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Hornbein
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So, how does EDM prevent heat loss if it is a thermal conductor?Ken G said:Right. That mechanism says that if there is net heat loss, gravity will slightly exceed pressure. It is a misconception to say that the heat loss ever causes temperature drop, however-- the temperature can rise monotonically everywhere, throughout the process. The key is that the slight excess of gravity is always causing contraction, allowing gravity to do work that pumps kinetic energy into the system-- usually at a rate twice as large as the net heat loss that is driving the whole business. Thus the excess kinetic energy piles up and causes the continuing temperature rise, but even though the temperature is steadily rising, the rising gravity continues to slightly exceed the pressure.
Anything that short-circuits the net heat loss will stop this process, and either fusion or degeneracy can do that-- fusion by replacing lost heat, degeneracy by preventing heat loss in the first place.
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(It [EDM] also inhibits internal collisions, so it conducts heat very efficiently, but that just redistributes excess heat, most of the internal kinetic energy is still insulated against any heat loss.)
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