How to Determine Temperature Difference Between Two Stars Using Spectral Lines?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zapped17
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Spectral lines
AI Thread Summary
A weak spectral line in neutral iron has been observed in solar-type stars, with its lower level having an excitation energy of 2 eV. The discussion focuses on determining the temperature difference between two stars based on the equivalent width of this spectral line, which is twice as large for star A compared to star B. The analysis assumes no hydrogen ionization, nearly all iron is singly ionized, and that the partition functions are temperature-independent. The derived equation involves the ratio of temperatures and requires solving for x, but participants express difficulty in progressing from the logarithmic form of the equation. The conversation highlights the complexities of using spectral lines to infer stellar temperatures.
Zapped17
Messages
9
Reaction score
2
Thread moved from the technical forums to the schoolwork forums
TL;DR Summary: A weak spectral line connecting levels in neutral iron has been observed for a number of solar-type stars.
Its lower level has an excitation energy of 2 eV. If the line’s equivalent width is twice as large for star A
as for star B, how great is the difference in temperature (in the layers where the line is formed) between
the two stars? Assume that no hydrogen is ionized, nearly all iron is singly ionized, H− is responsible for
all the continuous opacity, the partition functions are independent

A weak spectral line connecting levels in neutral iron has been observed for a number of solar-type stars.
Its lower level has an excitation energy of 2 eV. If the line’s equivalent width is twice as large for star A
as for star B, how great is the difference in temperature (in the layers where the line is formed) between
the two stars? Assume that no hydrogen is ionized, nearly all iron is singly ionized, H− is responsible for
all the continuous opacity, the partition functions are independent of temperature, and both stars have the
same iron abundance. The dissociation energy of H− is 0.75 eV.

Solution:
Let the temperature difference be dT = T_A - T_B.
Set x = T_A/T_B and dW_A = 2dW_B (by using both the Boltzmann equation and the Saha equation) we get (after some long derivation):
2 = x^{3/2}*e* {((2 eV)/(k*T_B))*(x-1)}.

Finally, if we take natural logarithm on both sides, we obtain:
ln(2) = (3/2)*ln(x) + (2 eV/(k*T_B))*(x-1). But from this step i am stuck what to do, how i am suppose to find x, or have I used wrong method on this exericise?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Back
Top