NRAO/Socorro Colloquium Series
Koji Mukai
NASA
The Mass of White Dwarfs in Interacting Binaries
Accretion
onto white dwarfs is a moderately efficient energy sourceand results in
a variety of interesting behavior of cataclysmic variables (CVs, whose
mass donors are Roche-lobe stars on or nearthe main sequence) and
symbiotic stars (red giants). In addition,accretion alone would lead to
the secular growth of the white dwarfmass, which is counteracted by the
large mass loss during novaoutbursts (thermonuclear runaways when a
sufficient amount of hydrogenrich matter is accumulated). The initial
white dwarf mass distributionof CVs and symbiotic stars, the secular
changes of the mass, and theultimate fate of these binaries are all
interesting questions.I will present a selection of recent results on
CVs and symbioticstars from X-ray and multiwavelength observations that
touch onthe question of mass. Specific topics include X-ray
surveys,X-ray spectra as white dwarf mass indicator, and the quest to
measure the ejecta mass in a variety of novae.
April 20, 2012
11:00 am
Array Operations Center Auditorium
All NRAO employees are invited to attend via video, available in Charlottesville Room 230, Green Bank Room 137 and Tucson N525.
Local Host: Michael Rupen
