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Title: A SPITZER SPACE TELESCOPE STUDY OF THE DEBRIS DISKS AROUND FOUR SDSS WHITE DWARFS

Abstract

We present Spitzer Space Telescope data of four isolated white dwarfs that were previously known to harbor circumstellar gaseous disks. Infrared Array Camera photometry shows a significant infrared excess in all of the systems, SDSS0738+1835, SDSS0845+2257, SDSS1043+0855, and SDSS1617+1620, indicative of a dusty extension to those disks. The 4.5 {mu}m excesses seen in SDSS0738, SDSS0845, and SDSS1617 are 7.5, 5.7, and 4.5 times the white dwarf contribution, respectively. In contrast, in SDSS1043, the measured flux density at 4.5 {mu}m is only 1.7 times the white dwarf contribution. We compare the measured IR excesses in the systems to models of geometrically thin, optically thick disks, and find that we are able to match the measured spectral energy distributions to within 3{sigma} of the uncertainties, although disks with unfeasibly hot inner dust temperatures generally provide a better fit than those below the dust sublimation temperature. Possible explanations for the dearth of dust around SDSS1043+0855 are briefly discussed. Including our previous study of SDSS1228+1040, all five white dwarfs with gaseous debris disks have significant amounts of dust around them. It is evident that gas and dust can coexist around these relatively warm, relatively young white dwarfs.

Authors:
; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)
  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Warwick, Warwick CV4 7AL (United Kingdom)
  3. Institut fuer Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, University of Kiel, 24098 Kiel (Germany)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22034568
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 750; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; CAMERAS; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; COSMIC DUST; ENERGY SPECTRA; FLUX DENSITY; INFRARED RADIATION; INFRARED SPECTRA; PHOTOMETRY; SUBLIMATION; TELESCOPES; WHITE DWARF STARS

Citation Formats

Brinkworth, C S, Girven, J M, Hoard, D W, Gaensicke, B T, Marsh, T R, Parsons, S G, and Koester, D. A SPITZER SPACE TELESCOPE STUDY OF THE DEBRIS DISKS AROUND FOUR SDSS WHITE DWARFS. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/750/1/86.
Brinkworth, C S, Girven, J M, Hoard, D W, Gaensicke, B T, Marsh, T R, Parsons, S G, & Koester, D. A SPITZER SPACE TELESCOPE STUDY OF THE DEBRIS DISKS AROUND FOUR SDSS WHITE DWARFS. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/750/1/86
Brinkworth, C S, Girven, J M, Hoard, D W, Gaensicke, B T, Marsh, T R, Parsons, S G, and Koester, D. 2012. "A SPITZER SPACE TELESCOPE STUDY OF THE DEBRIS DISKS AROUND FOUR SDSS WHITE DWARFS". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/750/1/86.
@article{osti_22034568,
title = {A SPITZER SPACE TELESCOPE STUDY OF THE DEBRIS DISKS AROUND FOUR SDSS WHITE DWARFS},
author = {Brinkworth, C S and Girven, J M and Hoard, D W and Gaensicke, B T and Marsh, T R and Parsons, S G and Koester, D},
abstractNote = {We present Spitzer Space Telescope data of four isolated white dwarfs that were previously known to harbor circumstellar gaseous disks. Infrared Array Camera photometry shows a significant infrared excess in all of the systems, SDSS0738+1835, SDSS0845+2257, SDSS1043+0855, and SDSS1617+1620, indicative of a dusty extension to those disks. The 4.5 {mu}m excesses seen in SDSS0738, SDSS0845, and SDSS1617 are 7.5, 5.7, and 4.5 times the white dwarf contribution, respectively. In contrast, in SDSS1043, the measured flux density at 4.5 {mu}m is only 1.7 times the white dwarf contribution. We compare the measured IR excesses in the systems to models of geometrically thin, optically thick disks, and find that we are able to match the measured spectral energy distributions to within 3{sigma} of the uncertainties, although disks with unfeasibly hot inner dust temperatures generally provide a better fit than those below the dust sublimation temperature. Possible explanations for the dearth of dust around SDSS1043+0855 are briefly discussed. Including our previous study of SDSS1228+1040, all five white dwarfs with gaseous debris disks have significant amounts of dust around them. It is evident that gas and dust can coexist around these relatively warm, relatively young white dwarfs.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/750/1/86},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22034568}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 1,
volume = 750,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}