On Trapped Modes In Variable White Dwarfs As Probes Of The $^{12}$C($\alpha, \gamma$)$^{16}$O Reaction Rate

Understand

We seek signatures of the current experimental $^{12}$C$(\alpha,\gamma)^{16}$O reaction rate probability distribution function in the pulsation periods of carbon-oxygen white dwarf models.

• We find that adiabatic g-modes trapped by the interior carbon-rich layer offer potentially useful signatures of this reaction rate probability distribution function.
• Probing the carbon-rich region is relevant because it forms during the evolution of low-mass stars under radiative helium burning conditions, mitigating the impact of convective mixing processes.
• We make direct quantitative connections between the pulsation periods of the identified trapped g-modes in variable WD models and the current experimental $^{12}$C$(\alpha,\gamma)^{16}$O reaction rate probability distribution function.