Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Mass Transfer And Mergers In Double White Dwarf Binaries, Wesley Paul Even

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

We have developed a self consistent field (SCF) technique similar to the one described by Hachisu, Eriguchi, & Nomoto (1986b) that can be used to construct detailed force-balanced models of synchronously rotating, double white dwarf (DWD) binaries. This SCF technique can be used to construct model sequences that mimic the last portion of the detached inspiral phase of DWD binary evolutions, and semi-detached model sequences that mimic a phase of conservative mass transfer. In addition, the SCF models can be used to provide quiet initial starts for dynamical studies of the onset of mass transfer in DWD systems. We present …