The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constant

Autores
Althaus, Leandro Gabriel; Córsico, Alejandro Hugo; Torres, S.; Lorén-Aguilar, P.; Isern, J.; García-Berro, E.
Año de publicación
2011
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Context. Within the theoretical framework of some modern unification theories the constants of nature are functions of cosmological time. White dwarfs offer the possibility of testing a possible variation of G and, thus, to place constraints on these theories. Aims. We present full white dwarf evolutionary calculations for a scenario where G decreases with time. Methods. White dwarf evolution is computed in a self-consistent way, including the most up-to-date physical inputs, non-gray model atmospheres and a detailed core chemical composition that results from the calculation of the full evolution of progenitor stars. Results. We find that the mechanical structure and the energy balance of white dwarfs are strongly modified by a varying G. In particular, for a rate of change of G higher than Ġ /G = -1 × 10-12 yr-1, the evolution of cool white dwarfs is markedly affected. The impact of a varying G is more pronounced for more massive white dwarfs. Conclusions. In view of the recent results reporting that a very accurate white dwarf cooling age can be derived for the old and metal-rich open cluster NGC 6791, our study suggests that this cluster could be a potential target to constrain or detect a hypothetical secular variation of G.
Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas
Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata
Materia
Ciencias Astronómicas
stars: evolution
stars: interiors
white dwarfs
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
SEDICI (UNLP)
Institución
Universidad Nacional de La Plata
OAI Identificador
oai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/84253

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oai_identifier_str oai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/84253
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repository_id_str 1329
network_name_str SEDICI (UNLP)
spelling The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constantAlthaus, Leandro GabrielCórsico, Alejandro HugoTorres, S.Lorén-Aguilar, P.Isern, J.García-Berro, E.Ciencias Astronómicasstars: evolutionstars: interiorswhite dwarfsContext. Within the theoretical framework of some modern unification theories the constants of nature are functions of cosmological time. White dwarfs offer the possibility of testing a possible variation of G and, thus, to place constraints on these theories. Aims. We present full white dwarf evolutionary calculations for a scenario where G decreases with time. Methods. White dwarf evolution is computed in a self-consistent way, including the most up-to-date physical inputs, non-gray model atmospheres and a detailed core chemical composition that results from the calculation of the full evolution of progenitor stars. Results. We find that the mechanical structure and the energy balance of white dwarfs are strongly modified by a varying G. In particular, for a rate of change of G higher than Ġ /G = -1 × 10-12 yr-1, the evolution of cool white dwarfs is markedly affected. The impact of a varying G is more pronounced for more massive white dwarfs. Conclusions. In view of the recent results reporting that a very accurate white dwarf cooling age can be derived for the old and metal-rich open cluster NGC 6791, our study suggests that this cluster could be a potential target to constrain or detect a hypothetical secular variation of G.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto de Astrofísica de La Plata2011info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionArticulohttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84253enginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/issn/0004-6361info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1051/0004-6361/201015849info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)reponame:SEDICI (UNLP)instname:Universidad Nacional de La Platainstacron:UNLP2025-09-29T11:16:10Zoai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/84253Institucionalhttp://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/Universidad públicaNo correspondehttp://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/oai/snrdalira@sedici.unlp.edu.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:13292025-09-29 11:16:10.419SEDICI (UNLP) - Universidad Nacional de La Platafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constant
title The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constant
spellingShingle The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constant
Althaus, Leandro Gabriel
Ciencias Astronómicas
stars: evolution
stars: interiors
white dwarfs
title_short The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constant
title_full The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constant
title_fullStr The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constant
title_full_unstemmed The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constant
title_sort The evolution of white dwarfs with a varying gravitational constant
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Althaus, Leandro Gabriel
Córsico, Alejandro Hugo
Torres, S.
Lorén-Aguilar, P.
Isern, J.
García-Berro, E.
author Althaus, Leandro Gabriel
author_facet Althaus, Leandro Gabriel
Córsico, Alejandro Hugo
Torres, S.
Lorén-Aguilar, P.
Isern, J.
García-Berro, E.
author_role author
author2 Córsico, Alejandro Hugo
Torres, S.
Lorén-Aguilar, P.
Isern, J.
García-Berro, E.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Ciencias Astronómicas
stars: evolution
stars: interiors
white dwarfs
topic Ciencias Astronómicas
stars: evolution
stars: interiors
white dwarfs
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Context. Within the theoretical framework of some modern unification theories the constants of nature are functions of cosmological time. White dwarfs offer the possibility of testing a possible variation of G and, thus, to place constraints on these theories. Aims. We present full white dwarf evolutionary calculations for a scenario where G decreases with time. Methods. White dwarf evolution is computed in a self-consistent way, including the most up-to-date physical inputs, non-gray model atmospheres and a detailed core chemical composition that results from the calculation of the full evolution of progenitor stars. Results. We find that the mechanical structure and the energy balance of white dwarfs are strongly modified by a varying G. In particular, for a rate of change of G higher than Ġ /G = -1 × 10-12 yr-1, the evolution of cool white dwarfs is markedly affected. The impact of a varying G is more pronounced for more massive white dwarfs. Conclusions. In view of the recent results reporting that a very accurate white dwarf cooling age can be derived for the old and metal-rich open cluster NGC 6791, our study suggests that this cluster could be a potential target to constrain or detect a hypothetical secular variation of G.
Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas
Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata
description Context. Within the theoretical framework of some modern unification theories the constants of nature are functions of cosmological time. White dwarfs offer the possibility of testing a possible variation of G and, thus, to place constraints on these theories. Aims. We present full white dwarf evolutionary calculations for a scenario where G decreases with time. Methods. White dwarf evolution is computed in a self-consistent way, including the most up-to-date physical inputs, non-gray model atmospheres and a detailed core chemical composition that results from the calculation of the full evolution of progenitor stars. Results. We find that the mechanical structure and the energy balance of white dwarfs are strongly modified by a varying G. In particular, for a rate of change of G higher than Ġ /G = -1 × 10-12 yr-1, the evolution of cool white dwarfs is markedly affected. The impact of a varying G is more pronounced for more massive white dwarfs. Conclusions. In view of the recent results reporting that a very accurate white dwarf cooling age can be derived for the old and metal-rich open cluster NGC 6791, our study suggests that this cluster could be a potential target to constrain or detect a hypothetical secular variation of G.
publishDate 2011
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2011
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Articulo
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84253
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84253
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/issn/0004-6361
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1051/0004-6361/201015849
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:SEDICI (UNLP)
instname:Universidad Nacional de La Plata
instacron:UNLP
reponame_str SEDICI (UNLP)
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instname_str Universidad Nacional de La Plata
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institution UNLP
repository.name.fl_str_mv SEDICI (UNLP) - Universidad Nacional de La Plata
repository.mail.fl_str_mv alira@sedici.unlp.edu.ar
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