A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Neutron star atmospheres composed of fusion ashes;




AuthorsSuleimanov, Valery F.; Poutanen, Juri; Werner, Klaus

PublisherEDP Sciences

Publication year2026

Journal: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Article numberA169

Volume710

ISSN0004-6361

eISSN1432-0746

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202659003

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202659003

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/527094936

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

Here we present models of hot neutron star (NS) atmospheres consisting of thermonuclear ashes of various chemical compositions. These models are essential for studying thermonuclear flashes in X-ray-bursting NSs in which nuclear-burning ashes are transported to the stellar surface. We consider four different mixtures, each dominated by helium, chromium, iron, or nickel. In addition to the opacity sources previously used in NS atmosphere modeling, we include photoionization from excited ionic states as well as approximately 5000 spectral lines. We also developed a method that enables the simultaneous treatment of Compton scattering and a large number of spectral lines. A key feature of the modeled NS atmospheres is the presence of a layer in the transition region between the optically thin and optically thick parts of the atmosphere where the radiation-pressure force increases significantly. This enhanced force sets an upper limit on the maximum attainable bolometric flux for a given surface gravity and chemical composition. The emergent spectra from the computed atmospheres display pronounced absorption edges, whose energies are determined by the dominant chemical species. We fit the model spectra using a diluted blackbody modified by a single absorption edge, and we investigate how the fit parameters depend on both the relative bolometric flux and the chemical composition of the atmosphere. Finally, we discuss constraints on these models imposed by the properties of X-ray bursts that exhibit absorption edges in their spectra, as observed in the systems HETE J1900.1−2455 and GRS 1747−312.


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Funding information in the publication
VFS was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) grant WE 1312/59-1. JP acknowledges support from the Research Council of Finland, the Centre of Excellence in Neutron-Star Physics (project 374064).


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