Magnetic Fields and the Crystallization of White Dwarfs

Abstract

The evolution of white dwarfs can be described as a cooling process. When the temperature is low enough, the interior experiences a phase transition and crystallizes. Crystallization introduces two new sources of energy, latent heat and chemical sedimentation, and induces the formation of a convective mantle around the solid core. This structure, which is analogous to that of the Earth, could induce the formation of a magnetic field via dynamo mechanism. In this work we discuss the viability of such mechanism, and its use as a diagnostic tool of crystallization.