Bibcode
Piersanti, L.; Cabezón, R. M.; Zamora, O.; Domínguez, I.; García-Senz, D.; Abia, C.; Straniero, O.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 522, id.A80
Advertised on:
11
2010
Journal
Citations
17
Refereed citations
14
Description
Context. Binary systems experiencing one or two common envelope episodes
during the red giant branch or the Hertzsprung gap phases can produce a
single star, evolving along the Hayashi track, as a final outcome. Even
if these objects are expected to be very common in nature, a proper
description of their evolution and physical properties is still missing.
Moreover, this scenario (red giant merging scenario) has been invoked as
the progenitor systems of early-R stars, by assuming that the physical
conditions developed as a consequence of the cores merging could produce
the mixing into the convective envelope of fresh carbon that was
synthesized during the He-flash. Aims: We analyze in detail the
red giant merging scenario to verify if the resulting star develops the
physical conditions suitable for a dredge-up of C-enriched material from
the core to the envelope. Methods: We performed 3D simulations of
the merging stars, to check whether He is burnt efficiently during the
formation of a self-sustained disk. We therefore did 1D computations of
the accretion phase occurring after the merging and of the following
evolution up to the settling of quiescent He-burning in the center. We
adopted different assumptions on the amount of angular momentum
transferred from the disk to the core and on the angular momentum
transport. Results: Efficient He-burning does not occur during
the merging, because a very high temperature (T > 108 K)
at the disk/He-core interface develops only for a few minutes. Our
computations show that the accretion process is the leading parameter in
determining the final properties of the merged object. In particular,
the thermal energy delivered by the accreted matter determines the
heating of the whole newborn core, thus preventing the developing of
highly degenerate physical conditions. This occurrence determines the
onset of the He-burning with an He-flash milder and closer to the
center, as compared to standard RGB stars. Rotation and different
angular momentum transport efficiency plays a secondary role by
determining the exact location of the first He-flash. In none of the
computed models is material formed in the He-core mixed into the
convective envelope, because the H-burning shell, which always active
during the He-flashes and later on, acts as a barrier.
Conclusions: In the red giant merging scenario, the physical conditions
suitable for both a peculiar He-flash and the dredging-up of C-enriched
material never occur. Our results speak against the possibility that
such an evolutionary scenario could represent the progenitor system of
early R-stars.