Inverting the White Dwarf Luminosity Function: The Star Formation History of the Solar Neighborhood

Nicholas Rowell

Inverting the White Dwarf Luminosity Function: The Star Formation History of the Solar Neighborhood

Nicholas Rowell^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

I present an algorithm for inverting the luminosity function for white dwarfs to obtain a maximum likelihood estimate of the star formation rate of the host stellar population. The algorithm is of the general class of Expectation Maximization, and involves iteratively improving an initial guess of the star formation rate. Tests show that the inversion results are quite sensitive to the assumed metallicity and initial mass function, but relatively insensitive to the initial-final mass relation and ratio of H/He atmosphere white dwarfs. Application to two independent determinations of the Solar neighborhood white dwarf luminosity function gives similar results: the star formation rate is characterised by an early burst, and more recent peak at 2-3 Gyr in the past.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	18TH EUROPEAN WHITE DWARF WORKSHOP
Editors	J Krzesinski, G Stachowski, P Moskalik, K Bajan
Place of Publication	SAN FRANCISCO
Publisher	ASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC
Pages	89-94
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Print)	978-1-58381-820-6
Publication status	Published - 2013
Event	18th European White Dwarf Workshop, EUROWD12 - Krakow, Poland Duration: 13 Aug 2012 → 17 Aug 2012

Publication series

Name	Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series
Publisher	ASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC
Volume	469

Conference

Conference	18th European White Dwarf Workshop, EUROWD12
Country/Territory	Poland
Period	13/08/12 → 17/08/12

Keywords

SKY-SURVEY
AGE
ALGORITHM
DISC
GYR

Cite this

@inproceedings{372178db3b0c4789922f0c98f246044e,

title = "Inverting the White Dwarf Luminosity Function: The Star Formation History of the Solar Neighborhood",

abstract = "I present an algorithm for inverting the luminosity function for white dwarfs to obtain a maximum likelihood estimate of the star formation rate of the host stellar population. The algorithm is of the general class of Expectation Maximization, and involves iteratively improving an initial guess of the star formation rate. Tests show that the inversion results are quite sensitive to the assumed metallicity and initial mass function, but relatively insensitive to the initial-final mass relation and ratio of H/He atmosphere white dwarfs. Application to two independent determinations of the Solar neighborhood white dwarf luminosity function gives similar results: the star formation rate is characterised by an early burst, and more recent peak at 2-3 Gyr in the past.",

keywords = "SKY-SURVEY, AGE, ALGORITHM, DISC, GYR",

author = "Nicholas Rowell",

year = "2013",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-1-58381-820-6",

series = "Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series",

publisher = "ASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC",

pages = "89--94",

editor = "J Krzesinski and G Stachowski and P Moskalik and K Bajan",

booktitle = "18TH EUROPEAN WHITE DWARF WORKSHOP",

note = "18th European White Dwarf Workshop, EUROWD12 ; Conference date: 13-08-2012 Through 17-08-2012",

}

Rowell, N 2013, Inverting the White Dwarf Luminosity Function: The Star Formation History of the Solar Neighborhood. in J Krzesinski, G Stachowski, P Moskalik & K Bajan (eds), 18TH EUROPEAN WHITE DWARF WORKSHOP. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, vol. 469, ASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC, SAN FRANCISCO, pp. 89-94, 18th European White Dwarf Workshop, EUROWD12, Poland, 13/08/12.

Inverting the White Dwarf Luminosity Function : The Star Formation History of the Solar Neighborhood. / Rowell, Nicholas.

18TH EUROPEAN WHITE DWARF WORKSHOP. ed. / J Krzesinski; G Stachowski; P Moskalik; K Bajan. SAN FRANCISCO : ASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC, 2013. p. 89-94 (Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series; Vol. 469).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Inverting the White Dwarf Luminosity Function

T2 - 18th European White Dwarf Workshop, EUROWD12

AU - Rowell, Nicholas

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - I present an algorithm for inverting the luminosity function for white dwarfs to obtain a maximum likelihood estimate of the star formation rate of the host stellar population. The algorithm is of the general class of Expectation Maximization, and involves iteratively improving an initial guess of the star formation rate. Tests show that the inversion results are quite sensitive to the assumed metallicity and initial mass function, but relatively insensitive to the initial-final mass relation and ratio of H/He atmosphere white dwarfs. Application to two independent determinations of the Solar neighborhood white dwarf luminosity function gives similar results: the star formation rate is characterised by an early burst, and more recent peak at 2-3 Gyr in the past.

AB - I present an algorithm for inverting the luminosity function for white dwarfs to obtain a maximum likelihood estimate of the star formation rate of the host stellar population. The algorithm is of the general class of Expectation Maximization, and involves iteratively improving an initial guess of the star formation rate. Tests show that the inversion results are quite sensitive to the assumed metallicity and initial mass function, but relatively insensitive to the initial-final mass relation and ratio of H/He atmosphere white dwarfs. Application to two independent determinations of the Solar neighborhood white dwarf luminosity function gives similar results: the star formation rate is characterised by an early burst, and more recent peak at 2-3 Gyr in the past.

KW - SKY-SURVEY

KW - AGE

KW - ALGORITHM

KW - DISC

KW - GYR

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-1-58381-820-6

T3 - Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series

SP - 89

EP - 94

BT - 18TH EUROPEAN WHITE DWARF WORKSHOP

A2 - Krzesinski, J

A2 - Stachowski, G

A2 - Moskalik, P

A2 - Bajan, K

PB - ASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC

CY - SAN FRANCISCO

Y2 - 13 August 2012 through 17 August 2012

ER -

Inverting the White Dwarf Luminosity Function: The Star Formation History of the Solar Neighborhood

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

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Cite this