On the Thermal Conductivity due to Collisions between Relativistic Degenerate Electrons
Abstract
A numerical integration is undertaken of the integral expression for the thermal conductivity due to collisions of relativistic degenerate electrons and compared to the limiting-case analytic formula. The integration is designed to encompass all temperature/electron-plasma-frequency temperature ratios between the melting temperature and the Fermi temperature. High accuracy fits are demonstrated by interpolating the values of the integrals of the function and by using an asymptotic function by Urpin and Yakovlev (1980). The numerically integrated expression compares favorably to the limiting-case analytic asymptotic formula by Urpin and Yakovlev, and the results are valid for temperatures above and below the electron-plasma-frequency temperature. The present techniques can be used in stellar opacity calculations and in the study of the propagation of deflagration fronts of compact stellar remnants.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 1992
- DOI:
- 10.1086/186383
- Bibcode:
- 1992ApJ...390L.107T
- Keywords:
-
- Degenerate Matter;
- Electron Scattering;
- Neutron Stars;
- Relativistic Electron Beams;
- Relativistic Plasmas;
- Thermal Conductivity;
- White Dwarf Stars;
- Computational Astrophysics;
- Numerical Integration;
- Plasma Temperature;
- Relativity;
- Astrophysics;
- CONDUCTION;
- PLASMAS;
- RELATIVITY;
- STARS: NEUTRON;
- STARS: WHITE DWARFS