Discovery of the first resolved triple white dwarf
Abstract
We report the discovery of J1953-1019, the first resolved triple white dwarf system. The triplet consists of an inner white dwarf binary and a wider companion. Using Gaia DR2 photometry and astrometry combined with our follow-up spectroscopy, we derive effective temperatures, surface gravities, masses, and cooling ages of the three components. All three white dwarfs have pure-hydrogen (DA) atmospheres, masses of 0.60-0.63 M_{⊙}}, and cooling ages of 40-290 Myr. We adopt eight initial-to-final mass relations to estimate the main-sequence progenitor masses (which we find to be similar for the three components, 1.6-2.6 M⊙) and lifetimes. The differences between the derived cooling times and main sequence lifetimes agree for most of the adopted initial-to-final mass relations, hence the three white dwarfs in J1953-1019 are consistent with coeval evolution. Furthermore, we calculate the projected orbital separations of the inner white dwarf binary (303.25 ± 0.01 au) and of the centre of mass of the inner binary and the outer companion (6398.97± 0.09 au). From these values, and taking into account a wide range of possible configurations for the triplet to be currently dynamically stable, we analyse the future evolution of the system. We find that a collision between the two inner white dwarfs due to Lidov-Kozai oscillations is unlikely, though if it occurs it could result in a sub-Chandrasekhar Type Ia supernova explosion.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- February 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/sty3149
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1811.07752
- Bibcode:
- 2019MNRAS.483..901P
- Keywords:
-
- binaries: close;
- stars: individual: J1953-1019;
- white dwarfs;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- accepted for publication by MNRAS