White dwarfs - fossil stars
The structure and properties of white dwarfs are analyzed. The physical structure of white dwarf interiors is balanced by a quantum-mechanical effect known as electron degeneracy pressure. Besides preventing gravitational collapse, the degenerate electrons also control the thermal structure of the stars. The transport of energy in the interior and near the surface of the stars is discussed. The surface composition of the white dwarfs is examined. It is observed that the surface of the stars contains only one element; 80 percent of the stars contain only H and the remaining stars contain He. It is determined that the intense gravity of the stars leads to a layering arrangement of material within the star. The origin and evolution of white dwarfs, in particular their crystal stage, are described.
- Research Organization:
- Yale Univ., New Haven, CT; Texas Univ., Austin
- OSTI ID:
- 5870200
- Journal Information:
- Sky Telesc.; (United States), Vol. 74
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
First discovery of an ultra-cool white dwarf benchmark in common proper motion with an M dwarf
White dwarfs and variable degenerate stars. Proceedings of the Colloquium, July 30-August 2, 1979 and Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Workshop on Novae, Dwarf Novae and Other Cataclysmic Variables, University of Rochester, Rochester, N. Y. , August 3, 1979
Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
WHITE DWARF STARS
ORIGIN
STAR EVOLUTION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COOLING
CRYSTALLIZATION
ENERGY TRANSFER
GRAVITATION
HERTZSPRUNG-RUSSELL DIAGRAM
MORPHOLOGY
QUANTUM MECHANICS
DIAGRAMS
DWARF STARS
MECHANICS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
STARS
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources