scholarly journals The Gaia DR2 halo white dwarf population: the luminosity function, mass distribution, and its star formation history

2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (2) ◽  
pp. 1753-1767
Author(s):  
Santiago Torres ◽  
Alberto Rebassa-Mansergas ◽  
María E Camisassa ◽  
Roberto Raddi
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Mass Distribution ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
High Speed ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Formation History ◽  
The Individual

ABSTRACT We analyse the volume-limited nearly complete 100 pc sample of 95 halo white dwarf candidates identified by the second data release of Gaia. Based on a detailed population synthesis model, we apply a method that relies on Gaia astrometry and photometry to accurately derive the individual white dwarf parameters. This method is tested with 25 white dwarfs of our sample for which we took optical spectra and performed spectroscopic analysis. We build and analyse the halo white dwarf luminosity function, for which we find for the first time possible evidences of the cut-off, leading to an age estimate of ${\simeq}12\pm 0.5$ Gyr. The mass distribution of the sample peaks at $0.589\, \mathrm{ M}_{\odot }$, with $71{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the white dwarf masses below $0.6\, \mathrm{ M}_{\odot }$ and just two massive white dwarfs of more than $0.8\, \mathrm{ M}_{\odot }$. From the age distribution, we find three white dwarfs with total ages above 12 Gyr, of which J1312−4728 is the oldest white dwarf known with an age of $12.41\pm 0.22\,$ Gyr. We prove that the star formation history is mainly characterized by a burst of star formation that occurred from 10 to 12 Gyr in the past, but extended up to 8 Gyr. We also find that the peak of the star formation history is centred at around 11 Gyr, which is compatible with the current age of the Gaia-Enceladus encounter. Finally, $13{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of our halo sample is contaminated by high-speed young objects (total age <7 Gyr). The origin of these white dwarfs is unclear but their age distribution may be compatible with the encounter with the Sagittarius galaxy.

scholarly journals The effects of unresolved double degenerates in the white dwarf luminosity function

2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (4) ◽  
pp. 5671-5681
Author(s):  
A Rebassa-Mansergas ◽  
S Toonen ◽  
S Torres ◽  
P Canals
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Population Synthesis ◽  
Formation History ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Synthesis Approach

ABSTRACT We perform an analysis of the single white dwarf and the double degenerate binary populations in the solar neighbourhood following a population synthesis approach to investigate the effects of unresolved double degenerates in the white dwarf luminosity function. We consider all unresolved synthetic binaries to be associated with fictitious effective temperatures and surface gravities that are obtained in the same way as if these objects were observed as single point sources. We evaluate the effects of unresolved double white dwarfs assuming that the synthetic samples are ‘observed’ both by the magnitude-limited SDSS and volume-limited Gaia surveys, the latter limited to a distance of no more than 100 pc. We find that, for our standard model, the impact of unresolved double degenerates in the white dwarf luminosity function derived from the Gaia sample is nearly negligible. Unresolved double degenerates are hence expected to have no effect on the age of the Galactic disc, nor on the star formation history from this population. However, for the SDSS sample, the effect of unresolved double degenerates is significant at the brighter bins (Mbol < 6.5 mag), with the fraction of such systems reaching ≃40 per cent of the total white dwarf population at Mbol = 6 mag. This indicates unresolved double degenerates may influence the constraints on the star formation history derived from the SDSS white dwarf sample.

scholarly journals White dwarfs as advanced physics laboratories. The axion case

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S357) ◽  
pp. 138-153
Author(s):  
Jordi Isern
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Star Formation Rate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Formation History ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Physics Laboratories

AbstractThe shape of the luminosity function of white dwarfs (WDLF) is sensitive to the characteristic cooling time and, therefore, it can be used to test the existence of additional sources or sinks of energy such as those predicted by alternative physical theories. However, because of the degeneracy between the physical properties of white dwarfs and the properties of the Galaxy, the star formation history (SFH) and the IMF, it is almost always possible to explain any anomaly as an artifact introduced by the star formation rate. To circumvent this problem there are at least two possibilities, the analysis of the WDLF in populations with different stories, like disc and halo, and the search of effects not correlated with the SFH. These procedures are illustrated with the case of axions.

scholarly journals The Luminosity Function of White Dwarfs in the Local Disk and Halo

1989 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Liebert ◽  
Conard C. Dahn ◽  
David G. Monet
Keyword(s):  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Solar Neighborhood ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Empirical Estimates ◽  
Formation History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Cool White Dwarfs ◽  
Local Disk

The luminosity function (LF) and total space density of white dwarfs in the solar neighborhood contain important information about the star formation history of the stellar population, and provide an independent method of measuring its age. The first empirical estimates of the LF for degenerate stars were those of Weidemann (1967), Kovetz and Shaviv (1976) and Sion and Liebert (1977). The follow-up investigations made possible by the huge Luyten Palomar proper motion surveys, however, added many more faint white dwarfs to the known sample. While the number of known cool white dwarfs grew to nearly one hundred, these did not include any that were much fainter intrinsically than the coolest degenerates found from the early Luyten, van Biesbroeck and Eggen-Greenstein lists.

scholarly journals High-speed stars: Galactic hitchhikers

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A122 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Caffau ◽  
L. Monaco ◽  
P. Bonifacio ◽  
L. Sbordone ◽  
M. Haywood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
Blue Stragglers ◽  
Formation History ◽  
Cool Stars ◽  
Age Estimates

Context. The search for stars born in the very early stages of the Milky Way star formation history is of paramount importance in the study of the early Universe since their chemistry carries irreplaceable information on the conditions in which early star formation and galaxy buildup took place. The search for these objects has generally taken the form of expensive surveys for faint extremely metal-poor stars, the most obvious but not the only candidates to a very early formation. Aims. Thanks to Gaia DR2 radial velocities and proper motions, we identified 72 bright cool stars displaying heliocentric transverse velocities in excess of 500 km s−1. These objects are most likely members of extreme outer-halo populations, either formed in the early Milky Way build-up or accreted from since-destroyed self-gravitating stellar systems. Methods. We analysed low-resolution FORS spectra of the 72 stars in the sample and derived the abundances of a few elements. Despite the large uncertainties on the radial velocity determination, we derived reliable orbital parameters for these objects. Results. The stars analysed are mainly slightly metal poor, with a few very metal-poor stars. Their chemical composition is much more homogeneous than expected. All the stars have very eccentric halo orbits, some extending well beyond the expected dimension of the Milky Way. Conclusions. These stars can be the result of a disrupted small galaxy or they could have been globular cluster members. Age estimates suggest that some of them are evolved blue stragglers, now on the subgiant or asymptotic giant branches.

scholarly journals The 1.4-GHz cosmic star formation history at z < 1.3

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Upjohn ◽  
Michael J. I. Brown ◽  
Andrew M. Hopkins ◽  
Nicolas J. Bonne
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Star Formation Rate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Formation History ◽  
Radio Measurements ◽  
Radio Luminosity Function

AbstractWe measure the cosmic star formation history out to z = 1.3 using a sample of 918 radio-selected star-forming galaxies within the 2-deg2 COSMOS field. To increase our sample size, we combine 1.4-GHz flux densities from the VLA-COSMOS catalogue with flux densities measured from the VLA-COSMOS radio continuum image at the positions of I &lt; 26.5 galaxies, enabling us to detect 1.4-GHz sources as faint as 40 μJy. We find that radio measurements of the cosmic star formation history are highly dependent on sample completeness and models used to extrapolate the faint end of the radio luminosity function. For our preferred model of the luminosity function, we find the star formation rate density increases from 0.017 M⊙ yr−1 Mpc−3 at z ∼ 0.225 to 0.092 M⊙ yr−1 Mpc−3 at z ∼ 1.1, which agrees to within 40% of recent UV, IR and 3-GHz measurements of the cosmic star formation history.

scholarly journals Evidence of spectral evolution on the white dwarf sample from the Gaia mission

2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (4) ◽  
pp. 5003-5010 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Ourique ◽  
S O Kepler ◽  
A D Romero ◽  
T S Klippel ◽  
D Koester
Keyword(s):  
White Dwarf ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Mass Function ◽  
Initial Mass Function ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Initial Mass ◽  
Spectral Evolution ◽  
Formation History ◽  
Magnitude Diagram ◽  
Double Population

ABSTRACT Since the Gaia data release 2, several works have been published describing a bifurcation in the observed white dwarf colour−magnitude diagram for ${G_{\mathrm{BP}}}{}-{G_{\mathrm{RP}}}{} \gt 0$. Some possible explanations in the literature include the existence of a double population with different initial mass functions or two distinct populations, one formed by hydrogen-envelope and one formed by helium-envelope white dwarfs. We propose instead spectral evolution to explain the bifurcation. From a population synthesis approach, we find that spectral evolution occurs for effective temperatures below ${\simeq }11\, 000\, \mathrm{K}$ and masses mainly between $0.64\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ and $0.74\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$, which correspond to around 16 per cent of all DA white dwarfs. We also find that the Gaia white dwarf colour–magnitude diagram indicates a star formation history that decreases abruptly for objects younger than $1.4\, \mathrm{Gyr}$ and a top-heavy initial mass function for the white dwarf progenitors.

scholarly journals The Canada–France Imaging Survey: Reconstructing the Milky Way Star Formation History from Its White Dwarf Population

2019 ◽  
Vol 887 (2) ◽  
pp. 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Fantin ◽  
Patrick Côté ◽  
Alan W. McConnachie ◽  
Pierre Bergeron ◽  
Jean-Charles Cuillandre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Formation History

scholarly journals Mass Distribution and Luminosity Function of White Dwarfs

1989 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Weidemann ◽  
Jie W. Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Distribution ◽  
Stellar Evolution ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
Single Well ◽  
Mass Dispersion

Ever since Graham’s Strömgren photometry (1972) demonstrated the existence of a single well defined cooling sequence of DA white dwarfs the question of the mass dispersion (or the width of the number-mass distribution) has been in the foreground of my studies (Weidemann, 1970, 1977).Indeed it turned out that the shape of the white dwarf mass distribution provides strong constraints on the theory of stellar evolution with mass loss, a fact which will be demonstrated again in the following lecture. It therefore seems worthwhile to dwell in some detail on the methods of its determination. For the benefit of the non-specialists I shall first present some of the historical results and then continue to discuss the present situation.

scholarly journals Environmental Effects on LRGs as Cosmic Chronometers

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S319) ◽  
pp. 140-140
Author(s):  
Gaochao Liu ◽  
Youjun Lu ◽  
Lizhi Xie ◽  
Xuelei Chen ◽  
Yongheng Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Hubble Constant ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Mass Dependence ◽  
Population Synthesis ◽  
Luminous Red Galaxies ◽  
Formation History ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Red Galaxies

AbstractMassive luminous red galaxies (LRGs) are believed to be evolving passively and can be used as cosmic chronometers to estimate the Hubble constant (the differential age method). However, different LRGs may be located in different environments. We investigate the environmental and mass dependence of the formation of ‘quiescent’ LRGs by using the population synthesis software STARLIGHT. We derive the stellar populations in each LRG, and obtain the mean age distribution and the mean star formation history (SFH) of those LRGs. We find that there is no apparent dependence of the mean age and the SFH of quiescent LRGs on their environment, while the ages of these quiescent LRGs depend weakly on their mass. We also evaluate the possible uncertainties in estimating the Hubble constant by the differential age method when using LRGs as cosmic chronometers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document