A New Look at the Empirical Initial-Final Mass Relation

Abstract

We examine new methods of producing and analyzing the empirical initial-final mass relation for open cluster white dwarfs (WDs). We re-determine initial and final masses for the complete sample of published cluster WDs and then pare this sample using stringent criteria. We create an empirical initial-final mass relation by binning all WDs in individual clusters to a single point. Despite potentially significant systematics arising from this approach, we are comfortable concluding that, to within current observational constraints, the initial-final mass relation is linear, any intrinsic scatter in the relation is <~0.05 solar masses, and there is no metallicity dependence. More exploration of these issues is clearly warranted.