Speaker
Description
White dwarfs are the most common stellar remnants and are widely used as reliable cosmic chronometers, providing important insights into the evolution and history of the Galaxy. Observations in the near-infrared (NIR) open unique opportunities, including the detection of circumstellar disks and substellar companions, as well as studies of the composition of accreted extrasolar planetary material. NIR also enables the characterization of the coolest and oldest white dwarfs in the thin/thick disc and halo, where distinguishing hydrogen- and helium-dominated atmospheres from optical data alone becomes challenging. All-sky NIR astrometry, with the accuracy and coverage of a Gaia-like mission, could provide valuable insights from white dwarfs, helping to refine our understanding of Galactic evolution, probe the oldest and faintest populations, improve age constraints, reveal binaries, and explore the remnants of planetary systems across the Milky Way.
