scholarly journals On the Separations of Common Proper Motion Binaries Containing White Dwarfs

1989 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 454-457
Author(s):  
T.D. Oswalt ◽  
E.M. Sion

Luyten [1,2] and Giclas et al. [3,4] list over 500 known common proper motion binaries (CPMBs) which, on the basis of proper motion and estimated colors, are expected to contain at least one white dwarf (WD) component, usually paired with a late type main sequence (MS) star. Preliminary assessments of the CPMBs suggest that nearly all are physical pairs [5,6]. In this paper we address the issue of whether significant orbital expansion has occurred as a consequence of the post-MS mass loss expected to accompany the formation of the WDs in CPMBs.Though the CPMB sample remains largely unobserved, a spectroscopic survey of over three dozen CPMBs by Oswalt [5] found that nearly all faint components of Luyten and Giclas color class “a-f” and “+1”, respectively, or bluer were a WD. This tendency was also evident in a smaller sample studied by Greenstein [7]. Conversely, nearly all CPMBs having two components of color class “g-k” and “+3” or redder were MS+MS pairs. With the caveat that such criteria discriminate against CPMBs containing cool (but rare) WDs, they nonetheless provide a crude means of obtaining statistically significant samples for the comparison of orbital separations: 209 highly probable WD+MS pairs and 109 MS+MS pairs.

1989 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 29-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Italo Mazzitelli

AbstractThe main evolutionary phases having some interest for the formation of the remnant white dwarf are discussed, starting from the core helium burning phase, in the attempt of evaluating a theoretical relation between initial main sequence mass and final white dwarf mass. Several difficulties, mainly due (but not only) to uncertainties in the theory of mass loss, have been met, so that only a fiducial bona fide correlation can be drawn. The mass function of population I white dwarfs has probably a secondary maximum at M = 0.9 – 1 Me.


1969 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 183-183
Author(s):  
O. J. Eggen

The term white dwarf was originally introduced, some 50 years ago, to describe intrinsically faint A-type stars. Spectroscopic studies and theoretical considerations confirm the suggestion that these are degenerate objects. Photographic colorimetry of faint proper motion stars can readily distinguish the blue objects and in this way several hundred white dwarf candidates have been discovered, mainly by Luyten. Accurate photometry of about 1000 of these stars has led to accurate estimates for the space density of 1.5 = 10−3 pc−3. However, subluminous late-type stars are more difficult to detect among the multitude of main sequence stars and some additional criteria are needed.


1992 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 643-645
Author(s):  
G. Fontaine ◽  
F. Wesemael

AbstractIt is generally believed that the immediate progenitors of most white dwarfs are nuclei of planetary nebulae, themselves the products of intermediate- and low-mass main sequence evolution. Stars that begin their lifes with masses less than about 7-8 M⊙ (i.e., the vast majority of them) are expected to become white dwarfs. Among those which have already had the time to become white dwarfs since the formation of the Galaxy, a majority have burnt hydrogen and helium in their interiors. Consequently, most of the mass of a typical white dwarf is contained in a core made of the products of helium burning, mostly carbon and oxygen. The exact proportions of C and 0 are unknown because of uncertainties in the nuclear rates of helium burning.


1979 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 324-328
Author(s):  
Paula Szkody

The 4 known AM Her stars or polars (AM Her, ANUMa, W Pup, and 2A0311-227) are characterized by large circular polarizations of 10-35%, (Tapia 1977a, b, Krzeminski and Serkowski 1977), an emission line spectrum with strong H and He lines (Crampton and Cowley 1977, Greenstein et al. 1977), complex photometric variations (Szkody 1978, Priedhorsky and Krzeminski 1978, Warner & Nather 1972), long term high and low states and short orbital periods (80-180 min.). Models of these systems envision a close binary containing a magnetic white dwarf primary (B ~ 108G) and late type main sequence secondary transferring material into an accretion funnel over one or both poles of the white dwarf (Stockman et al. 1977, Lamb & Masters 1979, Liebert et al. 1978).


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S357) ◽  
pp. 170-174
Author(s):  
Terry D. Oswalt ◽  
Jay B. Holberg ◽  
Edward M. Sion

AbstractThe Gaia DR2 has dramatically increased the ability to detect faint nearby white dwarfs. The census of the local white dwarf population has recently been extended from 25 pc to 50 pc, effectively increasing the sample by roughly an order of magnitude. Here we examine the completeness of this new sample as a function of variables such as apparent magnitude, distance, proper motion, photometric color index, unresolved components, etc.


1979 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 417-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Warner

For isolated stars, identification as a white dwarf may be effected in several ways. The fundamental property of abnormally low luminosity can be detected through direct measurement of trigonometric parallax or indirectly through large proper motion (accompanied by appropriate photometric properties). The presence of greatly pressure broadened absorption lines is another unambiguous criterion. Rapid light oscillations of the kind reviewed by Robinson are another hallmark of a select group of white dwarfs. Any or all of these criteria may be used to classify a star as a white dwarf and in general can be applied to members of wide binary systems.


1994 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 71-78
Author(s):  
Peter Thejll

It is the intention of this review to explain what white dwarfs are and why it is interesting to study them, and why the H+2molecule is of special interest.The evolution, from start to finish, of a star of mass less than about 2 solar masses (M⊙), can roughly be summarized as follows:–A cloud of gas contracts from the interstellar medium until hydrogen ignites at the center and amain sequence(MS) star forms. H is transformed to He and the MS phase continues until H is exhausted in the stellar core.–H continues burning in a shell outside the He core while the core contracts. He “ashes” are added to the core, and ared giantstar is formed as the envelope expands. The star evolves up the Red Giant Branch (RGB) (i.e. it becomes more and more luminous and the surface cools).–Towards the end of the RGB phase, mass-loss from the upper layers increases until helium to carbon burning in the core ignites suddenly under degenerate conditions – this is called theHelium Flash(HF). The HF terminates the RGB evolution, and therefore also the mass-loss and the growth of the stellar core.–The star readjusts its structure and the He-core burns steadily on thehorizontal branch(HB) (a phase of nearly-constant luminosity) until fuel is exhausted in the He-core.–Then the C/O core contracts anew and the expansion of the envelope, and the growth of the core, during He-shell burning, mimics RGB evolution but relatively little mass is added to the core this time.–The second ascent of the giant branch (the so-called Asymptotic Giant Branch, or AGB) continues with increased mass loss towards the end–Rapid detachment of a considerable fraction of the remaining envelope and the hot core takes place, sometimes observable as thePlanetary Nebulae(PN) phase.–The PN is dispersed as the core contracts to a white dwarf (WD).–The WD cools for a long time, as internal kinetic energy and latent heat is released.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S240) ◽  
pp. 380-382
Author(s):  
S. Catalán ◽  
I. Ribas ◽  
J. Isern ◽  
E. García–Berro ◽  
C. Allende Prieto

AbstractWe have studied white dwarfs in common proper motion pairs (CPMPs) to improve the semi-empirical initial–final mass relationship of white dwarfs. In this contribution, we report new results obtained from spectroscopic observations of both members of several CPMPs composed of an F, G or K type star and a DA white dwarf.


1980 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 255-262
Author(s):  
Jesse L. Greenstein

Extensive mass loss is observed for hot subluminous stars, through P Cygni lines in the ultraviolet. This persists in some sub-dwarf 0 stars, but is generally not observed in white dwarfs. The ultraviolet provides determination of effective temperatures. Among nine sdO’s, the maximum temperature reported is definitely below 60, 000 K; an object at 100, 000 K would be distinguishable. The sdO’s show a wide variety of line strengths, notably in N V, C IV and Si TV, as well as He II. One halo sdB is reported as rich in peculiar elements; it shows anomalous N V for its temperature. The comparison of effective temperatures of white dwarfs observed from space and from the ground gives excellent agreement. The hottest white dwarfs are near 60, 000 K, although one (helium-rich) reaches 80, 000 K. Another helium-rich close binary probably has an accretion disk; it is the only white dwarf to show the expanding shell of N V, C IV, Si IV characteristic of some subdwarfs. Two magnetic white dwarfs have been observed; one has strong unidentifiable features and the smallest known radius.


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