Solving the problem of the White Dwarf Cooling Sequence End in M4: an efficent approach
Abstract
The end of the white dwarf {WD} cooling sequence {WDCS} has never been observed, despite the importance that it has in providing an age estimate of old stellar systems, independent from the standard method of the main sequence turn off. The best targets for this investigation are the closest stellar clusters, and, among them, globular clusters are the most interesting ones. Being the oldest stellar aggregates, they allow to probe the advanced WD cooling phases, and the independent age estimate coming from the end of their WDCS has an important cosmological impact. M4 is the best target for this investigation. Despite huge observational efforts, we still miss the end of its WDCS. The ACS camera offers a unique opportunity to identify it. Coupled with already existing observations, we here prove that we can finally reach it with only 10 HST orbits. This is probably the last opportunity we have for a large number of years. The data we are requesting here, will also be used to complete other two programs of great astrophysical impact: the observational detection of the main sequence hydrogen burning limit, and the measurement of the geometrical distance of M4.
- Publication:
-
HST Proposal
- Pub Date:
- July 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004hst..prop10146B