Cubic crystal elastic constants of a white dwarf stellar core determined via modal analysis

Abstract

In this work, we present the cubic crystal elastic constants of a fully crystallized white dwarf stellar core. Elastic constants were calculated utilizing modal analysis of three-dimensional single-layer and stratified multi-layer crystalline core models. The models were generated using a Fortran based forward calculation algorithm in combination with a finite element modeling software program and were based on the parameters associated with the pulsating crystallized white dwarf BPM 37093. The calculated cubic crystal elastic constants, in comparison with elastic parameters of theoretical Coulomb crystal models of white dwarf matter, differed by, at most, a few orders of magnitude. In addition, the crystallized stellar core elastic parameters produced associated vibrational modes and frequencies that are consistent with the periodicity observed in BPM 37093.