We review the available near- and mid-infrared photometry for white dwarfs obtained from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) and by the Spitzer Space Telescope. Both data sets have recently been used to seek white dwarfs with infrared excesses due to the presence of unresolved companions or circumstellar disks, and also to derive the atmospheric parameters of cool white dwarfs. We first attempt to evaluate the reliability of the 2MASS photometry by comparing it with an independent set of published JHK CIT magnitudes for 160 cool white dwarf stars, and also by comparing the data with the predictions of detailed model atmosphere calculations. The possibility of using 2MASS to identify unresolved M dwarf companions or circumstellar disks is then discussed.

Cone search capability for table J/ApJ/657/1013/table3 (Sample of white dwarfs with predicted NIR photometry)

Cone search capability for table J/ApJ/657/1013/table4 (Sample of massive white dwarfs)

Cone search capability for table J/ApJ/657/1013/table1 (Sample of cool white dwarfs with near-infrared photometry)