Reaching the End of the White Dwarf Cooling Sequence in NGC 6791

TL;DR

This study observes the white dwarf sequence in NGC 6791, confirming the second peak in the luminosity function and reaching the end of the sequence, highlighting discrepancies with canonical models and age estimates.

Contribution

First detailed observation of the white dwarf luminosity function in NGC 6791 confirming the second peak and reaching the sequence end, challenging existing models.

Findings

Confirmed the second peak in the white dwarf luminosity function.

Reached the end of the white dwarf sequence in NGC 6791.

Canonical models fail to fully explain the observed data.

Abstract

We present new observations of the white dwarf sequence of the old open cluster NGC 6791. The brighter peak previously observed in the white dwarf luminosity function (WDLF) is now better delineated, and the second, fainter peak that we suggested earlier is now confirmed. A careful study suggests that we have reached the end of the white dwarf sequence. The WDs that create the two peaks in the WDLF show a significant turn to the blue in the color-magnitude diagram. The discrepancy between the age from the WDs and that from the main sequence turnoff remains, and we have an additional puzzle in the second peak in the WDLF. Canonical WD models seem to fail --at least at ~25%-level-- in reproducing the age of clusters of this metallicity. We discuss briefly possible ways of arriving at a theoretical understanding of the WDLF.