Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2009-02-24
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
accepted for publication in MNRAS
Scientific paper
10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.14645.x
We report the identification, from a photometric, astrometric and spectroscopic study, of a massive white dwarf member of the nearby, approximately solar metalicity, Coma Berenices open star cluster (Melotte 111). We find the optical to near-IR energy distribution of WD1216+260 to be entirely consistent with that of an isolated DA and determine the effective temperature and surface gravity of this object to be $T_{\rm eff}$=$15739^{+197}_{-196}$K and log $g$=$8.46^{+0.03}_{-0.02}$. We set tight limits on the mass of a putative cool companion, M$\simgreat$0.036M$_{\odot}$ (spatially unresolved) and M$\simgreat$0.034M$_{\odot}$, (spatially resolved and a$\simless$2500AU). Based on the predictions of CO core, thick-H layer evolutionary models we determine the mass and cooling time of WD1216+260 to be M$_{\rm WD}$=$0.90 \pm0.04$M$_{\odot}$ and $\tau$$_{\rm cool}$=$363^{+46}_{-41}$Myrs respectively. For an adopted cluster age of $\tau$=500$\pm$100Myrs we infer the mass of its progenitor star to be M$_{\rm init}$=$4.77^{+5.37}_{-0.97}$M$_{\odot}$. We briefly discuss this result in the context of the form of the stellar initial mass-final mass relation.
Boyce Donald
Burleigh Matthew R.
Casewell Sarah L.
Dobbie Paul D.
No associations
LandOfFree
A massive white dwarf member of the Coma Berenices Open Cluster does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with A massive white dwarf member of the Coma Berenices Open Cluster, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A massive white dwarf member of the Coma Berenices Open Cluster will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-157297