Talk Details

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 4:15pm

Pier-Emanuel Tremblay (LSW):

"3D Models of White Dwarfs"

Abstract. White dwarfs with hydrogen-rich atmospheres are the most abundant of all degenerate objects. Their atmospheres are thought to be relatively simple, with a pure composition due to the gravitational settling, and we rely on them for age determinations of galactic structures and as spectroscopic standards. Nevertheless, a great deal of work has been done in recent years to increase the accuracy of their model spectra. Most notably, our group now rely on 3D radiation-hydrodynamics instead of the standard 1D model for the treatment of convection. I will demonstrate that our improved 3D model spectra provide a much better agreement with theories of stellar evolution.