Open AccessAn electrically powered binary star?
Author(s) -
Wu Kinwah,
Cropper Mark,
Ramsay Gavin,
Sekiguchi Kazuhiro
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05190.x
Subject(s) - physics , binary number , star (game theory) , astrophysics , binary star , astronomy , stars , arithmetic , mathematics
We propose a model for stellar binary systems consisting of a magnetic and a non‐magnetic white dwarf pair which is powered principally by electrical energy. In our model the luminosity is caused by resistive heating of the stellar atmospheres arising from induced currents driven within the binary. This process is reminiscent of the Jupiter–Io system, but greatly increased in power because of the larger companion and stronger magnetic field of the primary. Electrical power is an alternative stellar luminosity source, following on from nuclear fusion and accretion. We find that this source of heating is sufficient to account for the observed X‐ray luminosity of the 9.5‐min binary RX J1914+24, and provides an explanation for its puzzling characteristics.