On the origin of the acoustic flux in Sirius B.
Abstract
An alternative hypothesis is presented to explain the soft X-ray flux observed in Sirius B. The most popular explanation postulates the existence of an acoustic flux of the order of 10 to the 29th ergs per second generated in the subphotospheric convective zone. The present alternative hypothesis of acoustic flux generation is based on the authors' finding that the layered envelope models for this star are unstable to short-period oscillations between 0.06 and 0.45 if the hydrogen-rich layer is sufficiently shallow (mass less than about 5 x 10 to the -17th solar mass). Unstable p-modes convert 10 to the 29th ergs/s of the radiative flux before becoming strongly nonlinear. It is suggested that the acoustic flux is generated by the random-phase resonant interaction between these modes and the traveling waves. Such an interaction is expected to be the dominant nonlinear effect leading to statistical equilibrium.
- Publication:
-
Acta Astronomica
- Pub Date:
- 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983AcA....33..183D
- Keywords:
-
- Companion Stars;
- Stellar Models;
- White Dwarf Stars;
- X Ray Sources;
- Acoustic Propagation;
- Photosphere;
- Stellar Envelopes;
- Stellar Oscillations;
- Traveling Waves;
- Turbulence;
- Vibration Mode;
- Astrophysics