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2001MNRAS.323..471A - Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 323, 471-483 (2001/May-2)
Diffusion and the occurrence of hydrogen-shell flashes in helium white dwarf stars.
ALTHAUS L.G., SERENELLI A.M. and BENVENUTO O.G.
Abstract (from CDS):
We find that element diffusion strongly affects the structure and cooling history of helium white dwarfs. In particular, diffusion induces the occurrence of hydrogen-shell flashes in models with masses ranging from 0.18 to 0.41M☉, which is in sharp contrast with the situation when diffusion is neglected. In connection with further evolution, these diffusion-induced flashes lead to much thinner hydrogen envelopes, preventing stable nuclear burning from being a sizeable energy source at advanced stages of evolution. This implies much shorter cooling ages than in the case when diffusion is neglected.
These new evolutionary models are discussed in light of recent observational data on some millisecond pulsar systems with white dwarf companions. In this context, we find that discrepancies between spin-down ages and the predictions of standard evolutionary models appear to be the result of ignoring element diffusion in such evolutionary models. Indeed, such discrepancies vanish when account is taken of diffusion.
Abstract Copyright: The Royal Astronomical Society
Journal keyword(s): diffusion - stars: evolution - stars: interiors - pulsars: general - white dwarfs
Simbad objects: 5
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