help

Can a White Dwarf Star Be Used as an Energy Source?

-- Tye | March 12, 2020

Question:

With regard to using solar power from the sun, and considering as of yet undeveloped technologies that could tap into our local star through some other means, when a star dies down to become a white dwarf is there still any kind of energy such as solar which can be pulled from the corpse and utilized?

-- Tye

Answer:

Since the energy from a White Dwarf star is derived from the stored thermal energy from its past thermonuclear production, the luminosity of a White Dwarf star will vary from over 100 times that of our Sun when it first becomes a White Dwarf star to less than 1/10,000 that of our Sun later in its life. It seems then that one could continue to use a White Dwarf as a source of energy in the early stages of a White Dwarf’s life, but as the White Dwarf ages its ability to serve as an energy source will diminish.

-- Jeff Mangum

Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Linkedin

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
	Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.
	The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."
	AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.