The Gaia DR2 halo white dwarf population: the luminosity function, mass distribution, and its star formation history

We analyse the volume-limited nearly complete 100 pc sample of 95 halo white dwarf candidates identified by the second data release of Gaia. Based on a detailed population synthesis model, we apply a method that relies on Gaia astrometry and photometry to accurately derive the individual white dwarf...

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Autores principales: Torres, Santiago, Rebassa Mansergas, Alberto, Camisassa, María Eugenia, Raddi, Roberto
Formato: Articulo Preprint
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/124321
Aporte de:
id I19-R120-10915-124321
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Astronómicas
Physics
Luminosity
Star formation
Halo
White dwarf
Population
Astrophysics
Galactic halo
Luminosity function (astronomy)
Galaxy
spellingShingle Ciencias Astronómicas
Physics
Luminosity
Star formation
Halo
White dwarf
Population
Astrophysics
Galactic halo
Luminosity function (astronomy)
Galaxy
Torres, Santiago
Rebassa Mansergas, Alberto
Camisassa, María Eugenia
Raddi, Roberto
The Gaia DR2 halo white dwarf population: the luminosity function, mass distribution, and its star formation history
topic_facet Ciencias Astronómicas
Physics
Luminosity
Star formation
Halo
White dwarf
Population
Astrophysics
Galactic halo
Luminosity function (astronomy)
Galaxy
description We analyse the volume-limited nearly complete 100 pc sample of 95 halo white dwarf candidates identified by the second data release of Gaia. Based on a detailed population synthesis model, we apply a method that relies on Gaia astrometry and photometry to accurately derive the individual white dwarf parameters. This method is tested with 25 white dwarfs of our sample for which we took optical spectra and performed spectroscopic analysis. We build and analyse the halo white dwarf luminosity function, for which we find for the first time possible evidences of the cut-off, leading to an age estimate of ≃12±0.5 Gyr. The mass distribution of the sample peaks at 0.589M⊙, with 71 per cent of the white dwarf masses below 0.6M⊙ and just two massive white dwarfs of more than 0.8M⊙. From the age distribution, we find three white dwarfs with total ages above 12 Gyr, of which J1312−4728 is the oldest white dwarf known with an age of 12.41±0.22 Gyr. We prove that the star formation history is mainly characterized by a burst of star formation that occurred from 10 to 12 Gyr in the past, but extended up to 8 Gyr. We also find that the peak of the star formation history is centred at around 11 Gyr, which is compatible with the current age of the Gaia-Enceladus encounter. Finally, 13 per cent of our halo sample is contaminated by high-speed young objects (total age <7 Gyr). The origin of these white dwarfs is unclear but their age distribution may be compatible with the encounter with the Sagittarius galaxy.
format Articulo
Preprint
author Torres, Santiago
Rebassa Mansergas, Alberto
Camisassa, María Eugenia
Raddi, Roberto
author_facet Torres, Santiago
Rebassa Mansergas, Alberto
Camisassa, María Eugenia
Raddi, Roberto
author_sort Torres, Santiago
title The Gaia DR2 halo white dwarf population: the luminosity function, mass distribution, and its star formation history
title_short The Gaia DR2 halo white dwarf population: the luminosity function, mass distribution, and its star formation history
title_full The Gaia DR2 halo white dwarf population: the luminosity function, mass distribution, and its star formation history
title_fullStr The Gaia DR2 halo white dwarf population: the luminosity function, mass distribution, and its star formation history
title_full_unstemmed The Gaia DR2 halo white dwarf population: the luminosity function, mass distribution, and its star formation history
title_sort gaia dr2 halo white dwarf population: the luminosity function, mass distribution, and its star formation history
publishDate 2021
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/124321
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