https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201716003006
A view into the core of α Cen A
1
Center for Space Science, NYUAD Institute, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2
Stellar Astrophysics Centre, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, Aarhus C, DK-8000 Denmark
3
Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Göttingen, 37077 Germany
4
Institut für Astrophysik, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077 Germany
⋆ e-mail: mb6215@nyu.edu
Published online: 27 October 2017
We present results of modelling of α Cen A. In order to estimate the physical parameters of this star, we modelled spectroscopic, interferometric, astrometric and asteroseismic data. To that effect we chose to use a Bayesian approach to parameter estimation, which allowed us, in particular, to define our prior knowledge on the parameters. An important question we wanted to address was to assess whether or not α Cen A has a convective core. We found that the data we used give indecisive results on this issue. If the star has a convective core, and provided that overshooting is taken into account, there is a possibility for the star to be in the peculiar state in which the ppII chain is the main driver of nuclear energy generation. We also found a non-negligible probability for α Cen A to be a very early subgiant.
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2017
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
