2008/11/11 by M. Jura, J. Farihi, B. Zuckerman · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/2/3191
21 pages, 7 figures, AJ, in press
arxiv created 2008/11/11 · openalex publication_date 2009/01/28 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Spitzer Space Telescope spectra reveal 10 μm silicate emission from circumstellar dust orbiting six externally polluted white dwarfs. Micron-size glasses with an olivine stoichiometry can account for the distinctively broad wings that extend to 12 μm; these particles likely are produced by tidal disruption of asteroids. The absence of infrared polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon features is consistent with a scenario where extrasolar rocky planets are assembled from carbon-poor solids.