Modeling H-triggered X-ray Bursts with MESA

Many observed neutron stars are in binaries and accrete hydrogen-rich material from low-mass companions. The accumulating matter eventually triggers a thermonuclear runaway that results in an X-ray burst lasting 10–100s with a recurrence time of hours to days. Almost all observed thermonuclear X-ray bursts are thought to be triggered by the thermally unstable triple-alpha process, as most observed bursters are sufficiently hot that hydrogen burning is via the beta-limited, thermally stable hot CNO cycle. Recently, two faint bursts were detected from SAX J1808.4-3658 that were plausibly triggered by thermally unstable CNO burning. If confirmed, this would be the first observation of unstable H burning on an accreting neutron star. Using MESA, a stellar evolution code, we explore the unstable ignition of H on a slowly accreting, cool neutron star over a range of metallicities (0.01<Z<0.30). Analogous to unstable H ignition in classical novae, we find that the CNO abundance at the base of the accreted layer must be enhanced in order to launch convection and produce a sharp rise and an observable burst. Following this initial burst, our models settle into a long phase of thermally stable, hot CNO burning that produces an extended tail. This tail is also seen in the observed bursts. The tail energetics and duration depend on the CNO abundance in the accreted matter, and thus open a new probe into mixing in the neutron star envelope.

Preprint available on arXiv here (but also has been accepted for publication by ApJ, 2025): https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025arXiv250615818C/abstract 

In 2023, I was one of only 50 students accepted to go to the MESA Summer School in Budapest, Hungary. The purpose of the school is to gain familiarity with the open-source stellar evolution software instrument MESA and learn how to make better use of it in astrophysics research though extensive hands-on labs and constant interaction with MESA developers and other experienced users.