Abstract

Evidence for the survival of outer planetary systems to the white dwarf phase comes from observations of planetary material polluting the atmospheres of white dwarfs. These observations uniquely reveal the chemical composition of exo-planetary material. Studies of circumstellar dust and gas close to white dwarfs help trace how planetary bodies are perturbed and accreted onto these stars. This scattering process is thought to be stochastic, with the potential for variability observable on human timescales. Indeed, some white dwarfs show variability in their dust and gas, but we are yet to have a comprehensive understanding of these dynamic circumstellar environments. I will present findings from recent studies on circumstellar gas and dust around white dwarfs polluted with planetary material, including the first detection of simultaneous dust and gas emission from a white dwarf disc, advancing us towards a holistic picture of these systems.