Theoretical power spectra of mixed modes in low mass red giant stars

TL;DR

This paper provides a theoretical framework for understanding the power spectra of mixed modes in low-mass red giant stars, linking mode lifetimes, inertias, and excitation to observable spectral features.

Contribution

It introduces a non-adiabatic, time-dependent convection model to predict mixed mode lifetimes, heights, and their evolution in red giant spectra, enhancing interpretation of observations.

Findings

Mixed modes can have heights comparable to radial modes under certain conditions.

Radiative damping significantly influences mixed mode heights.

Estimated height ratios help assess mixed-mode detectability.

Abstract

CoRoT and Kepler observations of red giant stars revealed very rich spectra of non-radial solar-like oscillations. Of particular interest was the detection of mixed modes that exhibit significant amplitude, both in the core and at the surface of the stars. It opens the possibility of probing the internal structure from their inner-most layers up to their surface along their evolution on the red giant branch as well as on the red-clump. Our objective is primarily to provide physical insight into the physical mechanism responsible for mixed-modes amplitudes and lifetimes. Subsequently, we aim at understanding the evolution and structure of red giants spectra along with their evolution. The study of energetic aspects of these oscillations is also of great importance to predict the mode parameters in the power spectrum. Non-adiabatic computations, including a time-dependent treatment of convection, are performed and provide the lifetimes of radial and non-radial mixed modes. We then combine these mode lifetimes and inertias with a stochastic excitation model that gives us their heights in the power spectra. For stars representative of CoRoT and Kepler observations, we show under which circumstances mixed modes have heights comparable to radial ones. We stress the importance of the radiative damping in the determination of the height of mixed modes. Finally, we derive an estimate for the height ratio between a g-type and a p-type mode. This can thus be used as a first estimate of the detectability of mixed-modes.