arXiv subjects

D. Koester

Publications and source records attributed to D. Koester.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Gemini spectra of 12000K white dwarf stars

We report signal-to-noise ratio SNR ~ 100 optical spectra for four DA white dwarf stars acquired with the GMOS spectrograph of the 8m Gemini north telescope. These stars have 18 ~ 21) optical spectra acquired by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey through model atmosphere fitting are trustworthy. Our spectra range from 3800A to 6000A, therefore including H beta to H9. The H8 line was only marginally present in the SDSS spectra, but is crucial to determine the gravity. When we compare the values published by Kleinman et al. (2004) and Eisenstein et al. (2006) with our line-profile (LPT) fits, the average differences are: Delta Teff ~ 320 K, systematically lower in SDSS, and Delta log g ~ 0.24 dex, systematically larger in SDSS. The correlation between gravity and effective temperature can only be broken at wavelengths bluer than 3800 A. The uncertainties in Teff are 60% larger, and in log g larger by a factor of 4, than the Kleinman et al. (2004) and Eisenstein et al. (2006) internal uncertainties.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The masses of PSR J1911-5958A and its white dwarf companion

We present spectroscopic and photometric observations of the optical counterpart to PSR J1911-5958A, a millisecond pulsar located towards the globular cluster NGC 6752. We measure radial velocities from the spectra and determine the systemic radial velocity of the binary and the radial-velocity amplitude of the white-dwarf orbit. Combined with the pulsar orbit obtained from radio timing, we infer a mass ratio of Mpsr/Mwd=7.36+-0.25. The spectrum of the counterpart is that of a hydrogen atmosphere, showing Balmer absorption lines upto H12, and we identify the counterpart as a helium-core white dwarf of spectral type DA5. Comparison of the spectra with hydrogen atmosphere models yield a temperature Teff=10090+-150 K and a surface gravity log g=6.44+-0.20 cm s^-2. Using mass-radius relations appropriate for low-mass helium-core white dwarfs, we infer the white-dwarf mass Mwd=0.18+-0.02 Msun and radius Rwd=0.043+-0.009 Rsun. Combined with the mass ratio, this constrains the pulsar mass to Mpsr=1.40^+0.16_-0.10 Msun. If we instead use the white-dwarf spectrum and the distance of NGC 6752 to determine the white-dwarf radius, we find Rwd=0.058+-0.004 Rsun. For the observed temperature, the mass-radius relations predict a white-dwarf mass of Mwd=0.175+-0.010 Msun, constraining the pulsar mass to Mpsr=1.34+-0.08 Msun. We find that the white-dwarf radius determined from the spectrum and the systemic radial velocity of the binary are only marginally consistent with the values that are expected if PSR J1911-5958A is associated with NGC 6752. We discuss possible causes to explain this inconsistency, but conclude that our observations do not conclusively confirm nor disprove the assocation of the pulsar binary with the globular cluster.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

New DQ white dwarfs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR4: confirmation of two sequences

Using photometric selection criteria, and in a final step visual inspection of spectra, we find 65 DQ white dwarfs in the Data Release 4 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. 37 of these are new identifications, three more are reclassified DQ from DC, the other 25 have been described as DQ before in the literature. We derive effective temperatures and carbon abundances for 60 of these stars. The results confirm the main conclusions of Dufour et al.(2005). The majority of stars defines a clear sequence in the C abundance vs. Teff diagram, with high abundances found at high Teff and vice versa. We also confirm with high significance a second sequence with an abundance about 1 dex higher at the same Teff, and discuss the nature and possible origin of the high-C sequence.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The accretion-diffusion scenario for metals in cool white dwarfs

We calculated diffusion timescales for Ca, Mg, Fe in hydrogen atmosphere white dwarfs with temperatures between 5000 and 25000 K. With these timescales we determined accretion rates for a sample of 38 DAZ white dwarfs from the recent studies of Zuckerman et al. (2003) and Koester et al. (2005). Assuming that the accretion rates can be calculated with the Bondi-Hoyle formula for hydrodynamic accretion, we obtained estimates for the interstellar matter density around the accreting objects. These densities are in good agreement with new data about the warm, partially ionized phase of the ISM in the solar neighborhood.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Analysis of IUE spectra of helium-rich white dwarf stars

We studied the class of DB white dwarf stars, using re-calibrated UV spectra for thirty four DBs obtained with the IUE satellite. By comparing the observed energy distributions with model atmospheres, we simultaneously determine spectroscopic distances (d), effective temperature (Teff), and surface gravities (log g). Using parallax measurements and previous determinations of Teff and log g from optical spectra, we can study whether the atmospheres of eleven DB stars are consistent with pure He or have a small amount of H contamination. We also report on our observations of seventeen stars with Teff close to the DB instability strip through time series photometry and found them to be non variable within our detection limits.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Discovery of eleven new ZZ Ceti stars

We report the discovery of eleven new ZZ Cetis using telescopes at OPD (Observatório do Pico dos Dias/LNA) in Brazil, the 4.1 m SOAR (Southern Astrophysical Research) telescope at Cerro Pachon, Chile, and the 2.1 m Otto Struve telescope at McDonald observatory. The candidates were selected from the SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey) and SPY (ESO SN Ia progenitor survey), based on their Teff obtained from optical spectra fitting. This selection criterion yields the highest success rate of detecting new ZZ Cetis, above 90% in the Teff range from 12000 to 11000 K. We also report on a DA not observed to vary, with a Teff placing the star close to the blue edge of the instability strip. Among our new pulsators, one is a little bit cooler than this star for which pulsations were not detected. Our observations are an important constraint on the location of the blue edge of the ZZ Ceti instability strip.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Rotation velocities of white dwarfs determined from the CaII K line

We determine projected rotation velocities v sini in DAZ white dwarfs, for the first time using the rotational broadening of the CaII K line. The results confirm previous findings that white dwarfs are very slow rotators, and set even more stringent upper limits of typically less than 10 km/s. The few exceptions include 3 stars known or suspected to be variable ZZ Ceti stars, where the line broadening is very likely not due to rotation. The results demonstrate that the angular momentum of the core cannot be preserved completely between main sequence and final stage.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Hubble Space Telescope Spectroscopy of the Balmer lines in Sirius B

Sirius B is the nearest and brightest of all white dwarfs, but it is very difficult to observe at visible wavelengths due to the overwhelming scattered light contribution from Sirius A. However, from space we can take advantage of the superb spatial resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope to resolve the A and B components. Since the closest approach in 1993, the separation between the two stars has become increasingly favourable and we have recently been able to obtain a spectrum of the complete Balmer line series for Sirius B using HST?s Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). The quality of the STIS spectra greatly exceed that of previous ground-based spectra, and can be used to provide an important determination of the stellar temperature (Teff = 25193K) and gravity (log g = 8.556). In addition we have obtained a new, more accurate, gravitational red-shift of 80.42 +/- 4.83 km s-1 for Sirius B. Combining these results with the photometric data and the Hipparcos parallax we obtain new determinations of the stellar mass for comparison with the theoretical mass-radius relation. However, there are some disparities between the results obtained independently from log g and the gravitational redshift which may arise from flux losses in the narrow 50x0.2arcsec slit. Combining our measurements of Teff and log g with the Wood (1995) evolutionary mass-radius relation we get a best estimate for the white dwarf mass of 0.978 M. Within the overall uncertainties, this is in agreement with a mass of 1.02 M obtained by matching our new gravitational red-shift to the theoretical M/R relation.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Two new ZZ Ceti pulsators from the HS and HE surveys

We report the detection of nonradial g-mode oscillations in the DA white dwarfs HS1039+4112 (B=15.9) and HE1429-0343 (B=15.8) from time-series photometry made at the Loiano 1.5 m telescope. The two stars were previously selected as probable pulsators based on two-color photometry and spectral analysis respectively. Following our temperature and surface gravity determinations, HS1039+4112 (Teff=11200 K, logg=8.2) is located near the red edge of the ZZ Ceti instability strip, whereas HE1429-0343 (Teff=11400 K, logg=7.8) falls in the middle of the strip. Both stars show a multi-mode behavior with the main periods at about 850 and 970 s respectively, and relatively large amplitudes (~7% and ~2.5%).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Do Magnetic Fields Prevent Hydrogen from Accreting onto Cool Metal-line White Dwarf Stars?

It is generally assumed that metals detected in the spectra of a few cool white dwarfs cannot be of primordial origin and must be accreted from the interstellar medium. However, the observed abundances of hydrogen, which should also be accreted from the interstellar medium, are lower than expected from metal accretion. Magnetic fields are thought to be the reason for this discrepancy. We have therefore obtained circular polarization spectra of the helium-rich white dwarfs GD40 and L745-46A, which both show strong metal lines as well as hydrogen. Whereas L745-46A might have a magnetic field of about -6900 G, which is about two times the field strength of 3000G necessary to repell hydrogen at the Alfen radius, only an upper limit for the field strength of GD40 of 4000G (with 99% confidence) can be set which is far off the minimum field strength of 144000G to repell hydrogen.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

The mass of the sdB primary of the binary HS 2333+3927

Short period sdB binaries with cool companions are crucial to understand pre-CV evolution, because they will evolve into cataclysmic variables, when the sdB will have left the extended horizontal branch. Recently we discovered the sixth such system, HS 2333+3927, consisting of an sdB star and an M dwarf (period: 0.172 d) with a very strong reflection effect, but no eclipses. The reflection is stronger than in any of the other similar systems which renders a quantitative spectral analysis very difficult because the Balmer line profiles may be disturbed by the reflected light. A spectroscopic analysis results in Teff = 36500 K, log g = 5.70, and log (n_He/n_H) = -2.15. Mass-radius relations were derived from the results of the analysis of light and radial-velocity curves. Comparison with the mass-radius relation derived from the surface gravity of the sdB star favours a rather low mass of 0.38 Msun for the primary. The mass of the companion is 0.29 M_sun. HS 2333+3927 is the only known sdB+dM system with a period above the CV period gap.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

The Peculiar Pulsations of PY Vul

The pulsating white dwarf star PY Vul (G~185-32) exhibits pulsation modes with peculiar properties that set it apart from other variable stars in the ZZ Ceti (DAV) class. These peculiarities include a low total pulsation amplitude, a mode with bizarre amplitudes in the ultraviolet, and a mode harmonic that exceeds the amplitude of its fundamental. Here, we present optical, time series spectroscopy of PY Vul acquired with the Keck II LRIS spectrograph. Our analysis has revealed that the mode with unusual UV amplitudes also has distinguishing characteristics in the optical. Comparison of its line profile variations to models suggests that this mode has a spherical degree of four. We show that all the other peculiarities in this star are accounted for by a dominant pulsation mode of l=4, and propose this hypothesis as a solution to the mysteries of PY Vul.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Double degenerates and progenitors of supernovae type Ia

We report on systematic radial velocity surveys for white dwarf - white dwarf binaries (double degenerates - DDs) including SPY (ESO Supernovae Ia progenitor survey) recently carried out at the VLT. A large sample of DD will allow us to put strong constrains on the phases of close binary evolution of the progenitor systems and to perform an observational test of the DD scenario for supernovae of type Ia. We explain how parameters of the binaries can be derived from various methods. Results for a sample of DDs are presented and discussed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Spectral Types and Masses of White Dwarfs in Globular Clusters

White dwarfs in globular clusters offer additional possibilities to determine distances and ages of globular clusters, provided their spectral types and masses are known. We therefore started a project to obtain spectra of white dwarfs in the globular clusters NGC 6397 and NGC 6752. All observed white dwarfs show hydrogen-rich spectra and are therefore classified as DA. Analysing the multi-colour photometry of the white dwarfs in NGC 6752 yields an average gravity of log g = 7.84 and 0.53 Msolar as the most probable average mass for globular cluster white dwarfs. Using this average gravity we try to determine independent temperatures by fitting the white dwarf spectra. While the stellar parameters determined from spectroscopy and photometry usually agree within the mutual error bars, the low resolution and S/N of the spectra prevent us from setting constraints stronger than the ones derived from the photometry alone. For the same reasons the white dwarf spectra obtained for NGC 6397 unfortunately do not provide an independent distance estimate of sufficient accuracy to distinguish between the long and short distance scale for globular clusters.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

A Catalog of Spectroscopically Identified White Dwarf Stars in the First Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We present the full spectroscopic white dwarf and hot subdwarf sample from the SDSS first data release, DR1. We find 2551 white dwarf stars of various types, 240 hot subdwarf stars, and an additional 144 objects we have identified as uncertain white dwarf stars. Of the white dwarf stars, 1888 are non-magnetic DA types and 171, non-magnetic DBs. The remaining (492) objects consist of all different types of white dwarf stars: DO, DQ, DC, DH, DZ, hybrid stars like DAB, etc., and those with non-degenerate companions. We fit the DA and DB spectra with a grid of models to determine the Teff and log(g) for each object. For all objects, we provide coordinates, proper motions, SDSS photometric magnitudes, and enough information to retrieve the spectrum/image from the SDSS public database. This catalog nearly doubles the known sample of spectroscopically-identified white dwarf stars. In the DR1 imaged area of the sky, we increase the known sample of white dwarf stars by a factor of 8.5. We also comment on several particularly interesting objects in this sample.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Binaries discovered by the SPY project. III. HE2209-1444: a massive, short period double degenerate

In the course of our search for double degenerate (DD) binaries as potential progenitors of type Ia supernovae with the UVES spectrograph at the ESO VLT (ESO SN Ia Progenitor surveY - SPY) we discovered HE2209-1444 to be a double-lined system consisting of two DA white dwarfs. From the analysis of the radial velocity curve we determined the period of the system to be P = 6h 38m 47s. The semi-amplitudes for both individual components are 109 km/s each. A model atmosphere analysis enabled us to derive individual temperatures for both components (8490 K and 7140 K, resp.) and masses of 0.58 Msol for each component. The total mass of the system is 1.15 +/- 0.07 Msol. The system will loose angular momentum due to gravitational wave radiation and therefore will merge within 5 Gyrs -- less than a Hubble time. HE2209-1444 is the second massive, short period double degenerate detected by SPY. Its total mass is about 20 % below the Chandrasekhar mass limit and therefore it does not qualify as a potentional SN Ia progenitor. However, together with our previous detections it supports the view that Chandrasekhar mass systems do exist.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

The DA+dMe eclipsing binary EC13471-1258: its cup runneth over...just

EC13471-1258 is a detached eclipsing binary with Porb = 3h37m, comprising a DA white dwarf and a dMe dwarf. Total eclipses of the white dwarf lasting 14 min, and a large amplitude ellipsoidal variation are seen in the light curve. Flares from the dMe star occur regularly. Each star contributes roughly equal amounts of light at 5500 Ang. HST STIS spectra show strong Ly alpha with weak metal lines, and yield Teff = 14220 K, log g = 8.34, Z = 1/30th solar, K = 138 km/s and V sin i = 400 km/s for the white dwarf. Optical spectra yield the spectral type (M3.5-4.0), Teff = 3100 K, Z = solar, K = 266 km/s and V sin i = 140 km/s for the dMe star. The H alpha emission line comprises 2 or more components and implies that very weak mass transfer is occurring. The dynamical solution also implies that the dMe star just fills its Roche lobe. Accurate masses and radii for each star were derived: the dMe values favour the Clemens et al. (1998) mass-radius relation. The large rotational velocity of the white dwarf (400 km/s) suggests that the system has transferred mass in the past so that it is presently a hibernating cataclysmic variable. The metallicity contrast between the component stars provides an opportunity for tests of diffusion theory.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

High Resolution Spectroscopy of the Pulsating White Dwarf G29-38

We present the analysis of time-resolved, high resolution spectra of the cool white dwarf pulsator, G29-38. From measuring the Doppler shifts of the H-alpha core, we detect velocity changes as large as 16.5 km/s and conclude that they are due to the horizontal motions associated with the g-mode pulsations on the star. We detect seven pulsation modes from the velocity time-series and identify the same modes in the flux variations. We discuss the properties of these modes and use the advantage of having both velocity and flux measurements of the pulsations to test the convective driving theory proposed for DAV stars. Our data show limited agreement with the expected relationships between the amplitude and phases of the velocity and flux modes. Unexpectedly, the velocity curve shows evidence for harmonic distortion, in the form of a peak in the Fourier transform whose frequency is the exact sum of the two largest frequencies. Combination frequencies are a characteristic feature of the Fourier transforms of light curves of G29-38, but before now have not been detected in the velocities, nor does published theory predict that they should exist. We compare our velocity combination frequency to combination frequencies found in the analysis of light curves of G29-38, and discuss what might account for the existence of velocity combinations with the properties we observe. We also use our high-resolution spectra to determine if either rotation or pulsation can explain the truncated shape observed for the DAV star's line core. We are able to eliminate both mechanisms: the average spectrum does not fit the rotationally broadened model and the time-series of spectra provides proof that the pulsations do not significantly truncate the line.

astro-ph↗