Illuminating White Dwarf Spectra through Laboratory Experiments at Cosmic Conditions

Winget, D. E.; Montgomery, M. H.; Dunlap, B. H.; Cho, P. B.; Schaeuble, M. -A.; Gomez, T. A.

doi:10.1016/j.hedp.2020.100853

Illuminating White Dwarf Spectra through Laboratory Experiments at Cosmic Conditions

Journal Article · Thu Jul 16 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · High Energy Density Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hedp.2020.100853· OSTI ID:1734987

Winget, D. E. ^[1]; Montgomery, M. H. ^[2]; Dunlap, B. H. ^[2]; Cho, P. B. ^[2]; Schaeuble, M. -A. ^[3]; Gomez, T. A. ^[3]

Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States); The University of Texas at Austin
Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)

We establish the work on white dwarf stars in the larger context of the experiments of the Wootton Center for Astrophysical Plasma Properties (WCAPP); these experiments are conducted at the plasma conditions found in the cosmos, without the need for scaling. We briefly summarize the results of these experiments to-date and their astrophysical and physical import, before focusing on the white dwarf experiments. Over 97% of stars either are, or will become, white dwarf stars, giving them broad relevance. We describe the astrophysical and physical problems associated with white dwarf photospheres, the plasma where the observed light arises. Here, the astrophysical questions include the age of the universe, the age and history of star formation in our Galaxy's varied morphological components and the evolution of stars. The compact nature of these ubiquitous stars means that the atomic physics is not well constrained even in the outermost layers. Further, it suggests that many important processes, including crystallization in dense Coulomb plasma, occur and have a significant effect on the evolution and structure of these stars and thus all their many applications.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003843; SC0010623

OSTI ID:: 1734987

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1808571

Journal Information:: High Energy Density Physics, Journal Name: High Energy Density Physics Vol. 37; ISSN 1574-1818

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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