DIX Planetary Science Seminar

Observations point to old white dwarfs (WDs) accreting metals at a relatively constant rate over 8 Gyrs. Exo-Oort clouds around WDs have been proposed as potential reservoirs of materials, with Galactic tide as a mechanism to deliver distant comets to the WD's Roche limit. In this talk, I will present novel simulation results showing that an exo-Oort cloud, like the one we have in the Solar System, can produce observed WD pollution rate. Then, I will briefly present the dynamics of Oort cloud comets as they interact with the WD, the background galaxy and a planet. Finally, I will discuss potential problems with having a cometary reservoir polluting WDs.