HST Observations of the White Dwarf in V471 Tauri

Details HST Observations of the White Dwarf in V471 Tauri HST Observations of the White Dwarf in V471 Tauri

Dec 1995

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995aas...187.1804s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, 187th AAS Meeting, #18.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 27, p.1310

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

V471 Tauri is a 12.5-hr DA + K2 V post-common-envelope binary, and a probable member of the Hyades cluster. We have obtained spectroscopic observations with HST and the GHRS near orbital phases 0.25 and 0.75, in a 36 Angstroms region centered at Lyman-alpha . Radial velocities of the white-dwarf component were obtained from its broad Ly-alpha wings, and yield a velocity amplitude K_WD =~ 160 km s(-1) . Since the system is eclipsing and the amplitude of the dK component is known from ground-based observations, we obtain the masses of both components, which are both near 0.8 M_sun. The effective temperature of the white dwarf, from Hubeny profile fits to the Ly-alpha wings, is T_eff =~ 37,000 K. These results lead to an evolutionary paradox: the white dwarf is the most massive one in the Hyades cluster, and thus should be the most evolved and coolest of the WDs in the cluster. But in fact it is the hottest Hyades WD. To resolve the paradox, we suggest that the white-dwarf component is still hot from a relatively recent nova outburst. During two of the observations we witnessed transient Si III 1206 Angstroms absorption, which appeared on a timescale of 2 minutes. This is probably due to wind material leaving the dK star, silhouetted in front of the white dwarf. We have also detected absorption due to interstellar deuterium in the line of sight toward V471 Tau. Preliminary estimates of the interstellar D/H ratio in this direction will be presented. Supported by STScI grant GO-5468.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

HST Observations of the White Dwarf in V471 Tauri does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with HST Observations of the White Dwarf in V471 Tauri, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and HST Observations of the White Dwarf in V471 Tauri will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1253153