The White Dwarf Luminosity Function: The Shape of Things to Come

Ted von Hippel, M. Kilie, J. Munn, K. Williams, J. Libert, D. E. Winget, T. S. Metcalfe, Et al.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We describe a new survey for cool white dwarfs that supplements Sloan Digital Sky Survey photometry with USNO proper motions and followup spectroscopy. To date we have discovered and spectroscopically confirmed 80 new moderate temperature and cool white dwarfs. We have also found a handful of high-velocity white dwarfs and we expect a sizable fraction of these to be thick disk or possibly halo objects. Our survey is designed to find 104 new white dwarfs, although only 60 will be among the faintest white dwarfs (MV 16), where most of the age-sensitivity resides. We discuss an extension of our survey to V 22.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalASP Conference Series, Vol. 999, 2005
StatePublished - Oct 30 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • astroparticle physics
  • white dwarfs
  • Galactic disk
  • cooling ages

Disciplines

  • Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy

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