Science Colloquium
The Physics of Novae (Thermonuclear Runaways on the Back of an Envelope)
Dr. Lorne Nelson
Bishop's University
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
11:40 - 12:50 PM
McGreer Room 100
Since the number of stars in the Universe is so enormous, Nature can create many wondrous types of objects. One of the most exotic and fascinating classes of systems are interacting binaries containing compact objects. These are binary systems in which a collapsed star (e.g., white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole) is literally cannibalizing its stellar companion! Particularly important are Cataclysmic Variable systems since the matter that is accreted onto the surface of the white dwarfs becomes sufficiently dense to undergo a thermonuclear explosion. This leads to a very bright flash of light -- a Nova.
Starting from first principles I will very briefly describe the physics of thermonuclear fusion and hydrodynamical explosions and discuss them in the context of nova observations. More importantly I will show how a simple ?back of the envelope? model can be derived analytically that will reproduce the salient features of novae. Finally, I will discuss the implications for our understanding of Supernovae and the evolution of the Universe.
