What makes an established white dwarf shine if it is no longer generating energy through fusion?
Answer
Radiating residual thermal heat left over from its prior life.
The light emitted by a white dwarf is purely thermal, stemming from the residual heat stored in the star when it formed, which it slowly radiates into space over vast timescales.
#Videos
Why Don't White Dwarfs Fuse Their Carbon and Oxygen? - YouTube
Related Questions
What fundamental physical state supports a white dwarf against gravity, preventing further collapse?What is the primary reason active nuclear fusion ceases in a white dwarf?What is the approximate hard upper limit for the mass of a stable white dwarf?If a white dwarf's mass exceeds the Chandrasekhar Limit, what usually happens next?What makes an established white dwarf shine if it is no longer generating energy through fusion?What is the eventual theoretical fate of a white dwarf after cooling over trillions of years?Which quantum mechanical principle is responsible for providing the electron degeneracy pressure?What must nuclear fusion overcome to begin, requiring temperatures often exceeding $10^8$ Kelvin?If a teaspoon of white dwarf material were observed, approximately how much weight would it represent?What unique phase change occurs in a white dwarf's plasma as it cools significantly during its late life?How does the supporting pressure in a Sun-like main-sequence star differ from that in a white dwarf?