Publication Abstracts

Stothers and Simon 1969

Stothers, R., and N.R. Simon, 1969: An explanation for the blue sequence of variable stars. Astrophys. J., 157, 673-681, doi:10.1086/150105.

Nuclear energy of the stellar core is found to be the direct source of energy fed into radial pulsations in two classes of blue variable stars. The μ-mechanism (reversal of the gradient of mean molecular weight, which reduces the central condensation) or the β-mechanism (high radiation pressure) can explain the basic variability of β Cephei stars if they are burning hydrogen in their cores, have accreted a helium-rich envelope, and are the luminous secondaries of close binary systems. If the composition reversal does not lead to significant mixing in the envelope, the μ-mechanism will operate in inhomogeneous stars of 6-95 M. If rapid mixing takes place, the β-mechanism will operate in completely homogeneous stars of 12-60 M. The β-mechanism can also explain the variability of many Wolf-Rayet stars if they are burning helium in their cores, have masses in excess of ∼8 M with a thin or absent hydrogen envelope, and are the luminous primaries of close binary systems.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{st07410e,
  author={Stothers, R. and Simon, N. R.},
  title={An explanation for the blue sequence of variable stars},
  year={1969},
  journal={Astrophysical Journal},
  volume={157},
  pages={673--681},
  doi={10.1086/150105},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - st07410e
AU  - Stothers, R.
AU  - Simon, N. R.
PY  - 1969
TI  - An explanation for the blue sequence of variable stars
JA  - Astrophys. J.
JO  - Astrophysical Journal
VL  - 157
SP  - 673
EP  - 681
DO  - 10.1086/150105
ER  -

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