Mechanism for flow generation/acceleration in dense degenerate stellar atmospheres

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new mechanism for flow generation and acceleration in dense degenerate stellar atmospheres, particularly in white dwarfs, driven by magneto-fluid coupling near the surface, which can produce super-Alfvénic flows and transient jets.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism for flow acceleration in dense stellar atmospheres, linking degeneracy, gravity, and magnetic effects, with applications to white dwarf atmospheres.

Findings

Fast flows are generated due to magneto-fluid coupling near the surface.

Flow acceleration can be up to 100 times, leading to transient jet formation.

Possibility of super-Alfvénic flow generation and magnetic field amplification.

Abstract

The mechanism for flow generation in dense degenerate stellar atmospheres is suggested when the electron gas is degenerate and ions are assumed to be classical. It is shown, that there is a catastrophe in such system -- fast flows are generated due to magneto-fluid coupling near the surface. Distance over which acceleration appears is determined by the strength of gravity and degeneracy parameter. Application of this mechanism for White Dwarfs' atmospheres is examined and appropriate physical parameter range for flow generation/acceleration is found; possibility of the super-Alfv\'enic flow generation is shown; the simultaneous possibility of flow acceleration and magnetic field amplification for specific boundary conditions is explored; in some cases initial background flow can be accelerated 100 and more times leading to transient jet formation while the Magnetic field amplification is less strong.