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Prevention of accretion onto white dwarfs by stellar windsThere is indirect observational evidence that hot white dwarfs may have weak stellar winds. In this paper, the interaction between such a wind and the flow of ISM material in the gravitational field of the white dwarf is investigated with the aim of finding limits on the mass-loss rate and terminal velocity of winds capable of preventing accretion from the ISM. The limiting cases of no relative motion of the star and the ISM and supersonic relative motion of the star through ISM are separately investigated. Each case is treated by generalizing models for the interaction between the solar wind and the local ISM to include the effects of gravity. It is found that, for wind velocities expected for radiatively driven winds, mass-loss rates as low as 10 exp -21 solar mass/yr are sufficient to prevent accretion from the hot phase of the ISM. To prevent accretion during passages through cold clouds, wind mass-loss rates of order 10 exp -18 to 10 exp -17 are required.
Document ID
19920066803
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Macdonald, James
(Delaware, University Newark, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 394
Issue: 2 Au
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
92A49427
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2456
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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