Exploring the Peculiar Chromosphere of a White Dwarf
Astronomers have taken a closer look at a peculiar star system known as a white dwarf-red dwarf binary, and their findings provide new insight into the behavior of stellar chromospheres. Using the Very Large Telescope, the team of researchers observed the binary system known as WD1145+017. The system consists of a white dwarf – the dense core of a star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel – and a red dwarf – a much fainter and cooler star.
In a recent blog entry, astronomers from the Very Large Telescope have explored the chromosphere of a peculiar white dwarf-red dwarf binary system called WD1145+017. Using the Very Large Telescope, the team of researchers observed the binary system and found that the red dwarf’s chromosphere is much more active than expected. The team suggests that the star’s chromosphere could be heated by the white dwarf, resulting in a much more active atmosphere than previously thought. This discovery provides new insight into the behavior of stellar chromospheres and could lead to a better understanding of stellar evolution.
source: Phys.org