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Selected Works of Ted von Hippel
Article
The White Dwarf Luminosity Function from Sloan Digital Sky Survey Imaging Data
The Astronomical Journal
  • Hugh C. Harris, US Naval Observatory
  • Jeffrey A. Munn, US Naval Observatory
  • Mukremin Kilic, University of Texas at Austin
  • James W. Liebert, University of Arizona, Steward Observatory
  • Kurtis A. Williams, University of Arizona, Steward Observatory
  • Ted von Hippel, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Stephen E. Levine, US Naval Observatory
  • David G. Monet, US Naval Observator
  • Daniel J. Eisenstein, University of Arizona, Steward Observatory
  • S. J. Kleinman, Apache Point Observatory
  • T. S. Metcalfe, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
  • Atsuko Nikka, Apache Point Observatory
  • D. E. Winget, University of Texas at Austin
  • J. Brinkmann, Apache Point Observatory
  • Masataka Fukugita, University of Tokyo, Institute for Cosmic Ray Reserach
  • G. R. Knapp, Princeton University Observatory
  • Robert H. Lupton, Princeton University Observatory
  • J. Allyn Smith, Los Alamos National Laboratory; University of Wyoming
  • Donald P. Schneider, The Pennsylvania State University
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Submitting Campus
Daytona Beach
Department
Physical Sciences
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-2006
Disciplines
Abstract/Description

A sample of white dwarfs is selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 3 using their reduced proper motions, based on improved proper motions from combined SDSS and USNO-B data. Numerous SDSS and follow-up spectra (Kilic and coworkers) are used to quantify completeness and contamination of the sample; kinematicsmodels are used to understand and correct for velocity-dependent selection biases.A luminosity function is constructed covering the range 7 < Mbol < 16, and its sensitivity to various assumptions and selection limits is discussed. The white dwarf luminosity function based on 6000 stars is remarkably smooth and rises nearly monotonically to Mbol=15.3. It then drops abruptly, although the small number of low-luminosity stars in the sample and their unknown atmospheric composition prevent quantitative conclusions about this decline. Stars are identified that may have high tangential velocities, and a preliminary luminosity function is constructed for them.

Publisher
Institute of Physics Publishing, Inc.
Grant or Award Name
National Science Foundation grant AST 03-07321
Citation Information
Hugh C. Harris, Jeffrey A. Munn, Mukremin Kilic, James W. Liebert, et al.. "The White Dwarf Luminosity Function from Sloan Digital Sky Survey Imaging Data" The Astronomical Journal Vol. 131 Iss. 1 (2006) p. 571 - 581
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ted-vonhippel/103/