Relativistic Tidal Disruption and Nuclear Ignition of White Dwarf Stars by Intermediate-mass Black Holes

We present results from general relativistic calculations of the tidal disruption of white dwarf stars from near encounters with intermediate-mass black holes. We follow the evolution of 0.2 M and 0.6 M stars on parabolic trajectories that approach 103-104 M black holes as close as a few Schwarzschi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2018-09, Vol.865 (1), p.3
Main Authors: Anninos, Peter, Fragile, P. Chris, Olivier, Samuel S., Hoffman, Robert, Mishra, Bhupendra, Camarda, Karen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
abundances
ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
Astrophysics
black hole physics
Black holes
Calcium
Chemical synthesis
Disruption
Dwarf stars
Gravitational waves
Gravity waves
Heavy elements
hydrodynamics
Ignition
Iron
Mathematical analysis
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear fusion
NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
nuclear reactions
nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, abundances
nucleosynthesis
Relativism
Relativistic effects
stars: black holes
Stellar evolution
Supernovae
Thermonuclear reactions
White dwarf stars
White dwarfs
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Summary:We present results from general relativistic calculations of the tidal disruption of white dwarf stars from near encounters with intermediate-mass black holes. We follow the evolution of 0.2 M and 0.6 M stars on parabolic trajectories that approach 103-104 M black holes as close as a few Schwarzschild radii at periapsis, paying particular attention to the effect that tidal disruption has on thermonuclear reactions and the synthesis of intermediate-mass to heavy elements. These encounters create diverse thermonuclear environments that are characteristic of Type I supernovae and capable of producing both intermediate-mass and heavy elements in arbitrary ratios, depending on the strength (or proximity) of the interaction. Nuclear ignition is triggered in all of our calculations, even at weak tidal strengths β ∼ 2.6 and large periapsis radius RP ∼ 28 Schwarzschild radii. A strong inverse correlation exists between the mass ratio of calcium-group to iron-group elements and tidal strength, with β 5 producing predominantly calcium-rich debris. At these moderate to weak interactions, nucleosynthesis is not especially efficient, limiting the total mass and outflows of calcium-group elements to
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
1538-4357
DOI:10.3847/1538-4357/aadad9