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Binary White Dwarfs in the Supernova Ia Progenitor Survey

  • R. Napiwotzki
  • , C. Karl
  • , G. Nelemans
  • , L. Yungelson
  • , N. Christlieb
  • , H. Drechsel
  • , U. Heber
  • , D. Homeier
  • , D. Koester
  • , B. Leibundgut
  • , T.R. Marsh
  • , S. Moehler
  • , A. Renzini
  • , D. Reimers

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

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Abstract

We report results of a systematic radial velocity survey for double degenerate (DD) binaries as potential progenitors of type Ia supernovae: SPY (ESO Supernovae Ia Progenitor surveY). More than 1000 white dwarfs (WDs) and pre-white dwarfs were observed with the VLT. The aim of SPY is to perform a statistically significant test of the DD scenario. We give an overview of the project and follow-up results. The sample is used for two tests of the contempo- rary picture of close binary evolution leading to DDs. It is shown that the SPY observations of low mass He-core WDs (HeWDs) are inconsistent with the idea that they all reside in close binary systems. We carry out a model atmosphere analysis of WDs residing in double-lined binaries and estimate individual cooling ages. For a number of systems the younger (and hotter) component is the less massive one, as expected. However, for some systems the mass ratio is inverted.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIn: Procs of the 15th European Workshop on White Dwarfs - ASP Conf Series 372
PublisherAstronomical Society of the Pacific
Pages387-392
ISBN (Print)978-1-58381-239-6, 978-1-58381-306-5
Publication statusPublished - 2007

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