Physics
Scientific paper
Feb 1999
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999noao.prop...83k&link_type=abstract
NOAO Proposal ID #1999A-0083
Physics
Scientific paper
For the last 40 years we have assumed that the crystallization process takes place in the core of the cool white dwarfs (WDs). With the discovery of a massive pulsating WD, BPM37093, we now have the opportunity to detect observational evidence of crystallization. Recent theoretical calculation show we can use the period spacing between successive radial overtone modes to measure the crystallized mass fraction in the core. We are proposing to observe BPM37093 with the Whole Earth Telescope (WET), including CTIO, to search for more pulsation modes, fully resolve them, and most importantly, simultaneously overlap with granted time on the Hubble Space Telescope to independently determine the spherical spherical harmonics index, ℓ, for each pulsation mode. Measuring the crystallization inside BPM37093 will provide constraints and calibration on the theory of crystallization. This has a profound impact on WD cosmochronology since the largest uncertainty associated with the age estimate of the oldest WDs has been the effect of crystallization.
Kanaan Antonio
Kepler S. O.
Nitta Atsuko
Winget Don
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