Enrique García–Berro

Explaining the Type Ia supernova PTF 11kx with a violent prompt merger scenario

We argue that the multiple shells of circumstellar material (CSM) and the supernovae (SN) ejecta interaction with the CSM starting 59 days after the explosion of the Type Ia SN (SN Ia) PTF 11kx, are best described by a violent prompt merger. In this prompt merger scenario the common envelope (CE) phase is terminated by a merger of a WD companion with the hot core of a massive asymptotic giant (AGB) star. In most cases the WD is disrupted and accreted onto the more massive core. However, in the rare cases where the merger takes place when the WD is denser than the core, the core will be disrupted and accreted onto the cooler WD. In such cases the explosion might occur with no appreciable delay, i.e., months to years after the termination of the CE phase. This, we propose, might be the evolutionary route that could lead to the explosion of PTF 11kx. This scenario can account for the very massive CSM within � 1000 AU of the exploding PTF 11kx star, for the presence of hydrogen, and for the presence of shells in the CSM.

White dwarf evolutionary sequences for low-metallicity progenitors: The impact of third dredge-up

Context. White dwarfs are nowadays routinely used as reliable cosmochronometers, allowing several stellar populations to be dated.; Aims. We present new white dwarf evolutionary sequences for low-metallicity progenitors. This is motivated by the recent finding that residual H burning in low-mass white dwarfs resulting from Z = 0.0001 progenitors is the main energy source over a significant part of their evolution.; Methods. White dwarf sequences have been derived from full evolutionary calculations that take the entire history of progenitor stars into account, including the thermally pulsing and the post-asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phases.; Results. We show that for progenitor metallicities in the range 0.00003 less than or similar to Z less than or similar to 0.001, and in the absence of carbon enrichment from the occurrence of a third dredge-up episode, the resulting H envelope of the low-mass white dwarfs is thick enough to make stable H burning the most important energy source even at low luminosities. This has a significant impact on white dwarf cooling times. This result is independent of the adopted mass-loss rate during the thermally-pulsing and post-AGB phases and in the planetary nebulae stage.; Conclusions. We conclude that in the absence of third dredge-up episodes, a significant part of the evolution of low-mass white dwarfs resulting from low-metallicity progenitors is dominated by stable H burning. Our study opens the possibility of using the observed white dwarf luminosity function of low-metallicity globular clusters to constrain the efficiency of third dredge up episodes during the thermally-pulsing AGB phase of low-metallicity progenitors.

The white dwarf luminosity function

White dwarfs are the final remnants of low- and intermediate-mass stars. Their evolution is essentially a cooling process that lasts for

The response of a helium white dwarf to an exploding type Ia supernova

\sim 10

The effect of

Gyr. Their observed properties provide information about the history of the Galaxy, its dark matter content and a host of other interesting astrophysical problems. Examples of these include an independent determination of the past history of the local star formation rate, identification of the objects responsible for the reported microlensing events, constraints on the rate of change of the gravitational constant, and upper limits to the mass of weakly interacting massive particles. To carry on these tasks the essential observational tools are the luminosity and mass functions of white dwarfs, whereas the theoretical tools are the evolutionary sequences of white dwarf progenitors, and the corresponding white dwarf cooling sequences. In particular, the observed white dwarf luminosity function is the key manifestation of the white dwarf cooling theory, although other relevant ingredients are needed to compare theory and observations. In this review we summarize the recent attempts to empirically determine the white dwarf luminosity function for the different Galactic populations. We also discuss the biases that may affect its interpretation. Finally, we elaborate on the theoretical ingredients needed to model the white dwarf luminosity function, paying special attention to the remaining uncertainties, and we comment on some applications of the white dwarf cooling theory. Astrophysical problems for which white dwarf stars may provide useful leverage in the near future are also discussed.

^{22}

We conduct numerical simulations of the interacting ejecta from an exploding CO white dwarf (WD) with a He WD donor in the double-detonation scenario for Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), and study the possibility of exploding the companion WD. We also study the long time imprint of the collision on the supernova remnant. When the donor He WD has a low mass, MWD = 0.2M⊙, it is at a distance of ∼ 0.08R⊙ from the explosion, and helium is not ignited. The low mass He WD casts an ‘ejecta shadow’ behind it. By evolving the ejecta for longer times, we find that the outer parts of the shadowed side are fainter and its boundary with the ambient gas is somewhat flat. More massive He WD donors, MWD ≃ 0.4M⊙, must be closer to the CO WD to transfer mass. At a distance of a . 0.045R⊙ helium is detonated and the He WD explodes, leading to a triple detonation scenario. In the explosion of the donor WD approximately 0.15M⊙ of unburned helium is ejected. This might be observed as a peculiar type Ib supernova.

Ne diffusion in the evolution and pulsational properties of white dwarfs with solar metallicity progenitors

Because of the large neutron excess of

Classical and Recurrent Nova Models

^{22}

Neural network interpolation of the magnetic field for the LISA Pathfinder Diagnostics Subsystem

Ne, this isotope rapidly sediments in the interior of the white dwarfs. This process releases an additional amount of energy, thus delaying the cooling times of the white dwarf. This influences the ages of different stellar populations derived using white dwarf cosmochronology. Furthermore, the overabundance of

The impact of the chemical stratification of white dwarfs on the nucleosynthesis from classical novae

^{22}