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Chemistry of the oldest white dwarf planetary systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 September 2018

Mark A. Hollands ,
Boris T. Gänsicke ,
Detlev Koester ,
Vadim Alekseev  and
Emma L. Herbert
Mark A. Hollands
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK email: M.Hollands@warwick.ac.uk
Boris T. Gänsicke
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK email: M.Hollands@warwick.ac.uk
Detlev Koester
Affiliation:
Institut für Theoretische Physik and Astrophysik, University of Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
Vadim Alekseev
Affiliation:
St. Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Nab., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
Emma L. Herbert
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK email: M.Hollands@warwick.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Almost all stars in the Milky Way, including the Sun, will end their lives as white dwarfs. Their relatively peaceful transition off of the main sequence implies that most of their planetary systems will survive engulfment during the deaths of their host stars. These remnant planetary systems remain detectable for many Gyr through the occasional metal-contamination of the white dwarf photospheres by tidally disrupted planetesimals. Spectral analysis of these “metal-polluted” white dwarfs therefore provides a direct method for measuring the chemical compositions of extrasolar material. Here we present our sample of 230 cool white dwarfs with metal-rich photospheres, explore the diverse range of compositions of the accreted matter, and discuss two extreme systems which have respectively accreted planetesimals consistent with crust-like and core-like planetary material.

Keywords

stars: planetary systemswhite dwarfsabundances
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 13 , Symposium S332: Astrochemistry VII: Through the Cosmos from Galaxies to Planets , March 2017 , pp. 202 - 209
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2018 

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