White dwarf crystallization as revealed by Gaia

Event Start:
2022-03-21T15:00:00
Event End:
2022-03-21T16:00:00
Event Information:

White dwarfs are stellar embers that simply cool down for the rest of time, eventually freezing into a solid state. This predictable evolution makes them precise cosmic clocks; they have been used for decades to measure the ages of stellar populations. But data from the Gaia space observatory is now challenging our understanding of white dwarf evolution and calling into question the accuracy of this age dating technique. The cooling process appears to be much more delayed by the onset of crystallization than predicted by current models.

Event Location:
Connect via zoom
Speaker:
Simon Blouin (UVic)
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Add to Calendar Event Start: 2022-03-21T15:00:00 Event End: 2022-03-21T16:00:00 White dwarf crystallization as revealed by Gaia Event Information: White dwarfs are stellar embers that simply cool down for the rest of time, eventually freezing into a solid state. This predictable evolution makes them precise cosmic clocks; they have been used for decades to measure the ages of stellar populations. But data from the Gaia space observatory is now challenging our understanding of white dwarf evolution and calling into question the accuracy of this age dating technique. The cooling process appears to be much more delayed by the onset of crystallization than predicted by current models. Event Location: Connect via zoom

Source URL: https://phas.ubc.ca/white-dwarf-crystallization-revealed-gaia