Bibcode
Brown, Warren R.; Kilic, Mukremin; Allende-Prieto, C.; Kenyon, Scott J.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 744, Issue 2, article id. 142 (2012).
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1
2012
Journal
Citations
96
Refereed citations
83
Description
Extremely low mass (ELM) white dwarfs (WDs) with masses < 0.25 M
&sun; are rare objects that result from compact binary
evolution. Here, we present a targeted spectroscopic survey of ELM WD
candidates selected by color. The survey is 71% complete and has
uncovered 18 new ELM WDs. Of the seven ELM WDs with follow-up
observations, six are short-period binaries and four have merger times
less than 5 Gyr. The most intriguing object, J1741+6526, likely has
either a pulsar companion or a massive WD companion making the system a
possible supernova Type Ia or an Ia progenitor. The overall ELM survey
has now identified 19 double degenerate binaries with <10 Gyr merger
times. The significant absence of short orbital period ELM WDs at cool
temperatures suggests that common envelope evolution creates ELM WDs
directly in short period systems. At least one-third of the merging
systems are halo objects, thus ELM WD binaries continue to form and
merge in both the disk and the halo.
Based on observations obtained at the MMT Observatory, a joint facility
of the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Arizona.
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