Bibcode
Kilic, Mukremin; Brown, Warren R.; Allende-Prieto, C.; Agüeros, M. A.; Heinke, Craig; Kenyon, S. J.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 727, Issue 1, article id. 3 (2011).
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1
2011
Journal
Citations
122
Refereed citations
105
Description
We describe new radial velocity and X-ray observations of extremely
low-mass white dwarfs (ELM WDs, ~0.2 M sun) in the Sloan
Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4 and the MMT Hypervelocity Star survey.
We identify four new short period binaries, including two merger
systems. These observations bring the total number of short period
binary systems identified in our survey to 20. No main-sequence or
neutron star companions are visible in the available optical photometry,
radio, and X-ray data. Thus, the companions are most likely WDs. Twelve
of these systems will merge within a Hubble time due to gravitational
wave radiation. We have now tripled the number of known merging WD
systems. We discuss the characteristics of this merger sample and
potential links to underluminous supernovae, extreme helium stars, AM
CVn systems, and other merger products. We provide new observational
tests of the WD mass-period distribution and cooling models for ELM WDs.
We also find evidence for a new formation channel for single low-mass
WDs through binary mergers of two lower mass objects.
Based on observations obtained at the MMT Observatory, a joint facility
of the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Arizona.
Related projects
Chemical Abundances in Stars
Stellar spectroscopy allows us to determine the properties and chemical compositions of stars. From this information for stars of different ages in the Milky Way, it is possible to reconstruct the chemical evolution of the Galaxy, as well as the origin of the elements heavier than boron, created mainly in stellar interiors. It is also possible to
Carlos
Allende Prieto