the remnants of a protostellar cloud have been calculated by the SPH method. Periodic variations in column density in projection onto the primary component are shown to take place at low inclinations of the binary plane to the line of sight. These can result in periodic extinction variations accompanied by brightness variations in the primary. Generally, there can be three periodic components. The first component has a period equal to the orbital one and is attributable to the streams of matter penetrating into the inner regions of the binary. The second component has a period that is a factor of 5–8 longer than the orbital one and is related to the density waves generated in a circumbinary (CB) disk. Finally, the third, longest period is attributable to the precession of the inner CB disk regions. The relationship between the amplitudes of these cycles depends on the model parameters as well as on the inclination and orientation of the binary in space. We show that at a dust-togas ratio of 1: 100 and amass extinction coefficient of 250 cm² g^?1, the amplitude of the V-band brightness variations in the primary component can reach 1 ^m at a mass accretion rate onto the binary components of 10.8^?8 M _⊙ yr^?1 and a 10° inclination of the binary plane to the line of sight. We discuss possible applications of the model to young, pre-main-sequence stars.     

Dust in the disk winds from young stars as a source of the circumstellar extinction

We consider the problem of dust grain survival in the disk winds from T Tauri and Herbig Ae stars. For our analysis, we have chosen a disk wind model in which the gas component of the wind is heated through ambipolar diffusion to a temperature of ～10⁴ K. We show that the heating of dust grains through their collisions with gas atoms is inefficient compared to their heating by stellar radiation and, hence, the grains survive even in the hot wind component. As a result, the disk wind can be opaque to the ultraviolet and optical stellar radiation and is capable of absorbing an appreciable fraction of it. Calculations show that the fraction of the wind-absorbed radiation for T Tauri stars can be from 20 to 40% of the total stellar luminosity at an accretion rate ? _a = 10^?8-10^?6 M _⊙yr^?1. This means that the disk winds from T Tauri stars can play the same role as the puffed-up inner rim in current accretion disk models. In Herbig Ae stars, the inner layers of the disk wind (r ≤ 0.5 AU) are dust-free, since the dust in this region sublimates under the effect of stellar radiation. Therefore, the fraction of the radiation absorbed by the disk wind in this case is considerably smaller and can be comparable to the effect from the puffed-up inner rim only at an accretion rate of the order of or higher than 10^?6 M _⊙yr^?1. Since the disk wind is structurally inhomogeneous, its optical depth toward the observer can be variable, which should be reflected in the photometric activity of young stars. For the same reason, moving shadows from gas and dust streams with a spiral-like shape can be observed in high-angular-resolution circumstellar disk images.     

Dynamo model with a small number of modes and magnetic activity of T Tauri stars

We suggest a model based on the representation of the stellar magnetic field as a superposition of a finite number of poloidal and toroidal free decay modes to describe the dynamo action in fully convective stars. For the adopted law of stellar differential rotation, we determined the dynamo number in exceeding which the generation of a cyclically varying magnetic field is possible in stars without a radiative core and derived an expression for the period of the cycle. The dynamo cycles in fully convective stars and in stars with thin convective envelopes are shown to differ qualitatively: first, the distributions of spots in latitude during the cycle are different for these two types of stars and, second, the model predicts a great weakening of the spot formation in fully convective stars at certain phases of the cycle. To compare the theory with observations, we have analyzed the historical light curve for the weak-line T Tauri star V410 Tau and found that its long-term activity is not a well-defined cycle with a definite period—its activity is more likely quasi-cyclic with a characteristic time of ～4 yr and with a chaotic component superimposed. we have also concluded that a redistribution of spots in longitude is responsible for the secular brightness variations in the star. This does not allow the results of photometric observations to be directly compared with predictions of ourmodel, in which, for simplicity, we assumed a symmetry in longitude and investigated the temporal evolution of the spot distribution in latitude. Therefore, we discuss the questions of what and how observations can be compared with predictions of the dynamo theory.     

High-mass X-ray binaries and the spiral structure of the host galaxy

We investigate the manifestation of the spiral structure in the distribution of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) over the host galaxy. We construct the simplest kinematic model. It shows that the HMXBs should be displaced relative to the spiral structure observed in such traditional star formation rate indicators as the Hα and far-infrared emissions because of their finite lifetimes. Using Chandra observations of M51, we have studied the distribution of X-ray sources relative to the spiral arms of this galaxy observed in Hα. Based on K-band data and background source number counts, we have separated the contributions from high-mass and low-mass X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei. In agreement with model predictions, the distribution of HMXBs is wider than that of bright H II regions concentrated in the region of ongoing star formation. However, the statistical significance of this result is low, as is the significance of the concentration of the total population of X-ray sources to the spiral arms. We also predict the distribution of HMXBs in our Galaxy in Galactic longitude. The distribution depends on the mean HMXB age and can differ significantly from the distributions of such young objects as ultracompact H II regions.     

Kinematics and parameters of the gas in the vicinity of TW Hya

The following conclusions about the kinematics and parameters of the gas in the vicinity of TW Hya have been drawn from an analysis of optical and ultraviolet line profiles and intensities. The accreting matter rises in the magnetosphere to a distance z>R_* above the disk plane and falls to the star near its equator almost perpendicular to its plane. The matter outflows from a disk region with an outer radius of ≤0.5 AU. The [OI], [SII], and H2 lines originate in the disk atmosphere outside the outflow region, where the turbulent gas velocity is close to the local speed of sound. In the formation region of the forbidden lines, T?8500 K and N_e?5×10⁶ cm^?3, and the hydrogen is almost neutral: x_e<0.03. The absorption features observed in the blue wings of some of the ultraviolet lines originate in the part of the wind that moves almost perpendicular to the disk plane, i.e., in the jet of TW Hya. The V _z gas velocity component in the jet decreases with increasing distance from the jet axis from 200 to 30 km s^?1. The matter outflowing from the inner disk boundary, moves perpendicular to the disk plane in the formation region of blue absorption line components, at a distance of ～0.5 AU from the axis of symmetry of the disk. This region of the wind is collimated into the jet at a distance of <3 AU from the disk plane. The gas temperature in the formation region of absorption components is ?2×10⁴ K, and the gas density is <3×10⁶ cm^?3. This region of the jet is on the order of several AU away from the disk plane, while free recombination in the jet begins even farther from the disk. The mass-loss rate for TW Hya is \(\dot M_w < 7 \times 10^{ - 10} M_ \odot yr^{ - 1}\), which is a factor of 3lower than the mean accretion rate. The relative abundance of silicon and aluminum in the jet gas is at least an order of magnitude lower than its standard value.     

Eu III oscillator strengths and europium abundances in Ap stars

We present our calculations of the spectrum and oscillator strengths for the 4f⁷?(4f⁶5d+4f⁶6s) Eu III transitions. The calculations were performed with Cowan's RCN-RCG-RCE codes in the single-configuration approximation. A comparison of computed level lifetimes with experimental data for three levels shows that the scale of theoretical oscillator strengths could be overestimated by a factor of 3. The theoretical oscillator strengths of red Eu III lines are two orders of magnitude smaller than their astrophysical oscillator strengths derived by Ryabchikova et al. (1999) from the condition of ionization balance. The new oscillator strengths were tested by analyzing the Eu abundance using Eu II and Eu III lines in the spectra of hot peculiar stars (α² CVn is a typical representative) and cool peculiar stars (β CrB is a typical representative). First, we computed non-LTE corrections, which proved to be significant for α² CVn. We also analyzed the Eu II λ6645.11-Å line as well as ultraviolet and optical Eu III lines. We show that the new oscillator strengths together with the non-LTE corrections allow the contradiction between the Eu abundances derived by Ryabchikova et al. (1999) separately from optical Eu II and Eu III lines in α² CVn to be resolved. The new Eu abundance, log(Eu/N _tot)=?6.5, also faithfully describes the blended near-ultraviolet resonance Eu III lines. Using the new Eu III oscillator strengths to analyze the spectrum of the cool Ap star β CrB, we found a significant deviation of the n(Eu II)/n(Eu III) ratio from its equilibrium value. For a chemically homogeneous model atmosphere, to obtain the observed intensity of the Eu III λ 6666.35-Å line, the Eu abundance must be increased by two orders of magnitude compared to that required to describe the Eu II λ 6645.11-Å line. We discuss the possibility of explaining the observed intensities of Eu II and Eu III lines in the spectrum of β CrB by the presence of an inhomogeneous atmosphere with Eu concentrated in its uppermost layers. In such atmospheres, the role of non-LTE effects becomes dominant.     

Unusual color variability of eruptive stars

We substantiate the conclusion that the unusual color variability found previously in some eruptive stars is typical of a broad class of nonstationary objects, manifests itself over a wide temperature range (from B0 to K 3), and can be regarded as a new type of stellar variability.     

Analysis of the HST ultraviolet spectra for T Tauri stars: RY Tau and HD 115043

The ultraviolet spectra of the stars RY Tau and HD 115043 from the Hubble Space Telescope are analyzed. RY Tau belongs to the classical T Tauri stars, while HD 115043 is a young (t~3×10⁸ years), chromospherically active star. The most intense emission lines were identified, and their fluxes were measured. Low-resolution spectra of RY Tau and HD 115043 in the wavelength range 1160–1760 Å exhibit almost the same set of emission lines. However, first, the luminosity of RY Tau in these lines is approximately a factor of 300 higher than that of HD 115043, and, second, the relative line intensities differ greatly. The intensity ratio of the C IV λ1550, Si IV λ1400, and NV λ1240 doublet components is close to 1: 2 in the spectra of both stars. Judging by the continuum energy distribution, the spectral type of RY Tau is later than that of HD 115043. Synchronous flux variability in the C IV λ1550 and He II λ1640 lines in a time of ~20 min was detected in RY Tau. The flux rise in these lines was accompanied by a redshift of the intensity peak in the profiles by~50 km s^?1. Intermediate-resolution spectra are used to study line profiles in the spectrum of RY Tau. In particular, the profiles of (optically thin) Si III]λ1892 and C III]λ1909 lines were found to be asymmetric and about 300 km s^?1 in width. The (optically thick) C IV λ1550 doublet lines have similar profiles. The Mg II λ2800 doublet lines are also asymmetric, but their shape is different: they consist of a broad (?750 km s^?1 at the base) emission component on which an interstellar absorption line shifted from the line symmetry center by about 20 km s^?1 is superimposed. The intensity ratio of the Mg II λ2800 doublet components is?1.4. Whether there are molecular hydrogen lines in the spectrum of RY Tau is still an open question. It is shown that the emission lines in the ultraviolet spectrum of RY Tau cannot originate in a hydrostatically equilibrium chromosphere. It is argued that quasi-steady accretion of circumstellar matter is responsible for the emission.     

Evolution of neutron stars in high-mass X-ray binaries

We consider the evolution of neutron stars during the X-ray phase of high-mass binaries. Calculations are performed assuming a crustal origin of the magnetic field. A strong wind from the companion can significantly influence the magnetic and spin behaviour of a neutron star even during the main-sequence life of the companion. In the course of evolution, the neutron star passes through four evolutionary phases ('isolated pulsar', propeller, wind accretion, and Roche lobe overflow). The model considered can naturally account for the observed magnetic fields and spin periods of neutron stars, as well as the existence of pulsating and non-pulsating X-ray sources in high-mass binaries. Calculations also predict the existence of a particular sort of high-mass binary with a secondary that fills its Roche lobe and a neutron star that does not accrete the overflowing matter because of fast spin.     

Effect of partial mixing of matter on the hydrodynamic angular momentum transport processes in massive main-sequence stars

We consider the evolution of a rotating star with a mass of 16M _⊙ and an angular momentum of 3.25 × 10⁵² g cm² s^?1, along with the hydrodynamic transport of angular momentum and chemical elements in its interiors. When the partial mixing of matter of the turbulent radiative envelope and the convective core is taken into account, the efficiency of the angular momentum transport by meridional circulation in the stellar interiors and the duration of the hydrogen burning phase increase. Depending on the Schmidt number in the turbulent radiative stellar envelope, the ratio of the equatorial rotational velocity to the circular one increases with time in the process of stellar evolution and can become typical of early-type Be stars during an additional evolution time of the star on the main sequence. Partial mixing of matter is a necessary condition under which the hydrodynamic transport processes can increase the angular momentum of the outer stellar layer to an extent that the equatorial rotational velocity begins to increase during the second half of the evolutionary phase of the star on the main sequence, as shown by observations of the brightest stars in open star clusters with ages of 10–25 Myr. When the turbulent Schmidt number is 0.4, the equatorial rotational velocity of the star increases during the second half of the hydrogen burning phase in the convective core from 330 to 450 km s^?1.     

Intrinsic properties of carbon stars. I. Effective temperature scale of N-type carbon stars

It is shown that the infrared flux method for determining stellar effective temperatures (Blackwell and Shallis 1977; Blackwell, Petford and Shallis 1980) can be applied to cool carbon stars. Although the spectra of cool carbon stars are highly line blanketed, the spectral region between 3 and 4 μm (L-band in the infrared photometry system) is found to be relatively free from strong line absorption. The ratioR _L of bolometric flux toL flux can then be used as a measure of effective temperature. On the basis of the predicted line-blanketed flux based on model atmospheres, with an empirical correction for the effect of 3 μm absorption due to polyatomic species (HCN, C₂H₂), it is shown thatR _L is roughly proportional to T³ _eff. The high sensitivity ofR _L to T_eff makes it a very good measure of effective temperature, and the usual difficulty due to differential line blanketing effect in the analyses of photometric indices of cool carbon stars can be minimized. It is found that the majority of N-type carbon stars with small variability (SRb and Lb variables) are confined to the effective temperature range between 2400 and 3200 K, in contrast to M-giant stars (M0 III - M6 III, including SRb and Lb variables) that are confined to the effective temperature range between 3200 and 3900 K. The effective temperatures based on the infrared flux method show good agreement with those derived directly from angular diameter measurements of 5 carbon stars. On the basis of the new effective temperature scale for carbon stars, it is shown that the well known C-classification does not represent a temperature sequence. On the other hand, colour temperatures based on various photometric indices all show good correlations with our derived effective temperatures. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Porous dust grains in the shells of Herbig Ae/Be stars

The transfer of polarized radiation in inhomogeneous circumstellar shells with a spheroidal spatial distribution of porous dust particles is computed. The grains are modeled by an MRN mixture of silicate and graphite particles. The optical properties of porous particles (considered separately in the Appendix) are computed by using effective medium theory and Mie theory. The following observational characteristics have been computed for WW Vul, a typical Herbig Ae star with Algol-like minima: the spectral energy distribution from the ultraviolet to the far infrared, the color-magnitude diagrams, the wavelength dependence of linear polarization, and the shell brightness distribution. The effect of grain porosity on the results is considered. It has been found that only moderate particle porosity (the volume fraction of matter is f ～0.5) can explain available observational data in terms of the approach used. Since radiation pressure must rapidly sweep submicron-sized grains out of the vicinity of Herbig Ae/Be stars, we briefly discuss how particle porosity can affect this process.     

Analysis of HST and IUE ultraviolet spectra for T Tauri stars: DF Tau

We analyze ultraviolet spectra of DF Tau, a binary system whose primary component is a classical T Tauri star. The spectra were obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope and the IUE satellite. The stellar emission in the wavelength range covered is shown to originate in an accretion shock wave. The gas infall velocity is ～250 km s^?1. The accreted-gas density is typically N ₀≤10¹¹ cm^?3, but it can occasionally be higher by one and a half orders of magnitude. The continuum intensity near λ=1900 Å was found to be virtually constant for such a significant change in N ₀. The star’s photometric variability is probably attributable to variations in accreted-gas density and velocity, as well as to variations in the area of a hot spot on the stellar surface and in its orientation relative to the observer. The mean accretion rate is $\dot M \sim 3 \times 10^{ - 9} M_ \odot yr^{ - 1}$ . The interstellar extinction for DF Tau is $A_V \simeq 0\mathop .\limits^m 5$ , the stellar radius is ≤2R _⊙, and the luminosity of the primary component is most likely no higher than 0.3 L _⊙. We argue that the distance to DF Tau is about 70 pc. Upper limits are placed on the primary’s coronal emission measure: EM(T=10⁷ K)<3×10⁵⁴ cm^?3 and EM(T=1.3×10⁶ K)<3×10⁵⁵ cm^?3. Absorption lines originating in the stellar wind were detected in the star’s spectrum. Molecular hydrogen lines have essentially the same radial velocity as the star, but their full width at half maximum is FWHM ?50 km s^?1. We failed to explain why the intensity ratio of the C IV λ1550 doublet components exceeds 2.     

星风吸积下的有盘X射线脉冲星

近年来对吸积流的数值模拟工作证实了在星风吸积中吸积盘的存在。本文在此基础上，讨论具有早型伴星的Ｘ射线脉冲星吸积过程中吸积盘与球吸积流的相互作用。我们发现，盘吸积率和球吸积率的相对变化可以导致吸积盘和吸积矩的改变，从而解释了这类脉冲星脉冲周期的复杂变化，我们以典型星ＶｅｌａＸ－１和Ａ０５３５＋２６为例分别作了讨论。     

On the precession of accretion discs in X-ray binaries

In this Letter, recent results on the nodal precession of accretion discs in close binaries are applied to the discs in some X-ray binary systems. The ratio between the tidally forced precession period and the binary orbital period is given, as well as the condition required for the rigid precession of gaseous Keplerian discs. Hence the minimum precessional period that may be supported by a fluid Keplerian disc is determined. It is concluded that near-rigid body precession of tilted accretion discs can occur and generally reproduce observationally inferred precession periods, for reasonable system parameters. In particular, long periods in SS 433, Her X-1, LMC X-4 and SMC X-1 can be fitted by the tidal model. It is also found that the precession period that has been tentatively put forward for Cyg X-2 cannot be accommodated by a tidally precessing disc model for any realistic choice of system parameters.