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| Paper: |
Binary White Dwarfs in the Supernova Ia Progenitor Survey |
| Volume: |
372, 15th European Workshop on White Dwarfs |
| Page: |
387 |
| Authors: |
Napiwotzki, R.; Karl, C.A.; Nelemans, G.; Yungelson, L.; Christlieb, N.; Drechsel, H.; Heber, U.; Homeier, D.; Koester, D.; Leibundgut, B.; Marsh, T.R.; Moehler, S.; Renzini, A.; Reimers, D. |
| Abstract: |
We report results of a systematic radial velocity survey for double degenerate (DD) binaries as potential progenitors of type Ia supernovae: SPY (ESO Supernovae Ia Progenitor surveY). More than 1000 white dwarfs (WDs) and pre-white dwarfs were observed with the VLT. The aim of SPY is to perform a statistically significant test of the DD scenario. We give an overview of the project and follow-up results. The sample is used for two tests of the contemporary picture of close binary evolution leading to DDs. It is shown that the SPY observations of low mass He-core WDs (HeWDs) are inconsistent with the idea that they all reside in close binary systems. We carry out a model atmosphere analysis of WDs residing in double-lined binaries and estimate individual cooling ages. For a number of systems the younger (and hotter) component is the less massive one, as expected. However, for some systems the mass ratio is inverted. |
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