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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Publications

White dwarfs

2014

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Power Of Principled Bayesian Methods In The Study Of Stellar Evolution, Ted Von Hippel, David Van Dyk, David Stenning, Elliot Robinson, Elizabeth Jeffery, Nathan Stein, William Jefferys, Erin M. O'Malley Nov 2014

The Power Of Principled Bayesian Methods In The Study Of Stellar Evolution, Ted Von Hippel, David Van Dyk, David Stenning, Elliot Robinson, Elizabeth Jeffery, Nathan Stein, William Jefferys, Erin M. O'Malley

Publications

It takes years of effort employing the best telescopes and in- struments to obtain high-quality stellar photometry, astrometry, and spectroscopy. Stellar evolution models contain the experience of life- times of theoretical calculations and testing. Yet most astronomers fit these valuable models to these precious datasets by eye. We show that a principled Bayesian approach to fitting models to stellar data yields substantially more information over a range of stellar astrophysics. We highlight advances in determining the ages of star clusters, mass ratios of binary stars, limitations in the accuracy of stellar models, post-main-sequence mass loss, and the ages of individual …


The White Dwarfs Within 25 Pc Of The Sun: Kinematics And Spectroscopic Subtypes, Edward M. Sion, J. B. Holberg, Terry D. Oswalt, George P. Mccook, Richard Wasatonic, Janine Myszka May 2014

The White Dwarfs Within 25 Pc Of The Sun: Kinematics And Spectroscopic Subtypes, Edward M. Sion, J. B. Holberg, Terry D. Oswalt, George P. Mccook, Richard Wasatonic, Janine Myszka

Publications

We present the fractional distribution of spectroscopic subtypes, range and distribution of surface temperatures, and kinematical properties of the white dwarfs (WDs) within 25 pc of the Sun. There is no convincing evidence of halo WDs in the total 25 pc sample of 224 WDs. There is also little to suggest the presence of genuine thick disk subcomponent members within 25 pc. It appears that the entire 25 pc sample likely belongs to the thin disk. We also find no significant kinematic differences with respect to spectroscopic subtypes. The total DA to non-DA ratio of the 25 pc sample is …