{
  "id": "1501.07837",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2015-01-30T16:49:49.000Z",
  "updated": "2015-01-30T16:49:49.000Z",
  "title": "Death by Dynamics: Planetoid-Induced Explosions on White Dwarfs",
  "authors": [
    "Rosanne Di Stefano",
    "Robert Fisher",
    "James Guillochon",
    "James F. Steiner"
  ],
  "comment": "15 pages, 1 figure, 1 table",
  "categories": [
    "astro-ph.HE",
    "astro-ph.SR"
  ],
  "abstract": "At intervals as short as ten thousand years, each white dwarf (WD) passes within a solar radius of a planetoid, i.e., a comet, asteroid, or planet. Gravitational tidal forces tear the planetoid apart; its metal-rich debris falls onto the WD, enriching the atmosphere. A third of WDs exhibit atmospheric \"pollution\". For roughly every hundred planetoid disruptions, a planetoid collides with a WD. We simulate a small number of collisions, in which \"death-by-dynamics\" refers to the fate of the planetoid. We also compute the energies and likely durations of a broad sample of collision events, and identify detection strategies at optical and X-ray wavelengths. Collisions with the most massive planetoids can be detected in external galaxies. Some may trigger nuclear burning. If one in $\\sim 10^7-10^8$ of WD-planetoid collisions creates the conditions needed for a Type Ia supernova (SN~Ia), \"death-by-dynamics\" would also refer to the fate of the WD, and could provide a novel channel for the production of SN~Ia. We consider the circumstances under which the rate of SNe~Ia can be increased by interactions with planetoids.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2015-01-30T16:49:49.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "white dwarf",
      "planetoid-induced explosions",
      "gravitational tidal forces tear",
      "wd-planetoid collisions creates",
      "type ia supernova"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 15,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "inspire": 1342249
    }
  }
}