New Techniques to Determine Ages of Open Clusters Using White Dwarfs

Details New Techniques to Determine Ages of Open Clusters Using White Dwarfs New Techniques to Determine Ages of Open Clusters Using White Dwarfs

2006-11-27

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0611826v1

Astrophys.J.658:391-395,2007

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

15 pages, 5 figures. accepted to Astrophysical Journal

Scientific paper

10.1086/511124

Currently there are two main techniques for independently determining the ages of stellar populations: main sequence evolution theory (via cluster isochrones) and white dwarf cooling theory. Open clusters provide the ideal environment for the calibration of these two clocks. Because current techniques to derive cluster ages from white dwarfs are observationally challenging, we discuss the feasibility of determining white dwarf ages from the brighter white dwarfs alone. This would eliminate the requirement of observing the coolest (i.e., faintest) white dwarfs. We discuss our method for testing this new idea, as well as the required photometric precision and prior constraints on metallicity, distance, and reddening. We employ a new Bayesian statistical technique to obtain and interpret results.

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