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. In this talk, I will present my recent theoretical work aimed at improving the constitutive physics of white dwarf cooling models (in particular the physics of core crystallization) and discuss outstanding uncertainties that should be addressed before white dwarf cosmochronology can reach its full potential.
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2022-03-21T15:00:002022-03-21T16:00:00White dwarf crystallization as revealed by GaiaEvent 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. In this talk, I will present my recent theoretical work aimed at improving the constitutive physics of white dwarf cooling models (in particular the physics of core crystallization) and discuss outstanding uncertainties that should be addressed before white dwarf cosmochronology can reach its full potential.Event Location:
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