arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Stephane Vennes.
We present an abundance analysis of a sample of 33 hydrogen-rich (DA) white dwarfs. We have used archival high-resolution spectra to measure abundances of calcium, magnesium and iron in a set of 30 objects. In addition, we present preliminary calcium abundances in three new white dwarfs based on low-dispersion spectra. We investigate some abundance ratios (Mg/Ca, Fe/Ca) that may help uncover the composition of the accretion source.
We present an analysis of high-dispersion and high signal-to-noise ratio spectra of the DAZ white dwarf GALEX J1931+0117. The spectra obtained with the VLT-Kueyen/UV-Visual Echelle Spectrograph show several well-resolved Si II spectral lines enabling a study of pressure effects on line profiles. We observed large Stark shifts in silicon lines in agreement with laboratory measurements. A model atmosphere analysis shows that the magnesium, silicon and iron abundances exceed solar abundances, while the oxygen and calcium abundances are below solar. Also, we compared the observed line profiles to synthetic spectra computed with variable accretion rates and vertical abundance distributions assuming diffusion steady-state. The inferred accretion rates vary from dM/dt=2x10^6 for calcium to 2x10^9 g/s for oxygen and indicate that the accretion flow is dominated by oxygen, silicon and iron while being deficient in carbon, magnesium and calcium. The lack of radial velocity variations between two measurement epochs suggests that GALEX J1931+0117 is probably not in a close binary and that the source of the accreted material resides in a debris disc.
We present FUSE observations of the hot white dwarfs in the post-common envelope binaries Feige 24, EUVE J0720-317, BPM 6502, and EUVE J2013+400. The spectra show numerous photospheric absorption lines which trace the white dwarf orbital motion. We report the detection of C III, O VI, P V, and Si IV in the spectra of Feige 24, EUVE J0720-317 and EUVE J2013+400, and the detection of C III, N II, Si III, Si IV, and Fe III in the spectra of BPM 6502. Abundance measurements support the possibility that white dwarfs in post-common envelope binaries accrete material from the secondary star wind. The FUSE observations of BPM 6502 and EUVE J2013+400 cover a complete binary orbit. We used the FUSE spectra to measure the radial velocities traced by the white dwarf in the four binaries, where the zero-point velocity were fixed using the ISM velocities in the line of sight of the stellar systems. For BPM 6502 we determined a white dwarf velocity semi-amplitude of K_WD = 18.6+/-0.5km/s, and with the velocity semi-amplitude of the red dwarf companion (K_RD = 75.2+/-3.1 km/s), we estimate the mass ratio to be q = 0.25+/-0.01. Adopting a spectroscopic mass determination for the white dwarf, we infer a low secondary mass of M_RD = 0.14+/-0.01 M_solar. For EUVE J2013+400 we determine a white dwarf velocity semi-amplitude of K_WD = 36.7+/-0.7 km/s. The FUSE observations of EUVE J0720-317 cover approximately 30% of the binary period and combined with the HST GHRS measurements (Vennes et al. 1999, ApJ 523, 386), we update the binary properties. FUSE observations of Feige 24 cover approximately 60% of the orbit and we combine this data set with HST STIS (Vennes et al. 2000, ApJ, 544, 423) data to update the binary properties.
Based on photometric and astrometric data it has been proposed that Albus 1 (also known as CPD-20 1123) might be a hot white dwarf similar to G191-B2B or, alternatively, a hot subdwarf. We obtained a series of optical spectra showing that CPD-20 1123 is a bright He-B subdwarf. We analyzed the HI Balmer and HeI line spectra and measured T_eff = 19800+/-400 K, log g = 4.55+/-0.10, and log N(He)/N(H) = 0.15+/-0.15. This peculiar object belongs to a family of evolved helium-rich stars that may be the products of double-degenerate mergers, or, alternatively, the products of post horizontal- or giant-branch evolution.
We have cross-correlated the 2dF QSO Redshift Survey (2QZ) white dwarf catalog with the GALEX 2nd Data Release and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data release 5 to obtain ultraviolet photometry (FUV, NUV) for approximately 700 objects and optical photometry (ugriz) for approximately 800 objects. We have compared the optical-ultraviolet colors to synthetic white dwarf colors to obtain temperature estimates for approximately 250 of these objects. These white dwarfs have effective temperatures ranging from 10 000 K (cooling age of about 1Gyr) up to about 40 000 K (cooling age of about 3 Myrs), with a few that have even higher temperatures. We found that to distinguish white dwarfs from other stellar luminosity classes both optical and ultraviolet colors are necessary, in particular for the hotter objects where there is contamination from B and O main-sequence stars. Using this sample we build a luminosity function for the DA white dwarfs with M_V < 12 mag.
We present a study of the iron abundance pattern in hot hydrogen-rich (DA) white dwarfs. The study is based on new and archival far ultraviolet spectroscopy of a sample of white dwarfs in the temperature range 30,000 K < T_eff < 64,000 K. The spectra obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer along with spectra obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and the International Ultraviolet Explorer sample FeIII to FeVI absorption lines enabling a detailed iron abundance analysis over a wider range of effective temperatures than previously afforded. The measurements reveal abundance variations in excess of two orders of magnitude between the highest and the lowest temperatures probed, but also show considerable variations (over one order of magnitude) between objects with similar temperatures and surface gravities. Such variations in cooler objects may be imputed to accretion from unseen companions or so-called circumstellar debris although the effect of residual mass-loss and selective radiation pressure in the hottest objects in the sample remain dominant.
We report the identification of LP 400-22 (WD 2234+222) as a very low-mass and high-velocity white dwarf. The ultraviolet GALEX and optical photometric colors and a spectral line analysis of LP 400-22 show this star to have an effective temperature of 11080+/-140 K and a surface gravity of log g = 6.32+/-0.08. Therefore, this is a helium core white dwarf with a mass of 0.17 M_solar. The tangential velocity of this white dwarf is 414+/-43 km/s, making it one of the fastest moving white dwarfs known. We discuss probable evolutionary scenarios for this remarkable object.
The New Luyten Two-Tenths catalog contains a large number of high-proper motion white dwarf candidates that remain to be spectroscopically confirmed. We present new spectroscopic observations as well as SDSS archival spectra of 49 white dwarf candidates which have been selected from the revised NLTT catalog of Salim & Gould 2003. Out of these, 34 are cool DA white dwarfs with temperatures ranging from approximately 5000 K up to 11690 K, and 11 are DC white dwarfs with temperatures ranging from 4300 K (NLTT 18555) up to 11000 K. Three of the DA white dwarfs also display abundances of heavy elements (NLTT 3915, NLTT 44986 and NLTT 43806) and one is a cool magnetic white dwarf (NLTT 44447) with an estimated magnetic field strength of 1.3 MG. We also present a new cool DQ white dwarf (NLTT 31347) with an estimated temperature of 6250 K. We supplement our sample with SDSS ugriz photometry for a fraction of the newly identified white dwarfs. A kinematical study of this sample of white dwarfs, characterized by proper motions ranging from 0.136 to 0.611 arcsec per yr suggest that they belong to the thin disk population.
Optical spectroscopic observations of GX 339-4 were carried out between 1998 May (X-ray high state) and 1999 May (X-ray low state) over 7 epochs. The equivalent width of Halpha increased during the high state then decreased during the low state. The equivalent width of HeII 4686 decreased over both states. The full-width half-maximum of Halpha, Hbeta, HeII 4686 and the Bowen Blend increased from 1998 to 1999 indicating that the emission line regions moved closer to the compact object. Hbeta shows a redshifted absorption feature at 4880 angstroms at all epochs. This line remains unidentified. Analysis of individual spectra from 1998 May 28-31 show modulation of the radial velocities, equivalent width and V/R ratios of Halpha on the 14.86 hour orbital period. The equivalent width of HeII 4686 also varies on the orbital period. This is the first time since the study of Calanan et al. (1992) that spectroscopic data has confirmed the orbital period. The semi-amplitude of the Halpha radial velocities is K_1 = 14 km/s. Hence the mass function = 2 x 10^(-4) Msun.
We have obtained new optical and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectroscopy of the ultramassive white dwarf EUVE J1746-706. We revise Vennes et al.'s (1996a, ApJ, 467, 784) original estimates of the atmospheric parameters and we measure an effective temperature of 46,500 +/- 700 K and a surface gravity log g = 9.05 +/- 0.15 (~1.2 M_o), in agreement with Balmer line profiles and the EUV continuum. We derive an upper limit on the atmospheric abundance of helium of He/H = 1.3 x 10^{-4} and a neutral hydrogen column density in the local interstellar medium N_HI = 1.8 +/- 0.4 x 10^{19} cm^{-2} from the EUV spectrum. Our upper limit corresponds to half the helium abundance observed in the atmosphere of the ultramassive white dwarf GD 50. We discuss the possibility that EUVE J1746-706 represents an earlier phase of evolution relative to GD 50 and may, therefore, help us understand the origin and evolution of massive white dwarfs.