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12.6: Problems

  • Page ID
    141684
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    1. Assume that all particles in a normal GV star at optical depth \(\tau(\lambda5000)=1\) have the same speed. Estimate the time required for LTE to be established.
    2. Starting with the gray atmosphere temperature distribution, find the rate of convergence toward radiative equilibrium as a function of the Rosseland optical depth for a standard atmosphere (i.e., \(T_e=10,000\mathrm{K}\), \(\mathrm{Log}~g=4.0\), and the chemical composition m equals that of the sun). Explicitly define what you mean by the "rate of convergence".
    3. As one moves deeper into a stellar atmosphere, the dependence of the source function becomes more linear with optical depth. Is this a result of the opacity becoming more gray (i.e., independent of wavelength), or does the result follow from the directional randomization of the radiation field? Give explicit evidence to support your conclusion.
    4. Compute \(\mathrm{F}_\lambda / \mathrm{F}_\lambda(\lambda 5560)\) for a nongray atmosphere where
      1. \(\sigma_\lambda=0\), and \(\kappa_\lambda=\mathrm{a}+\mathrm{b}\lambda\) and the effective temperature \(T_e=5000\mathrm{K}\), and
      2. same as in (a) but with \(\kappa_\lambda=\mathrm{a}\)

        Assume that the Eddington approximation is sufficiently accurate to solve the equation of radiative transfer.

      3. how do \(\mathrm{F_\lambda}(12000)\) and \(\mathrm{F_\lambda}(15560)\) vary with the optical depth.

    This page titled 12.6: Problems is shared under a Public Domain license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by George W. Collins II (Pachart Foundation) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.