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Hubble space telescope parallaxes of AM CVn stars and astrophysical consequences

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Roelofs, Gijs H. A., Groot, P. J. (Paul J.), Benedict, G. F., McArthur, B. E., Steeghs, D. (Danny), 1972-, Morales-Rueda, L., Marsh, T. R. and Nelemans, G.. (2007) Hubble space telescope parallaxes of AM CVn stars and astrophysical consequences. Astrophysical Journal, Vol.666 (No.2). pp. 1174-1188. ISSN 0004-637X

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/520491

Abstract

We present absolute parallaxes and relative proper motions for five AM CVn stars, which we obtained using the Fine Guidance Sensors on board the Hubble Space Telescope. Our parallax measurements translate into distances dAM CVn = 606(-93)(+135) pc, d(HP) Lib = 197(-12)(+14) pc, d(CR) Boo = 337(-35)(+44) pc, d(V803) Cen(-27)(+32) pc, and d(GP) Com = 75(-2)(+2) pc. From these distances we estimate the space density of AM CVn stars and suggest that previous estimates have been too high by about an order of magnitude. We also infer the mass accretion rates, which allows us to constrain the masses of the donor stars, and we show that relatively massive, semidegenerate donor stars are favored in all systems except GP Com. Finally, we give updated estimates for the systems' gravitational wave signals, based on their distances and the inferred masses of the binary components, which are relevant for future space missions such as the proposed Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). We show that all systems but GP Com are excellent candidates for detection with LISA.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Cataclysmic variable stars, Parallax -- Stars
Journal or Publication Title:	Astrophysical Journal
Publisher:	IOP Publishing
ISSN:	0004-637X
Date:	10 September 2007
Volume:	Vol.666
Number:	No.2
Number of Pages:	15
Page Range:	pp. 1174-1188
Identification Number:	10.1086/520491
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek [Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research] (NWO), Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (Great Britain) (PPARC), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Grant number:	639.042.201 (NWO), 639.041.405 (NWO), GO-09168 (NASA), GO-09348 (NASA), NAS 5-26555 (NASA)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/31484