NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0055
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0055 |
|
PI: Mukremin Kilic, University of Oklahoma, kilic@ou.edu
Address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, 440 W. Brooks St., Norman, OK 73019, USA
CoI: Paul Canton, University of Oklahoma
CoI: Warren Brown, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
CoI: Scott Kenyon, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Title: The ELM Survey: Finding the Shortest Period Binary White Dwarfs
Abstract: A new discovery space for short period binary white dwarfs has been opened up with the availability of 14,000 deg^2 of SDSS Data Release 8 photometry. The Extremely Low-Mass (ELM) Survey takes advantage of the SDSS photometry and spectroscopy to identify compact systems with 1 hr or shorter orbital periods. To significantly increase the number of merging white dwarf systems known, we propose to obtain follow-up spectroscopic observations of all candidates with g<19.5 mag and photometric colors consistent with extremely low-mass (<0.3 Msun) white dwarfs. We request 4 nights on the Hale 5m or KPNO 4m telescope. Our two major science goals are to discover detached gravitational wave sources for fundamental tests of general relativity, and to constrain the formation rate and space density of merging white dwarfs. The latter is important for constraining the contribution of double degenerates to Type Ia and underluminous supernovae.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0055 |
|