white dwarf star

Thân thiện

A white dwarf star glows faintly at the center of a colorful nebula.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A faint star of enormous density: A "white dwarf star" is a type of stellar remnant. It is the hot, dense core left behind after a low- to medium-mass star has exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its outer layers. It emits a faint white light and is supported against gravitational collapse by electron degeneracy pressure.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

Advanced Usage

• In astrophysical contexts: The term is used to describe a specific, late stage in the life cycle of most stars.

Variants and Related Words

• White dwarf (n): A common shortened form of "white dwarf star".
• Degenerate matter (n): The highly compressed state of matter within a white dwarf star.

Synonyms

• Degenerate star: A technical synonym emphasizing the physical state of the matter.
• Stellar remnant: A broader category that includes white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.

Related Phrases

• White dwarf cooling curve: A graph showing how a white dwarf's temperature decreases over time.
• Binary white dwarf: A system containing two white dwarf stars orbiting each other.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a faint star of enormous density

Từ đồng nghĩa

• white dwarf