Kepler Field Cataclysmic Variables and the Nature of Astrophysical Plasma Viscosity

该奖项将支持一项关于开普勒卫星数据中的激变变星(CV)亮度变化的研究。激变变星是双星，在双星中，物质从演化的伴星流向白矮星；这种流动有助于维持白矮星周围的吸积盘。开普勒数据具有前所未有的时间采样和跨度，这应该会揭示许多不同时间尺度上的亮度变化。该项目的主要组成部分是(1)将公共区域通用流体动力学程序转换为吸积盘模拟程序，并将其分发给天文学团体；(2)模拟亮度变化的复杂性，以此作为等离子体流性质的指示器；以及(3)精确模拟CV吸积的辐射流体动力学和涌现光谱能量分布。这项工作有望提高对致密天体周围气体流动的理解，这反过来将揭示许多天体物理现象，包括超新星的产生。公开发布数字代码将有助于未来在简历和其他研究领域的研究。

This award will support a study of brightness variations in cataclysmic variables (CVs) seen in data from the Kepler satellite. Cataclysmic variables are binary stars in which material is flowing from an evolved companion onto a white dwarf; the flow contributes to the maintenance of an accretion disk around the white dwarf. The Kepler data has unprecedented time sampling and span, which should reveal brightness variations on many different time scales. The major components of the project are (1) to convert a public domain general purpose hydrodynamical code to an accretion disk simulation code, which will be distributed to the astronomical community; (2) to model the complexity of brightness variations as indicators of the nature of the plasma flow; and (3) to accurately model the radiation hydrodynamics and emergent spectral energy distribution of CV accretion. The work is expected to improve the understanding of gaseous flow around compact objects, which in turn will she light on many astrophysical phenomena including the production of supernovae. The public release of numerical codes will aid future research in CVs and other areas of study.