Evidence for an Anhydrous Carbonaceous Extrasolar Minor Planet

Abstract

Using Keck/HIRES, we report abundances of 11 different elements heavier than helium in the spectrum of Ton 345, a white dwarf that has accreted one of its own minor planets. This particular extrasolar planetesimal which was at least 60% as massive as Vesta appears to have been carbon-rich and water-poor; we suggest it was compositionally similar to those Kuiper Belt Objects with relatively little ice.

ApJ, accepted

References in corpus (7)

• The frequency of planetary debris around young white dwarfs
• Pollution of single white dwarfs by accretion of many small asteroids
• Densities of Solar System Objects from their Rotational Lightcurves
• C/O Ratios of Stars with Transiting Hot Jupiter Exoplanets
• Variable Emission from a Gaseous Disc around a Metal-Polluted White Dwarf
• The Drop during Less than 300 days of a Dusty White Dwarf's Infrared Luminosity
• Atmospheric parameters and carbon abundance for hot DB white dwarfs

Cited by in corpus (8)

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• Compositions of Planetary Debris around Dusty White Dwarfs
• Does a Differentiated, Carbonate-Rich, Rocky Object Pollute the White Dwarf SDSSJ104341.53+085558.2?
• PEWDD: A database of white dwarfs enriched by exo-planetary material
• A subtle IR excess associated with a young White Dwarf in the Edinburgh-Cape Blue Object Survey
• Atmospheric Temperature Inversions and He I 5876 Core Profile Structure in White Dwarfs