Constraining white-dwarf kicks in globular clusters

TL;DR

This paper investigates how asymmetric stellar winds from asymptotic-giant-branch stars can impart kicks to white dwarfs, affecting their distribution in clusters, and proposes using white dwarf distributions to study stellar mass loss.

Contribution

It introduces the idea that white dwarf distributions in clusters can constrain the asymmetry of stellar winds during late stellar evolution.

Findings

Young white dwarfs are less radially concentrated in globular clusters.

Asymmetric winds can cause white dwarfs to be ejected or displaced from clusters.

White dwarf distributions reflect mass loss processes during stellar evolution.

Abstract

The wind of an asymptotic-giant-branch stars is sufficiently strong that if it is slightly asymmetric, it can propel the star outside of the open cluster of its birth or significantly alter its trajectory through a globular cluster; therefore, if these stellar winds are asymmetric, one would expect a deficit of white dwarfs of all ages in open clusters and for young white dwarfs to be less radially concentrated than either their progenitors or older white dwarfs in globular clusters. This latter effect has recently been observed. Hence, detailed studies of the radial distribution of young white dwarfs in globular clusters could provide a unique probe of mass loss on the asymptotic giant branch and during the formation of planetary nebulae both as a function of metallicity and a limited range of stellar mass.