White Dwarf Asteroseismology as a Boundary Condition for Stellar Evolution

Dr. Agnes Kim

Dept.Chemistry & Physics

Georgia College & State University

Tuesday - Jan. 27, 2009

3:30pm - 4:30 pm

Abstract:

The study of non-radial oscillations of white dwarfs, white dwarf asteroseismology, allows us to peer below their photosphere and build a detailed picture of their internal structure. White dwarfs hold in their interior the fossil records of the evolution of 98% of stars and provide a boundary condition for stellar evolution. In addition, they are relatively simple to model and their pulsation modes well measured. These two facts conspire to make white dwarf asteroseismology a useful tool to determine the internal structure of white dwarfs and some of their stellar parameters. I will present an overview of the ideas and techniques used in white dwarf asteroseismology that allow us to unveil this fossil record and present some recent successes in the field.