Eccentric planets and stellar evolution as a cause of polluted white dwarfs

@article{Frewen2014EccentricPA,
  title={Eccentric planets and stellar evolution as a cause of polluted white dwarfs},
  author={S. F. N. Frewen and Brad M. S. Hansen},
  journal={Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  year={2014},
  volume={439},
  pages={2442-2458}
}
  • S. Frewen, B. Hansen
  • Published 2014
  • Physics
  • Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
A significant fraction of white dwarfs (WDs) are observed to be polluted with metals despite high surface gravities and short settling times. The current theoretical model for this pollution is accretion of rocky bodies delivered to the WD through perturbations by orbiting planets. Using N-body simulations, we examine the possibility of a single planet as the source of pollution. We determine the stability of test particles on circular orbits in systems with a single planet located at 4 au for… Expand
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TLDR
Optical spectroscopy of a hot white dwarf, WD J091405.30+191412, reveals that the chemical abundances in its disk are similar to those thought to exist deep in icy giant planets, so the white dwarf must be accreting a giant planet. Expand
Understanding the origin of white dwarf atmospheric pollution by dynamical simulations based on detected three-planet systems
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Liberating exomoons in white dwarf planetary systems
Previous studies indicate that more than a quarter of all white dwarf (WD) atmospheres are polluted by remnant planetary material, with some WDs being observed to accrete the mass of Pluto in 106 yr.… Expand
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