Work

Post-common envelope binaries from SDSS-X: the origin of low-mass white dwarfs

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: We present the first white dwarf mass distributions of a large and homogeneous sample of post-common envelope binaries (PCEBs) and wide white dwarf main-sequence (WDMS) binaries directly obtained from observations. Both distributions are statistically independent, with PCEBs showing a clear concentration of systems towards the low-mass end of the distribution and the white dwarf mass distribution of wide WDMS binaries being similar to that of single white dwarfs. Our results provide evidence that the majority of low-mass (Mwd≲ 0.5 M⊙) white dwarfs are formed in close binaries.

Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18200.x

Authors: A. Rebassa-Mansergas, A. Nebot Gómez-Morán, M. R. Schreiber, J. Girven, B. T. Gänsicke

Institutions: University of Valparaíso, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Observatoire astronomique de Strasbourg, University of Warwick

Language: English

Topic: Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Science and Technology Facilities Council

Award: Warwick Astronomy and Astrophysics Rolling Grant 2011-2016