Program: GN-2009B-DD-8
Title: | Is there a Debris Disk Around the Most Metal-rich White Dwarf? |
PI: | Mukremin Kilic |
Co-I(s): | Patrick Dufour, Sandy Leggett |
Abstract
We recently discovered the most metal-rich white dwarf currently known. Our MMT spectroscopy shows that
SDSS J0738+18 has a helium dominated atmosphere polluted with significant amounts of Ca, Mg, Si, Fe, and Oxygen. Our
model atmosphere analysis shows that SDSS J0738+18 is even more metal-rich than the Sun. Our data are best explained
by accretion of rocky planetary material from a debris disk. Here we propose to confirm the presence of such a disk by
obtaining JHK observations of J0738+18 with NIRI. A debris disk will be visible as an infrared excess in the K-band, and
possibly even in the H-band. Confirmation of such a disk will reveal the source of the material. If there is a dust disk,
our abundance analysis can be used to study the composition of the accreted matter and therefore the dust disk itself. The
large amounts of oxygen present in the photosphere of this star indicates that the accreted object was similar to earth.
Publications using this program's data
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[data]
[ADS] The Discovery of the Most Metal-rich White Dwarf: Composition of a Tidally Disrupted Extrasolar Dwarf Planet
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[data]
[ADS] Detailed Compositional Analysis of the Heavily Polluted DBZ White Dwarf SDSS J073842.56+183509.06: A Window on Planet Formation?