Spin-up and mixing in accreting white dwarfs
It is demonstrated that existing theories of mixing in accreting white dwarfs encounter difficulties when confronted with observations of enrichments in nova ejecta. Arguments are presented, based on the Ekman spin-up process, which suggest that angular momentum transport from the accreted material to the white dwarf is more efficient than previously thought. This should lead to matter spreading over the entire white dwarf surface, as well as inward mixing. It is shown that when efficient transfer of angular momentum is taken into account, the gross features of nova outbursts can be reproduced, with the runaway occuring in a mixed layer. Some implications of the results for DQ Her, the hibernation model of novae, recurrent novae, and soft X-ray emission are discussed. 63 references.
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Univ., Urbana
- OSTI ID:
- 6148411
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 318
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
WHITE DWARF STARS
STAR ACCRETION
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ANGULAR VELOCITY
MASS TRANSFER
MIXING
MOMENTUM TRANSFER
NOVAE
ROTATION
STAR MODELS
X RADIATION
DWARF STARS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOTION
RADIATIONS
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
VARIABLE STARS
VELOCITY
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources