The initial-final mass relationship (IFMR) of white dwarfs is of paramountimportance in modern astrophysics. To improve the IFMR, we use common propermotion pairs (CPMPs) to derive a semi-empirical relation. Recently we haveacquired spectroscopy of both the WDs and companions of a selected sample of 10CPMPs. The age of some evolved companions has been determined by isochronefitting, but this method is not valid for stars too close to the ZAMS. Analternative age indicator is the X-ray luminosity, which for GKM stars follows arelation with the age (Ribas et al. 2008). Four sources of our sample still lackan age determination, and render our spectroscopic data useless to constrain theIFMR. We propose to observe with XMM two of those PCMP to determine their age.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-10-28T02:05:02Z/2009-10-28T11:12:30Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Gloria Sala, 2010, 'Age determination of common proper motion pairs: constraining the IFMR', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-c9k2lf5
