Search

SDSS-V is carrying out a dedicated survey for white dwarfs, single and in binaries, and we report the analysis of the spectroscopy of 504 cataclysmic variables (CVs) and CV candidates obtained during the first 34 months of observations of SDSS-V. We developed a convolutional neural network (CNN) to aid with the identification of CV candidates among the over 2 million SDSS-V spectra obtained with the BOSS spectrograph. The CNN reduced the number of spectra that required visual inspection to |$\simeq 2$|  per cent of the total. We identified 776 CV spectra among the CNN-selected candidates, plus an additional 27 CV spectra that the CNN misclassified, but that were found serendipitously by human inspection of the data. Analysing the SDSS-V spectroscopy and ancillary data of the 504 CVs in our sample, we report 61 new CVs, spectroscopically confirm 248 and refute 13 published CV candidates, and we report 82 new or improved orbital periods. We discuss the completeness and possible selection biases of the machine learning methodology, as well as the effectiveness of targeting CV candidates within SDSS-V. Finally, we re-assess the space density of CVs, and find |$1.2\times 10^{-5}\, \mathrm{pc^{-3}}$|⁠. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extremely low-mass white dwarfs (ELM WDs) with non-degenerate companions are believed to originate from solar-type main-sequence binaries undergoing stable Roche lobe overflow mass transfer when the ELM WD progenitor is at (or just past) the termination of the main-sequence. This implies that the orbital period of the binary at the onset of the first mass transfer phase must have been |$\lesssim 3-5$|  d. This prediction in turn suggests that most of these binaries should have tertiary companions since |$\approx 90$|  per cent of solar-type main-sequence binaries in that period range are inner binaries of hierarchical triples. Until recently, only precursors of this type of binaries have been observed in the form of EL CVn binaries, which are also known for having tertiary companions. Here, we present high-angular-resolution images of TYC 6992-827-1, an ELM WD with a sub-giant (SG) companion, confirming the presence of a tertiary companion. Furthermore, we show that TYC 6992-827-1, along with its sibling TYC 8394-1331-1 (whose triple companion was detected via radial velocity variations), are in fact descendants of EL CVn binaries. Both TYC 6992-827-1 and TYC 8394-1331-1 will evolve through a common envelope phase, which depending on the ejection efficiency of the envelope, might lead to a single WD or a tight double WD binary, which would likely merge into a WD within a few Gyr due to gravitational wave emission. The former triple configuration will be reduced to a wide binary composed of a WD (the merger product) and the current tertiary companion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Magnetic wind braking drives the spin-down of low-mass stars and the evolution of most interacting binary stars. A magnetic braking prescription that was claimed to reproduce both the period distribution of cataclysmic variables (CVs) and the evolution of the rotation rates of low-mass stars is based on a relation between the angular momentum loss rate and magnetic field complexity. Aims. The magnetic braking model based on field complexity has been claimed to predict a detached phase that could explain the observed period gap in the period distribution of CVs but has never been tested in detailed models of CV evolution. Here we fill this gap. Methods. We incorporated the suggested magnetic braking law in MESA and simulated the evolution of CVs for different initial stellar masses and initial orbital periods. Results. We find that the prescription for magnetic braking based on field complexity fails to reproduce observations of CVs. The predicted secondary star radii are smaller than measured, and an extended detached phase that is required to explain the observed period gap (a dearth of non-magnetic CVs with periods between ∼2 and ∼3 hours) is not predicted. Conclusions. Proposed magnetic braking prescriptions based on a relation between the angular momentum loss rate and field complexity are too weak to reproduce the bloating of donor stars in CVs derived from observations and, in contrast to previous claims, do not provide an explanation for the observed period gap. The suggested steep decrease in the angular momentum loss rate does not lead to detachment. Stronger magnetic braking prescriptions and a discontinuity at the fully convective boundary are needed to explain the evolution of close binary stars that contain compact objects. The tension between braking laws derived from the spin-down of single stars and those required to explain CVs and other close binaries containing compact objects remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The vast majority of close binaries containing a compact object, including the progenitors of supernovae Ia and at least a substantial fraction of all accreting black holes in the Galaxy, form through common-envelope (CE) evolution. Despite this importance, we struggle to even understand the energy budget of CE evolution. For decades, observed long-period post-CE binaries have been interpreted as evidence of additional energies contributing during CE evolution. We have recently shown that this argument is based on simplified assumptions for all long-period post-CE binaries containing massive white dwarfs (WDs). The only remaining post-CE binary star that has been claimed to require contributions from additional energy sources to understand its formation is KOI 3278. Aims. Here, we address in detail the potential evolutionary history of KOI 3278. In particular, we investigate whether extra energy sources, such as recombination energy, are indeed required to explain its existence. Methods. We used the 1D stellar evolution code MESA to carry out binary evolution simulations and searched for potential formation pathways for KOI 3278 that are able to explain its observed properties. Results. We find that KOI 3278 can be explained if the WD progenitor filled its Roche lobe during a helium shell flash. In this case, the orbital period of KOI 3278 can be reproduced if the CE binding energy is calculated taking into account gravitational energy and thermodynamic internal energy. While the CE evolution that led to the formation of KOI 3278 must have been efficient – that is, most of the available orbital energy must have been used to unbind the CE – recombination energy is not required. Conclusions. We conclude that currently not a single observed post-CE binary requires one to assume that energy sources other than gravitational and thermodynamic energy are contributing to CE evolution. KOI 3278, however, remains an intriguing post-CE binary as, unlike its siblings, understanding its existence requires highly efficient CE ejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Boris T. Gänsicke [sup.1] [sup.2] , Matthias R. Schreiber [sup.3] , Odette Toloza [sup.1] , Nicola P. Gentile Fusillo [sup.1] , Detlev Koester [sup.4] , Christopher J. Manser [sup.1] [...], The detection.sup.1 of a dust disk around the white dwarf star G29-38 and transits from debris orbiting the white dwarf WD 1145+017 (ref. .sup.2) confirmed that the photospheric trace metals found in many white dwarfs.sup.3 arise from the accretion of tidally disrupted planetesimals.sup.4. The composition of these planetesimals is similar to that of rocky bodies in the inner Solar System.sup.5. Gravitational scattering of planetesimals towards the white dwarf requires the presence of more massive bodies.sup.6, yet no planet has so far been detected at a white dwarf. Here we report optical spectroscopy of a hot (about 27,750 kelvin) white dwarf, WD J091405.30+191412.25, that is accreting from a circumstellar gaseous disk composed of hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur at a rate of about 3.3 × 10.sup.9 grams per second. The composition of this disk is unlike all other known planetary debris around white dwarfs.sup.7, but resembles predictions for the makeup of deeper atmospheric layers of icy giant planets, with H.sub.2O and H.sub.2S being major constituents. A giant planet orbiting a hot white dwarf with a semi-major axis of around 15 solar radii will undergo substantial evaporation with expected mass loss rates comparable to the accretion rate that we observe onto the white dwarf. The orbit of the planet is most probably the result of gravitational interactions, indicating the presence of additional planets in the system. We infer an occurrence rate of approximately 1 in 10,000 for spectroscopically detectable giant planets in close orbits around white dwarfs. Observations of an accretion disk around a hot white dwarf star reveal 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.

Recent surveys of close white dwarf binaries as well as single white dwarfs have provided evidence for the late appearance of magnetic fields in white dwarfs, and a possible generation mechanism, a crystallization and rotation-driven dynamo has been suggested. A key prediction of this dynamo is that magnetic white dwarfs rotate, at least on average, faster than their non-magnetic counterparts and/or that the magnetic field strength increases with rotation. Here we present rotation periods of ten white dwarfs within 40 pc measured using photometric variations. Eight of the light curves come from TESS observations and are thus not biased towards short periods, in contrast to most period estimates that have been reported previously in the literature. These TESS spin periods are indeed systematically shorter than those of non-magnetic white dwarfs. This means that the crystallization and rotation-driven dynamo could be responsible for a fraction of the magnetic fields in white dwarfs. However, the full sample of magnetic white dwarfs also contains slowly rotating strongly magnetic white dwarfs which indicates that another mechanism that leads to the late appearance of magnetic white dwarfs might be at work, either in addition to or instead of the dynamo. The fast-spinning and massive magnetic white dwarfs that appear in the literature form a small fraction of magnetic white dwarfs, and probably result from a channel related to white dwarf mergers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Recently, large and homogeneous samples of cataclysmic variables identified by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) were published. In these samples, the famous orbital period gap, which is a dearth of systems in the orbital period range ∼2 − 3 h and the defining feature of most evolutionary models for cataclysmic variables, has been claimed not to be clearly present. If true, this finding would completely change our picture of cataclysmic variable evolution. Aims. In this Letter we focus on potential differences with respect to the orbital period gap between cataclysmic variables in which the magnetic field of the white dwarf is strong enough to connect with that of the donor star, so-called polars, and non-polar cataclysmic variables as the white dwarf magnetic field in polars has been predicted to reduce the strength of angular momentum loss through magnetic braking. Methods. We separated the SDSS I–IV sample of cataclysmic variables into polars and non-polar systems and performed statistical tests to evaluate whether the period distributions are bimodal as predicted by the standard model for cataclysmic variable evolution or not. We also compared the SDSS I–IV period distribution of non-polars to that of other samples of cataclysmic variables. Results. We confirm the existence of a period gap in the SDSS I–IV sample of non-polar cataclysmic variables with > 98% confidence. The boundaries of the orbital period gap are 147 and 191 min, with the lower boundary being different to previously published values (129 min). The orbital period distribution of polars from SDSS I–IV is clearly different and does not show a similar period gap. Conclusions. The SDSS samples as well as previous samples of cataclysmic variables are consistent with the standard theory of cataclysmic variable evolution. Magnetic braking does indeed seem get disrupted around the fully convective boundary, which causes a detached phase during cataclysmic variable evolution. In polars, the white dwarf magnetic field reduces the strength of magnetic braking and consequently the orbital period distribution of polars does not display an equally profound and extended period gap as non-polars. It remains unclear why the breaking rates derived from the rotation of single stars in open clusters favour prescriptions that are unable to explain the orbital period distribution of cataclysmic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Recent observations of close detached eclipsing M and K dwarf binaries have provided substantial support for magnetic saturation when stars rotate sufficiently fast, leading to a magnetic braking (MB) torque proportional to the spin of the star. Aims. We investigated here how strong MB torques need to be to reproduce the observationally inferred relative numbers of white dwarf plus M dwarf post-common-envelope binaries under the assumption of magnetic saturation. Methods. We carried out binary population simulations with the BSE code adopting empirically derived inter-correlated main-sequence binary distributions as initial binary populations and compared the simulation outcomes with observations. Results. We found that the dearth of extreme mass ratio binaries in the inter-correlated initial distributions is key to reproduce the large fraction of post-common-envelope binaries hosting low-mass M dwarfs (∼0.1 − 0.2 M⊙). In addition, orbital angular momentum loss rates due to MB should be high for M dwarfs with radiative cores and orders of magnitude smaller for fully convective stars to explain the observed dramatic change of the fraction of short-period binaries at the fully convective boundary. Conclusions. We conclude that saturated but disrupted, that is, dropping drastically at the fully convective boundary, MB can explain the observations of both close main-sequence binaries containing M and K dwarfs and post-common-envelope binaries. Whether a similar prescription can explain the spin down rates of single stars and of binaries containing more massive stars needs to be tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A snow-line is the region of a protoplanetary disk at which a major volatile, such as water or carbon monoxide, reaches its condensation temperature. Snow-lines play a crucial role in [...]

White dwarfs that accrete from non-degenerate companions show anomalous carbon and nitrogen abundances in the photospheres of their stellar components have been postulated to be descendants of supersoft X-ray binaries. Measuring the carbon-to-nitrogen abundance ratio may provide constraints on their past evolution. We fit far-ultraviolet spectroscopy of the cataclysmic variable HS 0218 + 3229 taken with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, and found the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is about one tenth of the Solar value |$(\rm{\log \mathrm{[C/N]}}=-0.56\pm 0.15)$|⁠. We also provide estimates of the silicon and aluminium abundances, and upper limits for iron and oxygen. Using the parameters we derived for HS 0218 + 3229 we reconstruct its past. We calculated a grid of mesa models and implemented Gaussian process fits in order to determine its most likely initial binary configuration. We found that an initial mass of the donor of |$M_{\rm donor;i}=0.90-0.98,\rm{\mathrm{M}_{\odot }}$| and an initial orbital period of P orb; i = 2.88 d (P orb; i = 3.12–3.16 d) for an assumed initial white dwarf mass of |$\rm{M_{\mathrm{WD}}}_\mathrm{;i}=0.83\, \rm{\mathrm{M}_{\odot }}$| |$(\rm{M_{\mathrm{WD}}}_{\rm ;i}=0.60\, \rm{\mathrm{M}_{\odot }})$| can replicate the measured parameters. The low mass ratio, |$M_{\rm donor;i} / \rm{M_{\mathrm{WD}}}_{\rm ;i} =1.08-1.18\, (1.5-1.63)$|⁠ , suggests that the system did not go through a phase of hydrogen-burning on the white dwarf's surface. However, we can not exclude a phase of thermal time-scale mass transfer in the past. We predict that HS 0218 + 3229 will evolve below the ≃ 76.2 ± 1 min period minimum for normal cataclysmic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently discovered system Gaia 0007−1605 consisting of a white dwarf (WD) with a close brown dwarf companion and a distant WD tertiary very much resembles the triple system containing the first transiting planet candidate around a WD ever discovered: WD 1856+534. We have previously argued that the inner binary in WD 1856+534 most likely formed through common envelope evolution but triple star dynamics represent an alternative scenario. Here, we analyse different formation scenarios for Gaia 0007−1605. We reconstructed the potential common envelope evolution of the system and found that assuming standard parameters for the energy budget provides a reasonable solution. In agreement with other close white dwarf + brown dwarf binaries, and in contrast to WD 1856+534, no energy sources other than orbital energy during common envelope evolution are required to understand the current configuration of the system. In addition, using analytical prescriptions for triple dynamics, we show that Von Zeipel–Lidov–Kozai oscillations might have triggered tidal migration due to high-eccentricity incursions (e ≳ 0.997). We conclude that the inner binary in Gaia 0007−1605, as its sibling WD 1856+534, formed either through common envelope evolution, triple dynamics, or a combination of both mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of gaseous giant planets is thought to occur in the first few million years after stellar birth. Models (1) predict that the process produces a deep gap in [...]

The origin of strong (⁠|$\stackrel{\gt }{\scriptstyle \sim }1\,\mathrm{ MG}$|⁠) magnetic fields in white dwarfs has been a puzzle for decades. Recently, a dynamo mechanism operating in rapidly rotating and crystallizing white dwarfs has been suggested to explain the occurrence rates of strong magnetic fields in white dwarfs with close low-mass main-sequence star companions. Here, we investigate whether the same mechanism may produce strong magnetic fields in close double white dwarfs. The only known strongly magnetic white dwarf that is part of a close double white dwarf system, the magnetic component of NLTT 12758, is rapidly rotating and likely crystallizing and therefore the proposed dynamo mechanism represents an excellent scenario for the origin of its magnetic field. Presenting a revised formation scenario for NLTT 12758, we find a natural explanation for the rapid rotation of the magnetic component. We furthermore show that it is not surprising that strong magnetic fields have not been detected in all other known double white dwarfs. We therefore conclude that the incidence of magnetic fields in close double white dwarfs supports the idea that a rotation- and crystallization-driven dynamo plays a major role in the generation of strong magnetic fields in white dwarfs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate whether the recently suggested rotation and crystallization driven dynamo can explain the apparent increase of magnetism in old metal polluted white dwarfs. We find that the effective temperature distribution of polluted magnetic white dwarfs is in agreement with most/all of them having a crystallizing core, and increased rotational velocities are expected due to accretion of planetary material that is evidenced by the metal absorption lines. We conclude that a rotation and crystallization driven dynamo offers not only an explanation for the different occurrence rates of strongly magnetic white dwarfs in close binaries but also for the high incidence of weaker magnetic fields in old metal polluted white dwarfs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Bahramian et al. investigated a large sample of globular clusters (GCs) and found that bright intermediate polars (IPs) are a factor of 10 less frequent in GCs than in the Galactic field. We theoretically investigate here this discrepancy based on GC numerical simulations. We found that, due to disruptive dynamical interaction, there is on average a reduction of only half of bright IP progenitors, which is clearly not enough to explain the observed deficiency. However, if the rotation- and crystallization-driven dynamo scenario recently proposed by Schreiber et al. is incorporated in the simulations, the observed rareness of bright IPs in GCs can be reproduced. This is because bright cataclysmic variables (CVs) in GCs are typically very old systems (≳10 Gyr), with white dwarfs that almost fully crystallized before mass transfer started, which does not allow strong magnetic fields to be generated. The observed mass density of bright IPs in GCs can be recovered if around one-third of the bright CVs dynamically formed through mergers have magnetic field strengths similar to those of IPs. We conclude that the observed paucity of bright IPs in GCs is a natural consequence of the newly proposed rotation- and crystallization-driven dynamo scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the identification of SDSS J121929.45+471522.8 as the third apparently isolated magnetic (B ≃ 18.5 ± 1.0 MG) white dwarf exhibiting Zeeman-split Balmer emission lines. The star shows coherent variability at optical wavelengths with an amplitude of ≃0.03 mag and a period of 15.26 h, which we interpret as the spin period of the white dwarf. Modelling the spectral energy distribution and Gaia parallax, we derive a white dwarf temperature of 7500 ± 148 K, a mass of 0.649 ± 0.022 M⊙, and a cooling age of 1.5 ± 0.1 Gyr, as well as an upper limit on the temperature of a sub-stellar or giant planet companion of ≃250 K. The physical properties of this white dwarf match very closely those of the other two magnetic white dwarfs showing Balmer emission lines: GD356 and SDSS J125230.93−023417.7. We argue that, considering the growing evidence for planets and planetesimals on close orbits around white dwarfs, the unipolar inductor model provides a plausible scenario to explain the characteristics of this small class of stars. The tight clustering of the three stars in cooling age suggests a common mechanism switching the unipolar inductor on and off. Whereas Lorentz drift naturally limits the lifetime of the inductor phase, the relatively late onset of the line emission along the white dwarf cooling sequence remains unexplained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though plenty of symbiotic stars (SySts) have been found in the Galactic field and nearby galaxies, not a single one has ever been confirmed in a Galactic globular cluster (GC). We investigate the lack of such systems in GCs for the first time by analysing 144 GC models evolved with the mocca  code, which have different initial properties and are roughly representative of the Galactic GC population. We focus here on SySts formed through the wind-accretion channel, which can be consistently modelled in binary population synthesis codes. We found that the orbital periods of the majority of such SySts are sufficiently long (≳103 d) so that, for very dense GC models, dynamical interactions play an important role in destroying their progenitors before the present day (∼11–12 Gyr). In less dense GC models, some SySts are still predicted to exist. However, these systems tend to be located far from the central parts (≳70 per cent are far beyond the half-light radius) and are sufficiently rare (≲1 per GC per Myr), which makes their identification rather difficult in observational campaigns. We propose that future searches for SySts in GCs should be performed in the outskirts of nearby low-density GCs with sufficiently long half-mass relaxation times and relatively large Galactocentric distances. Finally, we obtained spectra of the candidate proposed in ω Cen (SOPS IV e-94) and showed that this object is most likely not a SySt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the origin of the magnetic fields in white dwarfs (WDs) has been a puzzle for decades. A scenario that has gained considerable attention in the past years assumes that such magnetic fields are generated through a dynamo process during common-envelope evolution. We performed binary population models using an up-to-date version of the bse  code to confront the predictions of this model with observational results. We found that this hypothesis can explain only the observed distribution of WD magnetic fields in polars and pre-polars and the low-temperature WDs in pre-polars if it is re-scaled to fit the observational data. Furthermore, in its present version, the model fails to explain the absence of young, close detached WD+M-dwarf binaries harbouring hot magnetic WDs and predicts that the overwhelming majority of WDs in close binaries should be strongly magnetic, which is also in serious conflict with the observations. We conclude that either the common-envelope dynamo scenario needs to be substantially revised or a different mechanism is responsible for the generation of strong WD magnetic fields in close binaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first population synthesis of synchronous magnetic cataclysmic variables, called polars, taking into account the effect of the white dwarf (WD) magnetic field on angular momentum loss. We implemented the reduced magnetic braking (MB) model proposed by Li, Wu & Wickramasinghe into the Binary Stellar Evolution (bse) code recently calibrated for cataclysmic variable (CV) evolution. We then compared separately our predictions for polars and non-magnetic CVs with a large and homogeneous sample of observed CVs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We found that the predicted orbital period distributions and space densities agree with the observations if period bouncers are excluded. For polars, we also find agreement between predicted and observed mass transfer rates, while the mass transfer rates of non-magnetic CVs with periods ≳3 h drastically disagree with those derived from observations. Our results provide strong evidence that the reduced MB model for the evolution of highly magnetized accreting WDs can explain the observed properties of polars. The remaining main issues in our understanding of CV evolution are the origin of the large number of highly magnetic WDs, the large scatter of the observed mass transfer rates for non-magnetic systems with periods ≳3 h, and the absence of period bouncers in observed samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the discovery of HE 0430–2457, the first extremely low-mass pre-white dwarf (ELM pre-WD) in a long period binary (P = 771 ± 3 d). The spectroscopic parameters of the primary are determined to be Teff = 26 200 ± 1500 K and log g = 5.40 ± 0.35, placing it in the region occupied by core He-burning hot subdwarf B stars. By comparing the spectroscopic parameters of the K-type companion to stellar models, and using the mass ratio, the mass of the hot primary is determined to be 0.23 M⊙. Given that this is too low for core He-burning, the primary in HE 0430–2457 is not an extreme horizontal branch (EHB) star but a pre-WD of the ELM type. As the lifetime of ELM pre-WDs in this region of the Hertzsprung Russel diagram populated by EHBs is thought to be very short, they are not considered to be part of the observed EHBs. However, the discovery of this system indicates that the percentage of ELM pre-WDs in the observed EHB population might be higher than previously thought. Binary evolution models indicate that HE 0430–2457 is likely formed by a merger of the inner binary in a hierarchical triple system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About a dozen substellar companions orbiting young stellar objects or pre-main sequence stars at several hundred au have been identified in the last decade. These objects are interesting both due to the uncertainties surrounding their formation, and because their large separation from the host star offers the potential to study the atmospheres of young giant planets and brown dwarfs. Here, we present X-shooter spectroscopy of SR 12 C, a ∼2Myr young brown dwarf orbiting SR 12 at an orbital separation of 1083 au. We determine the spectral type, gravity, and effective temperature via comparison with models and observational templates of young brown dwarfs. In addition, we detect and characterize accretion using several accretion tracers. We find SR 12C to be a brown dwarf of spectral type L0 ± 1, log g = 4 ± 0.5, an effective temperature of 2600 ± 100 K. Our spectra provide clear evidence for accretion at a rate of ∼10-10M☉ yr-1. This makes SR 12 one of the few sub-stellar companions with a reliable estimate for its accretion rate. A comparison of the ages and accretion rates of sub-stellar companions with young isolated brown dwarfs does not reveal any significant differences. If further accretion rate measurements of a large number of substellar companions can confirm this trend, this would hint towards a similar formation mechanism for substellar companions at large separations and isolated brown dwarfs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the parallaxes of sixteen cataclysmic variables and related objects that are included in the TGAS catalogue, which is part of the Gaia first data release, and compared these with previous parallax measurements. The parallax of the dwarf nova SS Cyg is consistent with the parallax determination made using the VLBI, but with only one of the analyses of the HST Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) observations of this system. In contrast, the Gaia parallaxes of V603 Aql and RR Pic are broadly consistent, but less precise than the HST/FGS measurements. The Gaia parallaxes of IX Vel, V3885 Sgr, and AE Aqr are consistent with, but much more accurate than the Hipparcos measurements. We took the derived Gaia distances and find that absolute magnitudes of outbursting systems show a weak correlation with orbital period. For systems with measured X-ray fluxes we find that the X-ray luminosity is a clear indicator of whether the accretion disc is in the hot and ionised or cool and neutral state. We also find evidence for the X-ray emission of both low and high state discs correlating with orbital period, and hence the long-term average accretion rate. The inferred mass accretion rates for the nova-like variables and dwarf novae are compared with the critical mass accretion rate predicted by the Disc Instability Model. While we found agreement to be good for most systems there appears to be some uncertainty in the system parameters of SS Cyg. Our results illustrate how future Gaia data releases will be an extremely valuable resource in mapping the evolution of cataclysmic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this third of a series of papers related to cataclysmic variables (CVs) and related objects, we analyse the population of CVs in a set of 12 globular cluster models evolved with the MOCCA Monte Carlo code, for two initial binary populations (IBPs), two choices of common-envelope phase (CEP) parameters, and three different models for the evolution of CVs and the treatment of angular momentum loss. When more realistic models and parameters are considered, we find that present-day cluster CV duty cycles are extremely low (≲0.1 per cent) that makes their detection during outbursts rather difficult. Additionally, the IBP plays a significant role in shaping the CV population properties, and models that follow the Kroupa IBP are less affected by enhanced angular momentum loss. We also predict from our simulations that CVs formed dynamically in the past few Gyr (massive CVs) correspond to bright CVs (as expected) and that faint CVs formed several Gyr ago (dynamically or not) represent the overwhelming majority. Regarding the CV formation rate, we rule out the notion that it is similar irrespective of the cluster properties. Finally, we discuss the differences in the present-day CV properties related to the IBPs, the initial cluster conditions, the CEP parameters, formation channels, the CV evolution models and the angular momentum loss treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A handful of white dwarfs with helium-dominated atmospheres contain exceptionally large masses of hydrogen in their convection zones, with the metal-polluted white dwarf GD 16 being one of the earliest recognized examples. We report the discovery of a similar star: the white dwarf coincidentally named GD 17. We obtained medium-resolution spectroscopy of both GD 16 and GD 17 and calculated abundances and accretion rates of photospheric H, Mg, Ca, Ti, Fe and Ni. The metal abundance ratios indicate that the two stars recently accreted debris, which is Mg-poor compared to the composition of bulk Earth. However, unlike the metal pollutants, H never diffuses out of the atmosphere of white dwarfs and we propose that the exceptionally high atmosphericHcontent ofGD16 andGD17 (2.2×1024 and 2.9×1024 g, respectively) could result from previous accretion of water bearing planetesimals. Comparing the detection of trace H and metal pollution among 729 helium atmosphere white dwarfs, we find that the presence of H is nearly twice as common in metal-polluted white dwarfs compared to their metal-free counterparts. This highly significant correlation indicates that, over the cooling age of the white dwarfs, at least some fraction of the H detected in many He atmospheres (including GD 16 and GD 17) is accreted alongside metal pollutants, where the most plausible source is water. In this scenario, water must be common in systems with rocky planetesimals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eclipse timing variations observed from the post-common-envelope binary (PCEB) NN Ser offer strong evidence in favour of circumbinary planets existing around PCEBs. If real, these planets may be accompanied by a disc of dust. We here present the ALMA detection of flux at 1.3 mm from NN Ser, which is likely due to thermal emission from a dust disc of mass ~0.8 ± 0.2M⊕. We performed simulations of the history of NN Ser to determine possible origins of this dust, and conclude that the most likely origin is, in fact, common-envelope material which was not expelled from the system and instead formed a circumbinary disc. These discs have been predicted by theory but previously remained undetected. While the presence of this dust does not prove the existence of planets around NN Ser, it adds credibility to the possibility of planets forming from common-envelope material in a 'second-generation' scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new algorithm designed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of point and extended source detections around bright stars in direct imaging data. One of our innovations is that we insert simulated point sources into the science images, which we then try to recover with maximum S/N. This improves the S/N of real point sources elsewhere in the field. The algorithm, based on the locally optimized combination of images (LOCI) method, is called Matched LOCI or MLOCI. We show with Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) data on HD 135344 B and Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager (NICI) data on several stars that the new algorithm can improve the S/N of point source detections by 30-400% over past methods. We also find no increase in false detections rates. No prior knowledge of candidate companion locations is required to use MLOCI. On the other hand, while non-blind applications may yield linear combinations of science images that seem to increase the S/N of true sources by a factor >2, they can also yield false detections at high rates. This is a potential pitfall when trying to confirm marginal detections or to redetect point sources found in previous epochs. These findings are relevant to any method where the coefficients of the linear combination are considered tunable, e.g., LOCI and principal component analysis (PCA). Thus we recommend that false detection rates be analyzed when using these techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Detached white dwarf + main sequence (WD+MS) systems represent the simplest population of post-common envelope binaries (PCEBs). Since the ensemble properties of this population carries important information about the characteristics of the common-envelope (CE) phase, it deserves close scrutiny. However, most population synthesis studies do not fully consider the effects of the observational selection biases of the samples used to compare with the theoretical simulations. Aims. Here we present the results of a set of detailed Monte Carlo simulations of the population of WD+MS binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 7. Methods. We used up-to-date stellar evolutionary models, a complete treatment of the Roche lobe overflow episode, and a full implementation of the orbital evolution of the binary systems. Moreover, in our treatment we took the selection criteria and all the known observational biases into account. Results. Our population synthesis study allowed us to make a meaningful comparison with the available observational data. In particular, we examined the CE efficiency, the possible contribution of internal energy, and the initial mass ratio distribution (IMRD) of the binary systems. We find that our simulations correctly reproduce the properties of the observed distribution of WD+MS PCEBs. In particular, we find that once the observational biases are carefully considered, the distribution of orbital periods and of masses of the WD and MS stars can be correctly reproduced for several choices of the free parameters and different IMRDs, although models in which a moderate fraction (≤10%) of the internal energy is used to eject the CE and in which a low value of CE efficiency is used (≤0.3) seem to fit the observational data better. We also find that systems with He-core WDs are over-represented in the observed sample, because of selection effects. Conclusions. Although our study represents an important step forward in modeling the population of WD+MS PCEBs, the still scarce observational data preclude deriving a precise value of the several free parameters used to compute the CE phase without ambiguity or ascertaining which the correct IMRD might be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition disk objects are pre-main-sequence stars with little or no near-IR excess and significant far-IR excess, implying inner opacity holes in their disks. Here we present a multifrequency study of transition disk candidates located in Lupus I, III, IV, V, VI, Corona Australis, and Scorpius. Complementing the information provided by Spitzer with adaptive optics (AO) imaging (NaCo, VLT), submillimeter photometry (APEX), and echelle spectroscopy (Magellan, Du Pont Telescopes), we estimate the multiplicity, disk mass, and accretion rate for each object in our sample in order to identify the mechanism potentially responsible for its inner hole. We find that our transition disks show a rich diversity in their spectral energy distribution morphology, have disk masses ranging from ≲1 to 10 MJUP, and accretion rates ranging from ≲10-11 to 10-7.7 M⊙ yr-1. Of the 17 bona fide transition disks in our sample, three, nine, three, and two objects are consistent with giant planet formation, grain growth, photoevaporation, and debris disks, respectively. Two disks could be circumbinary, which offers tidal truncation as an alternative origin of the inner hole. We find the same heterogeneity of the transition disk population in Lupus III, IV, and Corona Australis as in our previous analysis of transition disks in Ophiuchus while all transition disk candidates selected in Lupus V, VI turned out to be contaminating background asymptotic giant branch stars. All transition disks classified as photoevaporating disks have small disk masses, which indicates that photoevaporation must be less efficient than predicted by most recent models. The three systems that are excellent candidates for harboring giant planets potentially represent invaluable laboratories to study planet formation with the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the Sixth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. With this data release, the imaging of the northern Galactic cap is now complete. The survey contains images and parameters of roughly 287 million objects over 9583 deg2, including scans over a large range of Galactic latitudes and longitudes. The survey also includes 1.27 million spectra of stars, galaxies, quasars, and blank sky (for sky subtraction) selected over 7425 deg2. This release includes much more stellar spectroscopy than was available in previous data releases and also includes detailed estimates of stellar temperatures, gravities, and metallicities. The results of improved photometric calibration are now available, with uncertainties of roughly 1% in g, r, i, and z, and 2% in u, substantially better than the uncertainties in previous data releases. The spectra in this data release have improved wavelength and flux calibration, especially in the extreme blue and extreme red, leading to the qualitatively better determination of stellar types and radial velocities. The spectrophotometric fluxes are now tied to point-spread function magnitudes of stars rather than fiber magnitudes. This gives more robust results in the presence of seeing variations, but also implies a change in the spectrophotometric scale, which is now brighter by roughly 0.35 mag. Systematic errors in the velocity dispersions of galaxies have been fixed, and the results of two independent codes for determining spectral classifications and redshifts are made available. Additional spectral outputs are made available, including calibrated spectra from individual 15 minute exposures and the sky spectrum subtracted from each exposure. We also quantify a recently recognized underestimation of the brightnesses of galaxies of large angular extent due to poor sky subtraction; the bias can exceed 0.2 mag for galaxies brighter than r = 14 mag., Astronomy

We present continuum high-resolution Submillimeter Array (SMA) observations of the transition disk object RX J1633.9-2442, which is located in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud and has recently been identified as a likely site of ongoing giant planet formation. The observations were taken at 340 GHz (880 μm) with the SMA in its most extended configuration, resulting in an angular resolution of 0.″3 (35 AU at the distance of the target). We find that the disk is highly inclined (i ∼ 50°) and has an inner cavity ∼25 AU in radius, which is clearly resolved by our observations. We simultaneously model the entire optical to millimeter wavelength spectral energy distribution and SMA visibilities of RX J1633.9-2442 in order to constrain the structure of its disk. We find that an empty cavity ∼25 AU in radius is inconsistent with the excess emission observed at 12, 22, and 24 μm. Instead, the mid-IR excess can be modeled by either a narrow, optically thick ring at ∼10 AU or an optically thin region extending from ∼7 AU to ∼25 AU. The inner disk (r ≲ 5 AU) is mostly depleted of small dust grains as attested by the lack of detectable near-IR excess. We also present deep Keck aperture masking observations in the near-IR, which rule out the presence of a companion up to 500 times fainter than the primary star (in K band) for projected separations in the 5-20 AU range. We argue that the complex structure of the RX J1633.9-2442 disk is best explained by multiple planets embedded within the disk. We also suggest that the properties and incidence of objects such as RX J1633.9-2442, T Cha, and LkCa 15 (and those of the companions recently identified to these two latter objects) are most consistent with the runaway gas accretion phase of the core accretion model, when giant planets gain their envelopes and suddenly become massive enough to open wide gaps in the disk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]