scholarly journals Search For Cool White Dwarf Pulsators

2000 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 525-526
Author(s):  
Atsuko Nitta ◽  
A. Mukadam ◽  
D. E. Winget ◽  
A. Kanaan ◽  
S. J. Kleinman ◽  
...  

AbstractWe are searching for pulsations in cool (< 6000 K) white dwarfs (WDs), hoping to apply asteroseismological techniques to improve our understanding of their structure and the physical processes inside them. This information is important as we use cool WDs to estimate the lower limit of the age of the Galactic disk. Within a spectroscopic and photometric survey of 110 cool WDs by Bergeron, Ruiz, & Legget, we find 28 candidates with appropriate effective temperatures, masses, and chemical compositions for possible pulsations in nonradial g modes with periods similar to those we observe in DAVs. So far, we have observed 4 candidates, but have found no evidence of large variation.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S357) ◽  
pp. 166-169
Author(s):  
Simon Blouin ◽  
Patrick Dufour

AbstractEmpirically characterizing the spectral evolution of cool white dwarfs is a prerequisite to understanding the physical processes that shape the evolution of these old objects. However, the high photospheric densities of cool helium-rich atmospheres seriously complicate the study of those stars. We have recently developed an updated atmosphere code that is appropriate for high densities and that can model any cool white dwarf (including DZs and DQpecs). Here, we present recent advances in our understanding of the spectral evolution of cool white dwarfs that were made possible thanks to these improved models. We discuss in particular the evolution of the hydrogen-rich to helium-rich ratio at low effective temperatures as well as the DQ→ DQpec transition.


1996 ◽  
Vol 165 ◽  
pp. 403-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Beuermann

AM Herculis binaries contain mass accreting magnetic white dwarfs which appear as bright X-ray sources in the ROSAT All Sky Survey. About 52 systems are presently known which allow detailed studies of the evolution of magnetic close binaries and of fundamental plasma-physical processes in the accretion region on the white dwarf.


1987 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 47-51
Author(s):  
E.M. Sion

AbstractWith the recent detection of direct white dwarf photospheric radiation from certain cataclysmic variables in quiescent (low accretion) states, important implications and clues about the nature and long-term evolution of cataclysmic variables can emerge from an analysis of their physical properties. Detection of the underlying white dwarfs has led to a preliminary empirical CV white dwarf temperature distribution function and, in a few cases, the first detailed look at a freshly accreted while dwarf photosphere. The effective temperatures of CV white dwarfs plotted versus orbital period for each type of CV appears to reveal a tendency for the cooler white dwarf primaries to reside in the shorter period systems. Possible implications are briefly discussed.


1971 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 67-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Oke ◽  
H. L. Shipman

White dwarf stars are among the most challenging and interesting objects which can be studied. Because they represent the interiors of highly-evolved stars, the chemical composition can be enormously variable from object to object. Furthermore, because of the very large gravities, the composition of the atmosphere may be very different from that in the interior. The theory of the degenerate interior provides a relation among mass, radius and chemical composition. Since temperatures, effective gravities, and redshifts can, for certain stars, provide further relations between mass and radius, one can hope to make checks on the theory which are not possible with ordinary stars.


1993 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 116-116
Author(s):  
P.A. Bradley ◽  
M.A. Wood

AbstractWe present the results of a parametric survey of evolutionary models of compositionally stratified white dwarfs with helium surface layers (DB white dwarfs). Because white dwarfs are the most common final end state of stellar evolution, determining their internal structure will offer us many clues about stellar evolution, the physics of matter under extreme conditions, plus the history of star formation and age of the local Galactic disk. As a first step towards determining the internal structure of DB white dwarf stars, we provide a comprehensive set of theoretical g-mode pulsation periods for comparison to observations.Because DB white dwarfs have a layered structure consisting of a helium layer overlying the carbon/oxygen core, some modes will have the same wavelength as the thickness of the helium layer, allowing a resonance to form. This resonance is called mode trapping (see Brassard et al. 1992 and references therein) and has directly observable consequences, because modes at or near the resonance have eigenfunctions and pulsation periods that are similar to each other. This results in much smaller period spacings between consecutive overtone modes of the same spherical harmonic index than the uniform period spacings seen between non-trapped modes. We demonstrate with an example how one can use the distribution of pulsation periods to determine the total stellar mass, the mass of the helium surface layer, and the extent of the helium/carbon and carbon/oxygen transition zones. With these tools, we have the prospect of being able to determine the structure of the observed DBV white dwarfs, once the requisite observations become available.We are grateful to C.J. Hansen, S.D. Kawaler, R.E. Nather, and D.E. Winget for their encouragement and many discussions. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation under grants 85-52457 and 90-14655 through the University of Texas and McDonald Observatory.


1980 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 255-262
Author(s):  
Jesse L. Greenstein

Extensive mass loss is observed for hot subluminous stars, through P Cygni lines in the ultraviolet. This persists in some sub-dwarf 0 stars, but is generally not observed in white dwarfs. The ultraviolet provides determination of effective temperatures. Among nine sdO’s, the maximum temperature reported is definitely below 60, 000 K; an object at 100, 000 K would be distinguishable. The sdO’s show a wide variety of line strengths, notably in N V, C IV and Si TV, as well as He II. One halo sdB is reported as rich in peculiar elements; it shows anomalous N V for its temperature. The comparison of effective temperatures of white dwarfs observed from space and from the ground gives excellent agreement. The hottest white dwarfs are near 60, 000 K, although one (helium-rich) reaches 80, 000 K. Another helium-rich close binary probably has an accretion disk; it is the only white dwarf to show the expanding shell of N V, C IV, Si IV characteristic of some subdwarfs. Two magnetic white dwarfs have been observed; one has strong unidentifiable features and the smallest known radius.


1989 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 278-281
Author(s):  
J. Isern ◽  
E. Garcia-Berro ◽  
M. Hernanz ◽  
R. Mochkovitch

For the last two decades, plasma physics developments have led to a better understanding of physical conditions in white dwarfs interiors. Following the pioneering work of Mestel (1952), the problem of white dwarf cooling has been a subject of continuous interest until the present time. In the early sixties, Kirzhnits (1960), Abrikosov (1960), and Salpeter (1961) recognised the importance of Coulomb interactions in the dense plasma which forms the white dwarf interior. A first-order transition from liquid to solid phase was predicted and the resultant release of latent heat was shown to somewhat affect the cooling rate (Mestel and Ruderman, 1967). Subsequently, improved theoretical luminosity functions (number of white dwarfs per pc9 and per magnitude interval as a function of luminosity) taking into account not only Coulomb interactions but also neutrino losses, and using detailed atmosphere models (Van Horn, 1968; Koester, 1972; Lamb and Van Horn, 1975; Shaviv and Kovets, 1976; Sweeney, 1976). Recently, Iben and Tutukov (1984) have discussed the evolution of a 0.6 M⊙ carbon-oxygen white dwarf from its nuclear burning stages to complete crystallization. Their luminosity function agrees reasonably well with observations in the range −4 ≤ log(L/L⊙) ≤ 4 but it predicts an excess of white dwarfs at low luminosities. Indeed, the luminosity function derived from observations grows monotonically until log(L/L⊙) ≃ −4.5 (Mv ≤ 16) and then makes an abrupt shortfall (Liebert, Dahn and Monet, 1988). The agreement between theory and observations is so good in the aforementioned range luminosity that we can wonder as to whether it is possible not only to test the theory of white dwarf cooling but also to obtain information on the galactic structure and evolution. One example of that is the use of the cutoff in the white distribution to determine the age of the galactic disk (Schmidt, 1959). Using this method, Winget et al. (1987) have found that the galactic disk age could be of the order of 9 Gyr old, in agreement with some predictions from nucleocosmochronology (Fowler et al. 1987).


2020 ◽  
Vol 634 ◽  
pp. A93 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Claret ◽  
E. Cukanovaite ◽  
K. Burdge ◽  
P.-E. Tremblay ◽  
S. Parsons ◽  
...  

Context. The distribution of the specific intensity over the stellar disk is an essential tool for modeling the light curves in eclipsing binaries, planetary transits, and stellar diameters through interferometric techniques, line profiles in rotating stars, gravitational microlensing, etc. However, the available theoretical calculations are mostly restricted to stars on the main sequence or the giant branch, and very few calculations are available for compact stars. Aims. The main objective of the present work is to extend these investigations by computing the gravity and limb-darkening coefficients for white dwarf atmosphere models with hydrogen, helium, or mixed compositions (types DA, DB, and DBA). Methods. We computed gravity and limb-darkening coefficients for DA, DB, and DBA white dwarfs atmosphere models, covering the transmission curves of the Sloan, UBVRI, Kepler, TESS, and Gaia photometric systems. Specific calculations for the HiPERCAM instrument were also carried out. For all calculations of the limb-darkening coefficients we used the least-squares method. Concerning the effects of tidal and rotational distortions, we also computed for the first time the gravity-darkening coefficients y(λ) for white dwarfs using the same models of stellar atmospheres as in the case of limb-darkening. A more general differential equation was introduced to derive these quantities, including the partial derivative (∂ln Io(λ)/∂ln g)Teff. Results. Six laws were adopted to describe the specific intensity distribution: linear, quadratic, square root, logarithmic, power-2, and a more general one with four coefficients. The computations are presented for the chemical compositions log[H/He] = −10.0 (DB), −2.0 (DBA) and He/H = 0 (DA), with log g varying between 5.0 and 9.5 and effective temperatures between 3750 and 100 000 K. For effective temperatures higher than 40 000 K, the models were also computed adopting nonlocal thermal equilibirum (DA). The adopted mixing-length parameters are ML2/α = 0.8 (DA case) and 1.25 (DB and DBA). The results are presented in the form of 112 tables. Additional calculations, such as for other photometric systems and/or different values of log[H/He], log g, and Teff can be performed upon request.


Nature ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 382 (6593) ◽  
pp. 692-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry D. Oswalt ◽  
J. Allyn Smith ◽  
Matt A. Wood ◽  
Paul Hintzen

2020 ◽  
Vol 641 ◽  
pp. A157
Author(s):  
A. Claret ◽  
E. Cukanovaite ◽  
K. Burdge ◽  
P.-E. Tremblay ◽  
S. Parsons ◽  
...  

Context. Systematic theoretical calculations of Doppler beaming factors are scarce in the literature, particularly in the case of white dwarfs. Additionally, there are no specific calculations for the limb-darkening coefficients of 3D white dwarf models. Aims. The objective of this research is to provide the astronomical community with Doppler beaming calculations for a wide range of effective temperatures, local gravities, and hydrogen/metal content for white dwarfs as well as stars on both the main sequence and the giant branch. In addition, we present the theoretical calculations of the limb-darkening coefficients for 3D white dwarf models for the first time. Methods. We computed Doppler beaming factors for DA, DB, and DBA white dwarf models, as well as for main sequence and giant stars covering the transmission curves of the Sloan, UBVRI, HiPERCAM, Kepler, TESS, and Gaia photometric systems. The calculations of the limb-darkening coefficients for 3D models were carried out using the least-squares method for these photometric systems. Results. The input physics of the white dwarf models for which we have computed the Doppler beaming factors are: chemical compositions log [H/He] = −10.0 (DB), −2.0 (DBA), and He/H = 0 (DA), with log g varying between 5.0 and 9.5 and effective temperatures in the range 3750–100 000 K. The beaming factors were also calculated assuming non-local thermodynamic equilibrium for the case of DA white dwarfs with Teff >  40 000 K. For the mixing-length parameters, we adopted ML2/α = 0.8 (DA case) and 1.25 (DB and DBA). The Doppler beaming factors for main sequence and giant stars were computed using the ATLAS9 version, characterized by metallicities ranging from [−2.5, 0.2] solar abundances, with log g varying between 0 and 5.0 and effective temperatures between 3500 and 50 000 K. The adopted microturbulent velocity for these models was 2.0 km s−1. The limb-darkening coefficients were computed for three-dimensional DA and DB white dwarf models calculated with the CO5BOLD radiation-hydrodynamics code. The parameter range covered by the three-dimensional DA models spans log g values between 7.0 and 9.0 and Teff between 6000 and 15 000 K, while He/H = 0. The three-dimensional DB models cover a similar parameter range of log g between 7.5 and 9.0 and Teff between 12 000 and 34 000 K, while logH/He = −10.0. We adopted six laws for the computation of the limb-darkening coefficients: linear, quadratic, square root, logarithmic, power-2, and a general one with four coefficients. Conclusions. The beaming factor calculations, which use realistic models of stellar atmospheres, show that the black body approximation is not accurate, particularly for the filters u, u′, U, g, g′, and B. The black body approach is only valid for high effective temperatures and/or long effective wavelengths. Therefore, for more accurate analyses of light curves, we recommend the use of the beaming factors presented in this paper. Concerning limb-darkening, the distribution of specific intensities for 3D models indicates that, in general, these models are less bright toward the limb than their 1D counterparts, which implies steeper profiles. To describe these intensities better, we recommend the use of the four-term law (also for 1D models) given the level of precision that is being achieved with Earth-based instruments and space missions such as Kepler and TESS (and PLATO in the future).


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