Model atmospheres for irradiated stars in precataclysmic variables

Travis S. Barman, Peter H. Hauschildt, France Allard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Model atmospheres have been computed for M dwarfs that are strongly irradiated by nearby hot companions. A variety of primary and secondary spectral types are explored in addition to models specific to four known systems: GD 245, NN Ser, AA Dor, and UU Sge. This work demonstrates that a dramatic temperature inversion is possible on at least one hemisphere of an irradiated M dwarf and that the emergent spectrum will be significantly different from an isolated M dwarf or a blackbody flux distribution. For the first time, synthetic spectra suitable for direct comparison to high-resolution observations of irradiated M dwarfs in non-mass-transferring post-common-envelope binaries are presented. The effects of departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium on the Balmer line profiles are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)338-348
Number of pages11
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume614
Issue number1 I
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 10 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Binaries: close
  • Radiative transfer
  • Stars: atmospheres

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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