A seismic approach to testing different formation channels of subdwarf B stars
Résumé
Context: There are many unknowns in the formation of subdwarf B stars. Different formation channels are considered to be possible and to lead to a variety of helium-burning subdwarfs. All seismic models to date, however, assume that a subdwarf B star is a post-helium-flash-core surrounded by a thin inert layer of hydrogen.
Aims: We examine an alternative formation channel, in which the subdwarf B star originates from a massive (>~2 M&sun;) red giant with a non-degenerate helium-core. Although these subdwarfs may evolve through the same region of the log g-T_eff diagram as the canonical post-flash subdwarfs, their interior structure is rather different. We examine how this difference affects their pulsation modes and whether it can be observed.
Methods: Using detailed stellar evolution calculations we construct subdwarf B models from both formation channels. The iron accumulation in the driving region due to diffusion, which causes the excitation of the modes, is approximated by a Gaussian function. The pulsation modes and frequencies are calculated with a non-adiabatic pulsation code.
Results: A detailed comparison of two subdwarf B models from different channels, but with the same log g and T_eff, shows that their mode excitation is different. The excited frequencies are lower for the post-flash than for the post-non-degenerate subdwarf B star. This is mainly due to the differing chemical composition of the stellar envelope. A more general comparison between two grids of models shows that the excited frequencies of most post-non-degenerate subdwarfs cannot be well-matched with the frequencies of post-flash subdwarfs. In the rare event that an acceptable seismic match is found, additional information, such as mode identification and log g and T_eff determinations, allows us to distinguish between the two formation channels.
Aims: We examine an alternative formation channel, in which the subdwarf B star originates from a massive (>~2 M&sun;) red giant with a non-degenerate helium-core. Although these subdwarfs may evolve through the same region of the log g-T_eff diagram as the canonical post-flash subdwarfs, their interior structure is rather different. We examine how this difference affects their pulsation modes and whether it can be observed.
Methods: Using detailed stellar evolution calculations we construct subdwarf B models from both formation channels. The iron accumulation in the driving region due to diffusion, which causes the excitation of the modes, is approximated by a Gaussian function. The pulsation modes and frequencies are calculated with a non-adiabatic pulsation code.
Results: A detailed comparison of two subdwarf B models from different channels, but with the same log g and T_eff, shows that their mode excitation is different. The excited frequencies are lower for the post-flash than for the post-non-degenerate subdwarf B star. This is mainly due to the differing chemical composition of the stellar envelope. A more general comparison between two grids of models shows that the excited frequencies of most post-non-degenerate subdwarfs cannot be well-matched with the frequencies of post-flash subdwarfs. In the rare event that an acceptable seismic match is found, additional information, such as mode identification and log g and T_eff determinations, allows us to distinguish between the two formation channels.