2012A&A...545A.120S


Query : 2012A&A...545A.120S

2012A&A...545A.120S - Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 545A, 120-120 (2012/9-1)

X-ray bursting neutron star atmosphere models using an exact relativistic kinetic equation for Compton scattering.

SULEIMANOV V., POUTANEN J. and WERNER K.

Abstract (from CDS):

Theoretical spectra of X-ray bursting neutron star (NS) model atmospheres are widely used to determine the basic NS parameters such as their masses and radii. Compton scattering, which plays an important role in spectra formation at high luminosities, is often accounted for using the differential Kompaneets operator, while in other models a more general, integral operator for the Compton scattering kernel is used. We construct accurate NS atmosphere models using for the first time an exact treatment of Compton scattering via the integral relativistic kinetic equation. We also test various approximations to the Compton scattering redistribution function and compare the results with the previous calculations based on the Kompaneets operator. We solve the radiation transfer equation together with the hydrostatic equilibrium equation accounting exactly for the radiation pressure by electron scattering. We use the exact relativistic angle-dependent redistribution function as well as its simple approximate representations. We thus construct a new set of plane-parallel atmosphere models in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) for hot NSs. The models were computed for six chemical compositions (pure H, pure He, solar H/He mix with various heavy elements abundances Z=1, 0.3, 0.1, and 0.01Z, and three surface gravities logg=14.0, 14.3, and 14.6. For each chemical composition and surface gravity, we compute more than 26 model atmospheres with various luminosities relative to the Eddington luminosity LEdd computed for the Thomson cross-section. The maximum relative luminosities L/LEdd reach values of up to 1.1 for high gravity models. The emergent spectra of all models are redshifted and fitted by diluted blackbody spectra in the 3-20keV energy range appropriate for the RXTE/PCA. We also compute the color correction factors fc. The radiative acceleration grad in our luminous, hot-atmosphere models is significantly smaller than in corresponding models based on the Kompaneets operator, because of the Klein-Nishina reduction of the electron scattering cross-section, and therefore formally ``super-Eddington'' model atmospheres do exist. The differences between the new and old model atmospheres are small for L/LEdd<0.8. For the same grad/g, the new fc are slightly larger (by approximately 1%) than the old values. We also find that the model atmospheres, the emergent spectra, and the color correction factor computed using angle-averaged and approximate Compton scattering kernels differ from the exact solutions by less than 2%.

Abstract Copyright:

Journal keyword(s): radiative transfer - scattering - methods: numerical - stars: atmospheres - stars: neutron - X-rays: stars

VizieR on-line data: <Available at CDS (J/A+A/545/A120): set.dat tabled1.dat tabled2.dat tabled3.dat>

Simbad objects: 2

goto Full paper

goto View the references in ADS

Number of rows : 2
N Identifier Otype ICRS (J2000)
RA
ICRS (J2000)
DEC
Mag U Mag B Mag V Mag R Mag I Sp type #ref
1850 - 2023
#notes
1 ESO 454-29 GlC 17 27 33.24 -30 48 07.8           ~ 244 0
2 4U 1722-30 LXB 17 27 33.25 -30 48 07.4     12.50     ~ 262 1

To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:objects in 2012A&A...545A.120S and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu


2023.10.03-23:47:15

© Université de Strasbourg/CNRS

    • Contact