Disks and Planets around Massive White Dwarfs

Abstract

One of the models for the formation of planets around pulsars suggests that the pulsar formed from the merger of two white dwarfs and the planets from the resulting debris. It is pointed out here that, in such a scenario, a frequent end product would also be planets encircling a massive white dwarf. Attention is drawn to some massive, hot white dwarfs which may be the result of recent mergers, and it is suggested that these would be prime candidates to be searched for the presence of planets.