The WFCAM transit survey and cool white dwarfs

oleh: Pinfield D., Hornillos D. Cristobal, Hodgkin S., Napiwotzki R., Catalan S.

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: EDP Sciences 2013-04-01

Deskripsi

We present results from our search for cool white dwarfs in the WTS (WFCAM Transit Survey). Repeat observations starting in 2007 allowed to produce deep stacked images in J and measure proper motions. We combine this with deep optical imaging to select cool white dwarf candidates (Teff < 5000 K). About 27 cool white dwarf candidates with proper motions above 0.10 arcsec/yr were identified in one of the fields representing 1/8th of the survey area. Follow-up spectroscopy with the 10.2 m GTC telescope at La Palma confirmed the white dwarf status for all observed candidates. On-going work is being carried out to increase the sample of cool white dwarfs that will allow a more comprehensive study of the thick disk/halo white dwarf population.