POLLUTION OF SINGLE WHITE DWARFS BY ACCRETION OF MANY SMALL ASTEROIDS

@article{Jura2008POLLUTIONOS,
  title={POLLUTION OF SINGLE WHITE DWARFS BY ACCRETION OF MANY SMALL ASTEROIDS},
  author={M. Jura},
  journal={The Astronomical Journal},
  year={2008},
  volume={135},
  pages={1785 - 1792}
}
  • M. Jura
  • Published 27 February 2008
  • Physics, Geology
  • The Astronomical Journal
Extrapolating from the solar system's asteroid belt, we propose that externally contaminated white dwarfs without an infrared excess may be experiencing continuous accretion of gas-phase material that is ultimately derived from the tidal destruction of multiple small asteroids. If this scenario is correct, then observations of metal-polluted white dwarfs may lead to determination of the bulk elemental compositions of ensembles of extrasolar minor planets. 
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