Introduction to Astrophysics/Black Dwarfs

Black Dwarfs

Black dwarfs are thought to be the end stage of stars that initially have between .07 and 10 solar masses. After passing through a red giant phase, a significant proportion of the mass of the star is shed as a planetary nebula. What remains is a white dwarf, which is initially extremely hot, but which does not generate any new energy through nuclear fusion -- and which is supported by electron degeneracy pressure. White dwarfs cool very slowly, eventually becoming dead black dwarfs. This process takes so long that the universe is not thought to be old enough to contain black dwarfs yet, so they are theoretical objects.