An Empirical Study of the ZZ Ceti Instability Strip

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Scientific paper

ZZ Ceti stars are pulsating hydrogen-line (DA) white dwarfs, which are found in a rather narrow strip within the Teff-log g plane: the ZZ Ceti instability strip. Historically, the instability strip has been studied by analyzing the ZZ Ceti stars themselves. However, an analysis of the photometrically constant DA white dwarfs that lie near the instability strip can be just as insightful. Therefore, in an effort to delineate better the boundaries of the ZZ Ceti instability strip, we have gathered optical spectra for all known constant DA white dwarfs near the instability strip. By comparing the Balmer-line profiles to synthetic spectra generated from model atmospheres, it is possible to determine with great accuracy the atmospheric parameters of these stars. These spectra have been secured as part of a broader observing campaign during which we are hoping to identify new candidate ZZ Ceti stars as well. Indeed, already two of our program stars have showed themselves to be genuine ZZ Ceti pulsators, PB 520 and G232-38. Luminosity variations in the latter were recently discovered by us at the Observatoire du mont Mégantic.

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