An ultra-massive white dwarf with a mixed hydrogen-carbon atmosphere as a likely merger remnant
Mark A. Hollands, Pier-Emmanuel Tremblay, Boris T. Gänsicke, María E. Camisassa, Detlev Koester, Amornrat Aungwerojwit, Paul Chote, Alejandro H. Córsico, Vik S.… 展开作者
Mark A. Hollands, Pier-Emmanuel Tremblay, Boris T. Gänsicke, María E. Camisassa, Detlev Koester, Amornrat Aungwerojwit, Paul Chote, Alejandro H. Córsico, Vik S. Dhillon, Nicola P. Gentile-Fusillo, Matthew J. Hoskin, Paula Izquierdo, Tom R. Marsh, Danny Steeghs
White dwarfs are dense, cooling stellar embers consisting mostly of carbon and oxygen, or oxygen and neon (with a few percent carbon) at higher initial stellar masses. These stellar cores are enveloped by a shell of helium which in turn is usually surrounded by a layer of hydrogen, generally prohibiting direct observation of the interior composition. However, carbon is observed at the surface of a sizeable fraction of white dwarfs, sometimes with traces of oxygen, and it is thought to be dredged-up from the core by a deep helium convection zone. In these objects only traces of hydrogen are found as large masses of hydrogen are predicted to inhibit hydrogen/helium convective mixing within the envelope. We report the identification of WDJ055134.612+413531.09, an ultra-massive (1.14 $M_\odot$) white dwarf with a unique hydrogen/carbon mixed atmosphere (C/H=0.15 in number ratio). Our analysis of the envelope and interior indicates that the total hydrogen and helium mass fractions must be several orders of magnitude lower than predictions of single star evolution: less than $10^{-9.5}$ and $10^{-7.0}$, respectively. Due to the fast kinematics ($129\pm5$ km/s relative to the local standard of rest), large mass, and peculiar envelope composition, we argue that WDJ0551+4135 is consistent with formation from the merger of two white dwarfs in a tight binary system.
Recent studies have shown that for suitable initial conditions both super- and sub-Chandrasekhar mass carbon-oxygen white dwarf mergers produce explosions similar to observed SNe Ia. The question remains, however, how much fine tuning is necessary to produce these conditions. We performed a large set of SPH merger simulations, sweeping the possible parameter space. We find trends for merger remnant properties, and discuss how our results affect the viability of our recently proposed sub-Chandrasekhar merger channel for SNe Ia.
We report the likely detection of near-infrared 2.29 $μ$m first overtone Carbon Monoxide (CO) emission from the young supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The continuum-subtracted CO filter map reveals CO knots within the ejecta-rich reverse shock. We compare the first overtone CO emission with that found in the well-studied supernova, SN 1987A and find $\sim$30 times less CO in Cas A. The presence of CO suggests that molecule mixing is small in the SN ejecta and that astrochemical processes and molecule formation may continue at least ~300 years after the initial explosion.
Context. We study the atmosphere of the carbon-rich Mira RU Vir using the mid-infrared high spatial resolution interferometric observations from VLTI/MIDI. Aims. The aim of this work is to analyse the atmosphere of the carbon-rich Mira RU Vir, with state of the art models, in this way deepening the knowledge of the dynamic processes at work in carbon-rich Miras. Methods. We compare spectro-photometric and interferometric measurements of this carbon-rich Mira AGB star, with the predictions of different kinds of modelling approaches (hydrostatic model atmospheres plus MOD-More Of Dusty, self-con…
We present our latest 3D model atmospheres for carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars computed with the CO5BOLD code. The stellar parameters are representative of hot turn-off objects (Teff ~ 6250 K, log g=4.0, [Fe/H]=-3.0). The main purpose of these models is to investigate the role of 3D effects on synthetic spectra of the CH G-band (4140-4400 A), the CN BX-band (3870-3890 A), and several UV OH transitions (3122-3128 A). By comparison with the synthetic spectra from standard 1D model atmospheres (assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium, LTE), we derive 3D abundance corrections for carbon a…
We report the detection of carbon monoxide (CO) emission from the young supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A) at wavelengths corresponding to the fundamental vibrational mode at 4.65 micron. We obtained AKARI Infrared Camera spectra towards 4 positions which unambiguously reveal the broad characteristic CO ro-vibrational band profile. The observed positions include unshocked ejecta at the center, indicating that CO molecules form in the ejecta at an early phase. We extracted a dozen spectra across Cas A along the long 1 arcmin slits, and compared these to simple CO emission models in Local Th…
Recently, Dufour et al. (2007) reported the unexpected discovery that a few white dwarfs found in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey had an atmosphere dominated by carbon with little or no trace of hydrogen and helium. Here we present a progress report on these new objects based on new high signal-to-noise follow-up spectroscopic observations obtained at the 6.5m MMT telescope on Mount Hopkins, Arizona.
(Abridged) Context. With the Herschel Space Observatory, lines of simple molecules (C+, O, and CO) have been observed in the atmosphere of protoplanetary disks. When combined with ground-based [CI], all principle forms of carbon can be studied. The absence of neutral carbon [CI], which is predicted by models to be strong, can then be interpreted together with [CII] and carbon monoxide. Aims. We study the gas temperature, excitation, and chemical abundance of the simple carbon-bearing species by the method of chemical-physical modeling. We explore the sensitivity of the lines to the entering pa…
White dwarf (WD) binary mergers are possible progenitors to a number of unusual stars and transient phenomena, including type Ia supernovae. To date, simulations of mergers have not included magnetic fields, even though they are believed to play a significant role in the evolution of the merger remnant. We simulated a 0.625 - 0.65 $M_{\odot}$ carbon-oxygen WD binary merger in the magnetohydrodynamic moving mesh code Arepo. Each WD was given an initial dipole field with a surface value of $\sim10^3$ G. As in simulations of merging double neutron star binaries, we find exponential field growth w…
We present some of the results of a survey aimed at exploring the asteroseismological potential of the newly-discovered carbon-atmosphere white dwarfs. We show that, in certains regions of parameter space, carbon-atmosphere white dwarfs may drive low-order gravity modes. We demonstrate that our theoretical results are consistent with the recent exciting discovery of luminosity variations in SDSS J1426+5752 and some null results obtained by a team of scientists at McDonald Observatory. We also present follow-up photometric observations carried out by ourselves at the Mount Bigelow 1.6-m telesco…
A surprisingly large fraction (70%) of hot, carbon dominated atmosphere (DQ) white dwarfs are magnetic and/or photometrically variable on short timescales up to ~1000 s. However, here we show that the hot DQ magnetic white dwarf SDSS J000555.90-100213.5 is photometrically variable by 11% on a longer timescale, with a period of 2.110 +/- 0.045 days. We find no evidence of the target fluctuating on short timescales at an amplitude of <+/-0.5%. Short period hot DQ white dwarfs have been interpreted as non-radial pulsators, but in the case of SDSS J0005-1002, it is more likely that the variability…
Observed spectra of R Coronae Borealis (RCB) and hydrogen-deficient carbon (HdC) stars are analyzed by synthesizing the C2 Swan bands (1,0), (0,0), and (0,1) using our detailed line list and the Uppsala model atmospheres. The (0,1) and (0,0) C2 bands are used to derive the 12C abundance, and the (1,0) 12C13C band to determine the 12C/13C ratios. The carbon abundance derived from the C2 Swan bands is about the same for the adopted models constructed with different carbon abundances over the range: 8.5 (C/He = 0.1%), to 10.5 (C/He = 10%). Carbon abundances derived from C I lines are about a fact…
The goal is to determine the composition of Pluto's atmosphere and to constrain the nature of surface-atmosphere interactions. We perform high--resolution spectroscopic observations in the 2.33--2.36 $μ$m range, using CRIRES at the VLT. We obtain (i) the first detection of gaseous methane in this spectral range, through lines of the $ν_3$ + $ν_4$ and $ν_1$ + $ν_4$ bands (ii) strong evidence (6-$σ$ confidence) for gaseous CO in Pluto. For an isothermal atmosphere at 90 K, the CH$_4$ and CO column densities are 0.75 and 0.07 cm-am, within factors of 2 and 3, respectively. Using a physically--bas…
We construct evolutionary models of the remnant of the merger of two carbon-oxygen (CO) core white dwarfs (WDs). With total masses in the range $1-2 {\rm M_\odot}$, these remnants may either leave behind a single massive WD or undergo a merger-induced collapse to a neutron star (NS). On the way to their final fate, these objects generally experience a $\sim 10$ kyr luminous giant phase, which may be extended if sufficient helium remains to set up a stable shell-burning configuration. The uncertain, but likely significant, mass loss rate during this phase influences the final remnant mass and f…
Although multidimensional simulations have investigated the processes of double WD mergers, post-merger evolution only focused on the carbon-oxygen (CO) WD or helium (He) WD merger remnants. In this work, we investigate for the first time the evolution of the remnants stemmed from the merger of oxygen-neon (ONe) WDs with CO WDs. Our simulation results indicate that the merger remnants can evolve to hydrogen- and helium-deficient giants with maximum radius of about 300Rsun. Our models show evidence that merger remnants more massive than 1.95Msun can ignite Ne before significant mass-loss ensues…
Ultra-massive white dwarfs (UMWDs) with masses larger than 1.05Msun are basically believed to harbour oxygen-neon (ONe) cores. Recently, Gaia data reveals an enhancement of UMWDs on Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (HRD), which indicates that extra cooling delay mechanism such as crystallization and elemental sedimentation may exist in the UMWDs. Further studies suggested that a portion of UMWDs should have experienced pretty long cooling delays, implying that they are carbon-oxygen (CO) WDs. However, the formation mechanism of these UMCOWDs is still under debate. In this work, we investigated whet…
Context. Tighter constraints on metal-poor stars we observe are needed to better understand the chemical processes of the early Universe. Computing a stellar spectrum in 3D allows one to model complex stellar behaviours, which cannot be replicated in 1D. Aims. We examine the effect that the intrinsic CNO abundances have on a 3D model structure and the resulting 3D spectrum synthesis. Methods. Model atmospheres were computed in 3D for three distinct CNO chemical compositions using the CO 5 BOLD model atmosphere code, and their internal structures were examined. Synthetic spectra were computed f…
Subluminous Type Ia supernovae, such as the Type Iax class prototype SN 2002cx, are described by a variety of models such as the failed detonation and partial deflagration of an accreting carbon-oxygen white dwarf star, or the explosion of an accreting, hybrid carbon-oxygen-neon core. These models predict that bound remnants survive such events with, according to some simulations, a high kick velocity. We report the discovery of a high proper motion, low-mass white dwarf (LP 40-365) that travels at a velocity greater than the Galactic escape velocity and whose peculiar atmosphere is dominated …
We present stellar evolution calculations of the remnant of the merger of two carbon-oxygen white dwarfs (CO WDs). We focus on cases that have a total mass in excess of the Chandrasekhar mass. After the merger, the remnant manifests as an $L \sim 3 \times 10^4 L_\odot$ source for $\sim 10^4$ yr. A dusty wind may develop, leading these sources to be self-obscured and to appear similar to extreme AGB stars. Roughly $\sim 10$ such objects should exist in the Milky Way and M31 at any time. As found in previous work, off-center carbon fusion is ignited within the merger remnant and propagates inwar…
The evolution and spectral properties of stars on the AGB are significantly affected by mass loss through dusty stellar winds. Dynamic atmosphere and wind models are an essential tool for studying these evolved stars, both individually and as members of stellar populations, to understand their contribution to the integrated light and chemical evolution of galaxies. This paper is part of a series testing state-of-the-art atmosphere and wind models of carbon stars against observations, and making them available for use in various theoretical and observational studies. We have computed low-resolu…
Context: The CCO candidate in the center of the supernova remnant shell HESS J1731-347 / G353.6-0.7 shows no pulsations and exhibits a blackbody-like X-ray spectrum. If the absence of pulsations is interpreted as evidence for the emitting surface area being the entire neutron star surface, the assumption of the measured flux being due to a blackbody emission translates into a source distance that is inconsistent with current estimates of the remnant's distance. Aims: With the best available observational data, we extended the pulse period search down to a sub-millisecond time scale and used a …
Pluto's icy surface has changed colour and its atmosphere has swelled since its last closest approach to the Sun in 1989. The thin atmosphere is produced by evaporating ices, and so can also change rapidly, and in particular carbon monoxide should be present as an active thermostat. Here we report the discovery of gaseous CO via the 1.3mm wavelength J=2-1 rotational transition, and find that the line-centre signal is more than twice as bright as a tentative result obtained by Bockelee-Morvan et al. in 2000. Greater surface-ice evaporation over the last decade could explain this, or increased p…
The merger of two carbon-oxygen white dwarfs can lead either to a spectacular transient, stable nuclear burning or a massive, rapidly rotating white dwarf. Simulations of mergers have shown that the outcome strongly depends on whether the white dwarfs are similar or dissimilar in mass. In the similar-mass case, both white dwarfs merge fully and the remnant is hot throughout, while in the dissimilar case, the more massive, denser white dwarf remains cold and essentially intact, with the disrupted lower mass one wrapped around it in a hot envelope and disk. In order to determine what constitutes…
Based on our prior accurate determination of fundamental parameters for 36 Galactic A-, F- and G-type supergiants and bright giants (luminosity classes I and II), we undertook a non-LTE analysis of the carbon abundance in their atmospheres. It is shown that the non-LTE corrections to the C abundances derived from C I lines are negative and increase with the effective temperature Teff; the corrections are especially significant for the infrared C I lines with wavelengths 9060-9660 Å. The carbon underabundance as a general property of the stars in question is confirmed; a majority of the stars s…
The origin of carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars enriched with both s and r elements is highly debated. Detailed abundances of these types of stars are crucial to understand the nature of their progenitors. The aim of this investigation is to study in detail the abundances of SDSS J1349-0229, SDSS J0912+0216 and SDSS J1036+1212, three dwarf CEMP stars, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Using high resolution VLT/UVES spectra (R ~ 30 000) we determine abundances for Li, C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and 21 neutron-capture elements. We made use of CO^5BOLD 3D hydrody…
We present a detailed analysis of the carbon and nitrogen abundances of two dwarf carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars: SDSS J1349-0229 and SDSS J0912+0216. We also report the oxygen abundance of SDSS J1349-0229. These stars are metal-poor, with [Fe/H] < -2.5, and were selected from our ongoing survey of extremely metal-poor dwarf candidates from the Sloan Digital SkySurvey (SDSS). The carbon, nitrogen and oxygen abundances rely on molecular lines which form in the outer layers of the stellar atmosphere. It is known that convection in metal-poor stars induces very low temperatures which are…
Fundamental parameters and the carbon, nitrogen and oxygen abundances are determined for 22 B-type stars with distances up to 600 pc and slow rotation (vsini up to 66 km/s). The stars are selected according to their effective temperatures Teff and surface gravities log g, namely: Teff is between 15300 and 24100 K and log g is mostly greater than 3.75; therefore, stars with medium masses of 5-11 M are selected. Theory predicts for the stars with such parameters that the C, N and O abundances in their atmospheres should correspond to their initial values. Non-LTE analysis of C II, N II and O II …
Among the spectroscopically identified white dwarfs, a fraction smaller than 2% have spectra dominated by carbon lines, mainly molecular C2, but also in a smaller group by CI and CII lines. These are together called DQ white dwarfs. We want to derive atmospheric parameters Teff,log g, and carbon abundances for a large sample of these stars and discuss implications for their spectral evolution. Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectra and ugriz photometry were used, together with GAIA Data Release 2 parallaxes and G band photometry. These were fitted to synthetic spectra and theoretical photometry deri…
We present the results of modeling of the spectrum of the brightest stars belonging to the Cyg OB2 association - #7 (O3If*) and #11 (O5Ifc). #7 is one of the hottest stars in our Galaxy, while #11 belongs to the spectral class Ofc, which was recently introduced and yet small in numbers (Walborn et al., 2010). We determine the physical properties and chemical composition of their atmosphere using CMFGEN code. The atmosphere of #7 reveals an excess of nitrogen X(N*)/X(Nsun) = 3.2 and the carbon and oxygen deficiency X(C*)/X(Csun) = 0.08, X(O*)/X(Osun) = 0.09, while the atmosphere of #11 is enric…
Consistent Multi-Wavelength Spectral Modeling of Cool White Dwarfs with Carbon-Polluted Atmospheres
University College London（伦敦大学学院）；Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH（于利希研究中心）；Gemini Observatory（双子座天文台）；Arizona State University（亚利桑那州立大学）；The Aerospace Corporation（航空航天公司）
Recent observations indicate potentially carbon-rich exoplanet atmospheres. Spectral fitting methods for brown dwarfs and exoplanets have invoked the C/O ratio as additional parameter but carbon-rich cloud formation modeling is a challenge for the models applied. The determination of the habitable zone for exoplanets requires the treatment of cloud formation in chemically different regimes. Disk models show that carbon-rich or near-carbon-rich niches may emerge and cool carbon planets may trace these particular stages of planetary evolution. We extend our kinetic cloud formation model by inclu…
We have computed a grid of hydrostatic spherical COMARCS models for C stars covering metallicities from [Z/H]=0 to -2 and values of the carbon excess [C-O] from 6.41 to 9.15, plus some temperature sequences, where the amount of oxygen and nitrogen is increased relative to a scaled solar element mixture. Such abundance variations may appear during the late stages of stellar evolution. Our study covers changes of [O/Z] and [N/Z] going up to +0.5. Based on the atmospheric structures we have calculated synthetic spectra and photometry for all of the models in a consistent way. The sequences with c…
Hot white dwarfs with carbon-dominated atmospheres (hot DQs) are a cryptic class of white dwarfs. In addition to their deficiency of hydrogen and helium, most of these stars are highly magnetic, and a large fraction vary in luminosity. This variability has been ascribed to nonradial pulsations, but increasing data call this explanation into question. We present studies of short-term variability in seven hot DQ white dwarfs. Three (SDSS J1426+5752, SDSS J2200-0741, and SDSS J2348-0942) were known to be variable. Their photometric modulations are coherent over at least two years, and we find no …
We study the abundances of complex carbon-bearing molecules in the oxygen-rich dust- forming atmospheres of Brown Dwarfs and giant gas planets. The inner atmospheric re- gions that form the inner boundary for thermochemical gas-phase models are investigated. Results from Drift-phoenix atmosphere simulations, which include the feedback of phase- non-equilibrium dust cloud formation on the atmospheric structure and the gas-phase abun- dances, are utilised. The resulting element depletion leads to a shift in the carbon-to-oxygen ratio such that several hydrocarbon molecules and cyanopolycyanopoly…
Molecules and dust produced by the atmospheres of cool evolved stars contribute to a significant amount of the total material found in the interstellar medium. To understand the mechanism behind the mass loss of these stars, it is of pivotal importance to investigate the structure and dynamics of their atmospheres. Our goal is to verify if the extended molecular and dust layers of the carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star V Oph, and their time variations, can be explained by dust-driven winds triggered by stellar pulsation alone, or if other mechanisms are operating. We model V Oph mi…
Atmospheric parameters for hot DB (helium atmosphere) white dwarfs near effective temperatures of 25000K are extremely difficult to determine from optical spectroscopy. This is particularly unfortunate, because this is the range of variable DBV or V777 Her stars. Accurate atmospheric parameters are needed to help or confirm the asteroseismic analysis of these objects. Another important aspect is the new class of white dwarfs - the hot DQ - detected by Dufour et al. (2007), with spectra dominated by carbon lines. The analysis shows that their atmospheres are pure carbon. The origin of these sta…
Simultaneous analysis of the C_2 and CN molecular bands in the 5100-5200 and 7930-8100A spectral regions is a promising alternative for the accurate determination of the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) abundance in the atmospheres of the solar-like stars. Practical implementation of this new method became possible after recent improvements of the molecular constants for both molecules. The new molecular data predicted the correct line strength and line positions; therefore, they were included in the Vienna Atomic Line Database (VALD), which is widely used by astronomers and spectroscopists. In thi…
The atmospheres of gaseous giant exoplanets orbiting close to their parent stars (hot Jupiters) have been probed for nearly two decades. They allow us to investigate the chemical and physical properties of planetary atmospheres under extreme irradiation conditions. Previous observations of hot Jupiters as they transit in front of their host stars have revealed the frequent presence of water vapour and carbon monoxide in their atmospheres; this has been studied in terms of scaled solar composition under the usual assumption of chemical equilibrium. Both molecules as well as hydrogen cyanide wer…
We explore changes in the adiabatic low-order g-mode pulsation periods of 0.526, 0.560, and 0.729 M$_\odot$ carbon-oxygen white dwarf models with helium-dominated envelopes due to the presence, absence, and enhancement of $^{22}$Ne in the interior. The observed g-mode pulsation periods of such white dwarfs are typically given to 6$-$7 significant figures of precision. Usually white dwarf models without $^{22}$Ne are fit to the observed periods and other properties. The root-mean-square residuals to the $\simeq$ 150$-$400 s low-order g-mode periods are typically in the range of $σ_{rms}$ $\less…
Taking advantage of the Gaia Data Release 2, recent studies have revisited the evolution of carbon-polluted white dwarfs (DQs) across a large range of effective temperatures. These analyses have clearly confirmed the existence of two distinct DQ evolutionary sequences: one with normal-mass white dwarfs and one with heavily polluted and generally more massive objects. The first sequence is thought to result from the dredge-up of carbon from the core, while the second could at least partially be made of descendants of Hot DQs. However, the evolution of carbon-polluted white dwarfs below 6500 K r…
To predict line emission in the solar atmosphere requires models which are fundamentally different depending on whether the emission is from the chromosphere or the corona. At some point between the two regions, there must be a change between the two modelling regimes. Recent extensions to the coronal modelling for carbon and oxygen lines in the solar transition region have shown improvements in the emission of singly- and doubly-charged ions, along with Li-like ions. However, discrepancies still remain, particularly for singly-charged ions and intercombination lines. The aim of this work is t…
We present a model atom for C I - C II - C III - C IV using the most up-to-date atomic data and evaluated the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) line formation in classical 1D atmospheric models of O-B-type stars. Our models predict the emission lines of C II 9903~Å and 18535~Å to appear at effective temperature \Teff~$\geq$~17\,500~K, those of C II 6151~Å and 6461~Å to appear at \Teff~$>$~25\,000~K, and those of C III 5695, 6728--44, 9701--17~Å to appear at \Teff~$\geq$~35\,000~K (log~$g$=4.0). Emission occurs in the lines of minority species, where the photoionization-recombination m…
Cool white dwarfs with Teff < 6000 K are the remnants of the oldest stars that existed in our Galaxy. Their atmospheres, when properly characterized, can provide valuable information on white dwarf evolution and ultimately star formation through the history of the Milky Way. Understanding the atmospheres of these stars requires joined observational effort and reliable atmosphere modeling. We discuss and analyze recent observations of the near-ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared (IR) spectrum of several cool white dwarfs including DQ/DQp stars showing carbon in their spectra. We present fits to …
We study the evolution and final outcome of long-lived (${\approx}10^5$ years) remnants from the merger of a He white dwarf (WD) with a more massive C/O or O/Ne WD. Using Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics ($\texttt{MESA}$), we show that these remnants have a red giant configuration supported by steady helium burning, adding mass to the WD core until it reaches $M_{\rm core}\approx 1.12-1.20 M_\odot$. At that point, the base of the surface convection zone extends into the burning layer, mixing the helium burning products (primarily carbon and magnesium) throughout the convective e…
We present a large parameter study where we investigate the structure of white dwarf (WD) merger remnants after the dynamical phase. A wide range of WD masses and compositions are explored and we also probe the effect of different initial conditions. We investigated the degree of mixing between the WDs, the conditions for detonations as well as the amount of gas ejected. We find that systems with lower mass ratios have more total angular momentum and as a result more mass is flung out in a tidal tail. Nuclear burning can affect the amount of mass ejected. Many WD binaries that contain a helium…
An abundance decrease in carbon- and oxygen-bearing species relative to dust has been frequently found in planet-forming disks, which can be attributed to an overall reduction of gas mass. However, in the case of TW Hya, the only disk with gas mass measured directly with HD rotational lines, the inferred gas mass ($\lesssim$0.005 solar mass) is significantly below the directly measured value ($\gtrsim$0.05 solar mass). We show that this apparent conflict can be resolved if the elemental abundances of carbon and oxygen are reduced in the upper layers of the outer disk but are normal elsewhere (…
The origin of trace hydrogen in white dwarfs (WDs) with He-dominated atmospheres is a long-standing problem, one that cannot satisfactorily be explained by the historically-favoured hypothesis of accretion from the interstellar medium. Here we explore the possibility that the gradual accretion of exo-Oort cloud comets, which are a rich source of H, contributes to the apparent increase of trace H with WD cooling age. We determine how often remnant exo-Oort clouds, freshly excited from post-main-sequence stellar mass loss, dynamically inject comets inside the WD's Roche radius. We improve upon p…
