Planetary Systems Around White Dwarfs

TL;DR

This paper reviews the rapidly expanding field of white dwarf planetary systems, highlighting recent observations, theoretical models, and the potential for future discoveries in exoplanetary science around white dwarfs.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of observational and theoretical advances in white dwarf planetary systems, emphasizing new findings and future prospects.

Findings

Detection of giant planets, minor planets, and debris discs around white dwarfs

Elemental analysis of accreted planetary material revealing exoplanetary chemistry

Numerical simulations tracing the dynamical history of these systems

Abstract

White dwarf planetary science is a rapidly growing field of research featuring a diverse set of observations and theoretical explorations. Giant planets, minor planets, and debris discs have all been detected orbiting white dwarfs. The innards of broken-up minor planets are measured on an element-by-element basis, providing a unique probe of exoplanetary chemistry. Numerical simulations and analytical investigations trace the violent physical and dynamical history of these systems from au-scale distances to the immediate vicinity of the white dwarf, where minor planets are broken down into dust and gas and are accreted onto the white dwarf photosphere. Current and upcoming ground-based and space-based instruments are likely to further accelerate the pace of discoveries.