The Puzzling White Dwarf Cooling Sequence in NGC6791: A Simple Solution
L. R. Bedin (1), M. Salaris (2), G. Piotto (3), S. Cassisi (4), A. P., Milone (3), J. Anderson (1), I. R. King (5) ((1) STScI, (2), J.M.Univ.Liverpool, (3) Univ.PD, (4) INAF-Obs.Teramo, (5) Univ.of Washington, Seattle)
TL;DR
This paper explains the unusual white dwarf luminosity function in NGC6791 by proposing that about 34% of observed white dwarfs are in binary systems, providing a simple solution to a longstanding puzzle.
Contribution
It introduces a straightforward explanation for the bright peak in the white dwarf luminosity function by considering binary systems, which was not previously accounted for.
Findings
Approximately 34% of observed white dwarfs are in binary systems.
The binary hypothesis naturally explains the bright peak in the luminosity function.
Provides a simple, plausible solution to the white dwarf cooling sequence puzzle.
Abstract
In this paper we demonstrate that the puzzling bright peak in the luminosity function of the white dwarf (WD) cooling sequence of NGC6791 can be naturally accounted for if ~34% of the observed WDs are WD+WD binary systems.
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