AST201H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: White Dwarf, Binary Star, Carbon Detonation

• School: UTSG
• Department: Astronomy & Astrophysics
• Course: AST201H1
• Professor: Marija Stankovic

Document Summary

Red giant becomes brighter because it is increasing in size. With a low mass star, carbon core (a layer of helium and on top hydrogen layer). High mass tar have more matter, allow contraction of carbon to continue. Go around electron degeneracy, fusing carbon and produce elements. p+e- n+ v proton + electron neutron + neutrino. In seconds, most of the star"s core is turned into neutrons. Further collapse is prevented by neutron degeneracy pressure. The rest of the star is rushing inward at about 20% of the speed of light (0. 2 c) and hits an immovable ball of neutrons. The inrushing material rebounds explosively and the star tears itself apart. But a white dwarf in a binary system is fed until it bursts. Low mass star in a binary system, end up with a white dwarf. When start building mass onto the white dwarf, spins faster. Once we reach that limit, spin the closer to speed of light.