The closest extremely low-mass white dwarf to the Sun
We present the orbit and properties of 2MASS J050051.85-093054.9, establishing it as the closest (d ~ 71 pc) extremely low mass white dwarf to the Sun. We find that this star is hydrogen-rich with Teff ~ 10 500 K, log g ~ 5.9, and, following evolutionary models, has a mass of ~ 0.17 solar masses....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slaa068 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80039 |
| Summary: | We present the orbit and properties of 2MASS J050051.85-093054.9,
establishing it as the closest (d ~ 71 pc) extremely low mass white dwarf to
the Sun. We find that this star is hydrogen-rich with Teff ~ 10 500 K, log g ~
5.9, and, following evolutionary models, has a mass of ~ 0.17 solar masses.
Independent analysis of radial velocity and TESS photometric time series
reveals an orbital period of ~ 9.5 h. Its high velocity amplitude (K ~ 144
km/s) produces a measurable Doppler beaming effect in the TESS light curve with
an amplitude of 1 mmag. The unseen companion is most likely a faint white
dwarf. J0500-0930 belongs to a class of post-common envelope systems that will
most likely merge through unstable mass transfer and in specific circumstances
lead to Type Ia supernova explosions. |
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