On the formation of oxygen-neon white dwarfs in close binary systems

Abstract

The evolution of a star of initial mass 10 M⊙, and metallicity Z = 0.02 in a Close Binary System (CBS) is followed from its main sequence until an ONe degenerate remnant forms. Restrictions have been made on the characteristics of the companion as well as on the initial orbital parameters in order to avoid the occurrence of reversal mass transfer before carbon is ignited in the core. The system undergoes three mass loss episodes. The first and second ones are a consequence of a case B Roche lobe overflow. During the third mass loss episode stellar winds may play a role comparable to, or even more important than Roche lobe overflow. In this paper, we extend the previously existing calculations of stars of intermediate mass belonging to close binary systems by following carefully the carbon burning phase of the primary component. We also propose different possible outcomes for our scenario and discuss the relevance of our findings. In particular, our main result is that the resulting white dwarf component of mass 1.1 M⊙ more likely has a core composed of oxygen and neon, surrounded by a mantle of carbon-oxygen rich material. The average abundances of the oxygen-neon rich core are X(O16) = 0.55, X(Ne20) = 0.28, X(Na23) = 0.06 and X(Mg24) = 0.05. This result has important consequences for the Accretion Induced Collapse scenario. The average abundances of the carbon-oxygen rich mantle are X(O16) = 0.55, and X(C12) = 0.43. The existence of this mantle could also play a significant role in our understanding of cataclysmic variables.