The Predicted Signature of Neutrino Emission in Observations of Pulsating Pre-White Dwarf Stars

Abstract

Pre-white dwarf (PWD) star evolution can be driven by energy losses from neutrino interactions in the core. Unlike solar neutrinos, these are not the by-product of nuclear fusion, but instead result from electron scattering processes in the hot, dense regions of the PWD core. We show that the observed rate of period change in cool PWD pulsators will constrain neutrino emission in their cores, and we identify appropriate targets for future observation. Such a measurement will tell us whether the theories of lepton interactions correctly describe the production rates and therefore neutrino cooling of PWD evolution. This would represent the first test of standard lepton theory in dense plasma.