Nova outbursts on magnetic white dwarfs

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166470· OSTI ID:7068313

Livio, M; Shankar, A; Truran, J W

The question of nova outbursts on magnetic white dwarfs among AM Her systems is examined. In particular, the effects of the presence of a strong magnetic field on the development of a thermonuclear runaway (TNR) are studied. The magnetic field is capable of weakening the outburst both through the inhibition of shear and diffusion mixing (which results in lower enrichments by heavy elements) and by interference with the development of convection during the TNR (which results in lower ejection velocities). The apparent absence of classical novae among AM Her systems may nevertheless have been due to selection effects, which are a consequence of the lower accretion rates below the period gap and the very narrow range in mass ratios capable of producing novae below the gap. 37 references.

• Research Organization: Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA); Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Garching (Germany, F.R.)
• OSTI ID: 7068313
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 330; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BINARY STARS
DWARF STARS
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC STARS
MASS
NOVAE
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
SYNTHESIS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
VARIABLE STARS
WHITE DWARF STARS