On 25 Mar 2007 05:54:00 -0700, "Jerry" wrote:

On Mar 25, 2:41 am, "Jerry" wrote:

This is not to say that the surface of the white dwarf companion
of PSR J1909-3744 is non-turbulent. Far from it. Tidal effects
from the closely orbiting pulsar would be expected to drive
complex "weather" patterns on its surface.

That, of course, is assuming that the white dwarf is not
in a state of tidal lock, with one face always directed
towards the pulsar. Even so, the gradual cooling of the
white dwarf should drive convective effects. Stellar
surfaces are not quiescent, even on dead stars.

However, any
luminosity variances due to these effects would be completely
negligible relative to the flux of black body radiation.

There could, of course, be minor variations due to the
white dwarf not being entirely spherical due to tidal
distortion, etc.

theories, theories.....all based on completely wrong interpretations of basic
data.


Jerry



"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know
him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
--Jonathan Swift.