Related papers: High resolution optical spectroscopy of Praesepe w…
Recently, several white dwarfs with very strong surface magnetic fields have been observed. In this paper we explore the possibility that such stars could have sufficiently strong internal fields to alter their structure. We obtain a…
White dwarfs (WDs), the evolutionary endpoints of most stars, can form through both single-star and binary channels. While single-star evolutionary models enable reliable WD age estimates, binary evolution introduces interactions that can…
WD1704+481 is a visual binary in which both components are white dwarfs. We present spectra of the H-alpha line of both stars which show that one component (WD1704+481.2 = Sanduleak B = GR 577) is a close binary with two white dwarf…
We have searched the Gaia DR2 catalogue for previously unknown hot white dwarfs in the direction of young open star clusters. The aim of this experiment was to try and extend the initial-final mass relation (IFMR) to somewhat higher masses,…
We report the discovery of a third white dwarf hosting a gaseous debris disc, SDSSJ084539.17+225728.0. The typical double-peaked CaII 8498,8542,8662A emission lines can be modelled in terms of a Keplerian gas disc with a radial extent from…
The identification and characterization of massive ($\gtrsim 0.8~M_\odot$) white dwarfs is challenging in part due to their low luminosity. Here we present two candidate single-lined spectroscopic binaries, Gaia DR3 4014708864481651840 and…
We present new results of a survey for weak magnetic fields among DA white dwarfs with inclusion of some brighter hot subdwarf stars. We have detected variable circular polarization in the Halpha line of the hot subdwarf star Feige 34 (SP:…
Two recently discovered white dwarfs, WDJ041246.84$+$754942.26 and WDJ165335.21$-$100116.33, exhibit H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$ Balmer line emission similar to stars in the emerging DAHe class, yet intriguingly have not been found to have…
We report nine years of optical spectroscopy of the metal-polluted white dwarf SDSS J104341.53+085558.2, which presents morphological variations of the line profiles of the 8600 \AA\ Ca II triplet emission from the gaseous component of its…
We present the results of a study to discover prospective new white dwarf-L dwarf binaries as identified by their near-infrared excesses in the UKIDSS catalogue. We obtained optical spectra to validate the white dwarf nature for 22 of the…
The White Dwarf Binary Pathways Survey aims at increasing the number of known detached A, F, G and K main sequence stars in close orbits with white dwarf companions (WD+AFGK binaries) to refine our understanding about compact binary…
We have identified two moderately hot (~18000-22000K) white dwarfs, SDSSJ1228+1040 and SDSSJ1043+0855, which exhibit double-peaked emission lines in the CaII 8600A triplet. These line profiles are unambiguous signatures of gaseous discs…
Close double degenerate binaries are one of the favoured progenitor channels for type Ia supernovae, but it is unclear how many suitable systems there are in the Galaxy. We report results of a large radial velocity survey for double…
We present the results of a deep optical 2.6 square degree survey with near infrared follow-up measurements of the intermediate-aged Praesepe open cluster. The survey is complete to I=21.3, Z=20.5, corresponding to ~0.06 Solar Masses…
Near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy is obtained for a heterogeneous sample of nearby white dwarfs with possible excess flux as identified primarily in the Two Micron All Sky Survey. Among the sample of 43 stars are a number of white…
With the launch of the {\em Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer} ({\em WISE}), a new era of detecting planetary debris and brown dwarfs around white dwarfs (WDs) has begun with the {\em WISE} InfraRed Excesses around Degenerates (WIRED)…
We report on a large survey for double degenerate (DD) binaries as potential progenitors of type Ia supernovae with the UVES spectrograph at the ESO VLT (SN Ia Progenitor surveY - SPY). About 560 white dwarfs were checked for radial…
Extremely low mass white dwarfs are very rare objects likely formed in compact binary systems. We present MMT optical spectroscopy of 42 low mass white dwarf candidates serendipitously discovered in a survey for hypervelocity B-type stars.…
We present the first results of a dedicated search for pulsating white dwarfs (WDs) in detached white dwarf plus main-sequence binaries. Candidate systems were selected from a catalogue of WD+MS binaries, based on the surface gravities and…
The old open cluster M67, populated with blue straggler stars (BSSs), is a well known test bed to study the BSS formation pathways. Here, we report the first direct detection of a white dwarf (WD) companion to a BSS in M67, using far-UV…