First planetesimals from DESI DR1: 12 highly metal-rich white dwarfs
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Metal-enriched white dwarfs provide a unique insight into the composition of exoplanet interiors. These stars accrete the debris of disrupted planetary bodies, and hence, measuring the stellar parameters and photospheric abundances yields the bulk compositions of the parent bodies. At present, over 1750 debris-accreting white dwarfs are known, but just a few dozen are sufficiently enriched to allow a detailed abundance study. Here, we report the analysis of 12 highly metal-enriched white dwarfs observed within the Data Release 1 of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). We characterized their stellar parameters and photospheric metal abundances, and we identified between three and ten different elements in their optical spectra, including most of the rock-forming species: O, Mg, Si, Ca, and Fe. We conclude that the accreted bodies broadly resemble compositions found within the inner Solar system such as primitive meteorites, processed material, or planetary cores. Six of the systems allowed a more thorough analysis: four of the parent bodies are composed of dry rock-forming elements; and two of them of something akin to a water-rich planetesimal. Thus, this study establishes DESI as a potent survey for identifying metal-rich targets, yielding reliable compositions of accreted exoplanetary material.
Authors: Paula Izquierdo, Andrew Swan, Boris T Gänsicke, Jamie T Williams, Detlev Koester, Nicola P Gentile-Fusillo, Christopher J Manser, Laura K Rogers, D Aguado, J Aguilar, S Ahlen, C Allende Prieto, D Bianchi, D Brooks, T Claybaugh, A de la Macorra, A Dey, P Doel, J E Forero-Romero, E Gaztañaga, S Gontcho A Gontcho, G Gutiérrez, D Joyce, T Kisner, S E Koposov, A Kremin, M Landriau, L Le Guillou, T S Li, M Manera, A Meisner, R Miquel, J Moustakas, J Najita, W J Percival, F Prada, I Pérez-Ràfols, G Rossi, E Sanchez, D Schlegel, M Schubnell, D Sprayberry, G Tarlé, B A Weaver, R Zhou, H Zou
Institutions: University of Warwick, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, University of Trieste, International Gemini Observatory, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Boston University, Universidad de La Laguna, University of Milan, Brera Astronomical Observatory, National Institute for Astrophysics, University College London, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, NSF NOIRLab, Universidad de Los Andes, Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya, University of Portsmouth, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Royal Observatory, University of Edinburgh, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies, Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules, University of Toronto, Institute for High Energy Physics, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Siena College, University of Waterloo, Perimeter Institute, Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Sejong University, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, University of Michigan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Astronomical Observatories
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,046
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Office of Science, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Division of Astronomical Sciences, H2020 European Research Council
Awards: G1044631029, G1105844351, G1175115578, G1286236842, G1813527838, G1863003419, G2262748287, G300979063, G3083819904, G3452655474, G3480869486, Planetary systems around white dwarfs, G419881185, G425668148, G42916606, G4501827968, G491712853, G498139845, G5080475149, G5635532810, G6652958823, G6876926712, G7084143925, Management and Operations of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, G7805626310, G7863371703, G7908306290, G8497050386, G969889393
OpenAlex ID: W7168864560