Magnetic Field Evolution in an Accreting White Dwarf

Preprint

11 September 2002

preprint
Published by arXiv in arXiv

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.astro-ph/0209198

Abstract

I discuss the evolution of the magnetic field of an accreting white dwarf. I show that the ohmic decay time is 7-12 billion years for the lowest order decay mode, almost independent of core temperature or mass. I then show that the magnetic field structure is substantially altered by accretion if the white dwarf mass increases at a rate more than 1-5 x 10^(-10) solar masses per year. I discuss the implications of this result for observed systems, including the possible evolutionary link between AM Hers and intermediate polars.

Keywords

ACCRETING WHITE DWARF
FIELD EVOLUTION
MAGNETIC FIELD
WHITE DWARF
ACCRETION
POLARS
DECAY

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Version 1, 2002-09-11, ArXiv

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