Constraining Neutrino Cooling using the Hot White Dwarf Luminosity Function in the Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae

Abstract

We present Hubble Space Telescope observations of the upper part (T_eff> 10 000 K) of the white dwarf cooling sequence in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae and measure a luminosity function of hot white dwarfs. Comparison with previous determinations from large scale field surveys indicates that the previously determined plateau at high effective temperatures is likely a selection effect, as no such feature is seen in this sample. Comparison with theoretical models suggests that the current estimates of white dwarf neutrino emission (primarily by the plasmon channel) are accurate, and variations are restricted to no more than a factor of two globally, at 95% confidence. We use these constraints to place limits on various proposed exotic emission mechanisms, including a non-zero neutrino magnetic moment, formation of axions, and emission of Kaluza-Klein modes into extra dimensions.

13 pages, 12 figures, to appear in the Astrophysical Journal

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• Stellar Basins of Gravitationally Bound Particles
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• Axion helioscopes as solar magnetometers
• Cosmological Implications of Axion-Matter Couplings
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• White dwarfs as Physics laboratories: lights and shadows
• Probing the relaxed relaxion and Higgs-portal with S1 & S2
• Constraining axion-like particles using the white dwarf initial-final mass relation
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• Constraining white dwarf structure and neutrino physics in 47 Tucanae
• Elimination of the Blue Loops in the Evolution of Intermediate-mass Stars by the Neutrino Magnetic Moment and Large Extra Dimensions
• Unique Probe of Neutrino Electromagnetic Moments with Radiative Pair Emission
• Neutrino Emissivities as a Probe of the Internal Magnetic Fields of White Dwarfs
• 21 cm cosmology and spin temperature reduction via spin-dependent dark matter interactions
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• Constraining Axions with ZTF J1901+1458
• From oversimplified to overlooked: the case for exploring Rich Dark Sectors