Illuminating the darkness: More evidence from faint-star proper-motions for a cool and warm component to the local dark matter in the Galaxy

Abstract

We present new evidence, based on faint HST proper-motions, for a bi-modal kinematic population of old white dwarfs, representative of the Thick-Disk and Halo of our Galaxy. This evidence supports the idea of a massive Halo comprised of faint and old white dwarfs, along with an extant population of Thick-Disk white dwarfs. We show how most of the required dark matter in the solar vicinity can be accounted for by the remnants from these two components together.