Damping of Type I X-ray Burst Oscillations by Convection
arXiv:0803.3814 · doi:10.1086/590424
Abstract
I construct a simple model of the convective burning layer during a type I X-ray burst to investigate the effects convection has on the stability of the layer to nonradial oscillations. A linear perturbation analysis demonstrates that the region is stable to nonradial oscillations when energy transport is convection-dominated, but it is unstable when energy transport is radiation-dominated. Thus, efficient convection always dampens oscillations. These results may explain the nondetection of oscillations during the peak of some X-ray bursts.
7 pages; improvements to introduction and discussion, model and results unchanged; accepted by ApJ
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