Collaborative Project: RUI: White Dwarfs in Wide Binary Systems

作为恒星演化的终点站，白矮星在天文学中占有重要地位。它们的存在是前几代恒星的残余物，使它们能够方便地探测大质量恒星的形成，追溯到我们银河系盘状星系的诞生。此外，它们的结构定义得很好：如果指定了它们的化学成分和质量，它们的半径就确定了。在这项工作中，首席调查员(PI)将与两名合作者共同努力；他们的共同努力将是一个由NSF支持的合作项目。这三个圆周率将完成对广布双星中的白矮星的调查。这些恒星的伴星在主星序上，它们的径向速度、视亮度和颜色将使我们能够准确估计白矮星的质量和亮度。为了估算这些物体的表面化学成分和磁场强度，将获得这些物体的高分辨率光谱。这项研究完成后，预计将能够汇编迄今为止最准确和最均匀的白矮星物理参数。

Being the terminus for stellar evolution, white dwarfs are important in astronomy. Their existence as remnants of previous generations of stars makes them convenient probes of the formation of massive stars back to the birth of the disk of our Milky Way Galaxy. In addition, their structure is well defined: if their chemical compositions and masses are specified, their radii become determined. In this work the Principal Investigator (PI) will combine his efforts with two collaborators; their joint effort will be a collaborative NSF supported venture. The three PI's will complete a survey of white dwarfs in widely spaced double stars. The companions of these stars are on the main sequence, and their radial velocities, apparent brightnesses, and colors will permit accurate estimates of the masses and luminosities of the white dwarfs. High resolution spectra will be obtained of these objects in order to estimate the surface chemical compositions and magnetic field strengths. When completed, this study is expected to permit the compilation of the most accurate and homogeneous physical parameters for white dwarfs to date.