Thermal evolution using EOS A (black; 3:1 OPR), EOS B (magenta; equilibrium OPR), and EOS C (grey; Saumon et al. 1995). The effective ratio of specific heats γ_eff is displayed in colour in the background for EOSs A, B, and C in panels a), b), and c), respectively. The region in the lower right corner of panel c) delineated by the dotted white line indicates the area of the (ρ,T) space where the values in the EOS table cannot be trusted. In panel d), the Rosseland mean opacity displayed in the background.