Constraining the evolution of ZZ Ceti

We report our analysis of the stability of pulsation periods in the DAV star (pulsating hydrogen atmosphere white dwarf ) ZZ Ceti, also called R548. On the basis of observations that span 31 years, we conclude that the period 213.13 s observed in ZZ Ceti drifts at a rate dP/dt ≤ (5:5 ± 1:9) x 10 15 s s-ˡ, after correcting for proper motion. Our results are consistent with previous _PP values for this mode and an improvement over them because of the larger time base. The characteristic stability timescale implied for the pulsation period is |P/PP| ≥ 1.2 Gyr, comparable to the theoretical cooling timescale for the star. Our current stability limit for the period 213.13 s is only slightly less than the present measurement for another DAV, G117-B15A, for the period 215.2 s, establishing this mode in ZZ Ceti as the second most stable optical clock known, comparable to atomic clocks and more stable than most pulsars. Constraining the cooling rate of ZZ Ceti aids theoretical evolutionary models and white dwarf cosmochronology. The drift rate of this clock is small enough that we can set interesting limits on reflex motion due to planetary companions

A Whole Earth Telescope campaign on the pulsating subdwarf B binary system PG 1336-018 (NY Vir)

We present results from a multisite (‘Whole Earth Telescope’) photometric campaign on PG 1336−018, the close eclipsing binary system containing a pulsating subdwarf B (sdB) star. The main part of the campaign (1999 April) resulted in ~172 h of observations, representing a coverage of about 47 per cent, and additional data were obtained outside the core campaign. Periodogram analysis shows that the light variations are dominated by three frequencies near 5757, 5585 and 5369 μHz (~174, 179 and 186s, respectively), although many frequencies are present, particularly in the range 5000–6000 μHz (~200–170 s). We identify, with some confidence, 28 frequencies down to a semi-amplitude of 0.0005 in fractional intensity (equivalent to about 0.5 mmag). It is clear that the pulsation frequencies of PG 1336−018 have changed substantially since the 1996 discovery observations were made, and that amplitude changes occur, at least in the dominant three frequencies, on relatively short time-scales (of the order of a day). On the assumption that the pulsating star is phase-locked in the binary system, we have searched for rotational splitting of frequencies near the orbital and half of the orbital period, but the results are confused by aliasing at those frequencies (due to the data gaps caused by the eclipses). A preliminary model qualitatively matches the distribution of frequencies in PG 1336−018, with some good individual correspondences, but cannot be considered adequate because geometric cancellation should hide some of the modes which are apparently detected. Analysis of the pulsations during eclipse recovers three of the strongest modes, but the limited eclipse data – which can, at best, be only about 9 per cent of the total – do not allow mode identification at this stage. Simulations indicate that an overall coverage of about 80 per cent would be required for this to be viable. An attempt was made to determine phase shifts in the pulsation frequencies as a way of directly measuring the size of the binary orbit, but the uncertainties in the method are comparable to the light travel time across the orbit (probably less than a second)

A Whole Earth Telescope campaign on the pulsating subdwarf B binary system PG 1336-018 (NY Vir)

We present results from a multisite (‘Whole Earth Telescope’) photometric campaign on PG 1336−018, the close eclipsing binary system containing a pulsating subdwarf B (sdB) star. The main part of the campaign (1999 April) resulted in ~172 h of observations, representing a coverage of about 47 per cent, and additional data were obtained outside the core campaign. Periodogram analysis shows that the light variations are dominated by three frequencies near 5757, 5585 and 5369 μHz (~174, 179 and 186s, respectively), although many frequencies are present, particularly in the range 5000–6000 μHz (~200–170 s). We identify, with some confidence, 28 frequencies down to a semi-amplitude of 0.0005 in fractional intensity (equivalent to about 0.5 mmag). It is clear that the pulsation frequencies of PG 1336−018 have changed substantially since the 1996 discovery observations were made, and that amplitude changes occur, at least in the dominant three frequencies, on relatively short time-scales (of the order of a day). On the assumption that the pulsating star is phase-locked in the binary system, we have searched for rotational splitting of frequencies near the orbital and half of the orbital period, but the results are confused by aliasing at those frequencies (due to the data gaps caused by the eclipses). A preliminary model qualitatively matches the distribution of frequencies in PG 1336−018, with some good individual correspondences, but cannot be considered adequate because geometric cancellation should hide some of the modes which are apparently detected. Analysis of the pulsations during eclipse recovers three of the strongest modes, but the limited eclipse data – which can, at best, be only about 9 per cent of the total – do not allow mode identification at this stage. Simulations indicate that an overall coverage of about 80 per cent would be required for this to be viable. An attempt was made to determine phase shifts in the pulsation frequencies as a way of directly measuring the size of the binary orbit, but the uncertainties in the method are comparable to the light travel time across the orbit (probably less than a second)

Whole Earth Telescope observations of BPM 37093 : a seismological test of crystallization theory in white dwarfs

BPM 37093 is the only hydrogen-atmosphere white dwarf currently known which has sufficient mass (~1.1 Mʘ) to theoretically crystallize while still inside the ZZ Ceti instability strip (Teff ~ 12 000 K). As a consequence, this star represents our first opportunity to test crystallization theory directly. If the core is substantially crystallized, then the inner boundary for each pulsation mode will be located at the top of the solid core rather than at the center of the star, affecting mainly the average period spacing. This is distinct from the “mode trapping” caused by the stratified surface layers, which modifies the pulsation periods more selectively. In this paper we report on Whole Earth Telescope observations of BPM 37093 obtained in 1998 and 1999. Based on a simple analysis of the average period spacing we conclude that a large fraction of the total stellar mass is likely to be crystallized

Whole Earth Telescope observations of BPM 37093 : a seismological test of crystallization theory in white dwarfs

BPM 37093 is the only hydrogen-atmosphere white dwarf currently known which has sufficient mass (~1.1 Mʘ) to theoretically crystallize while still inside the ZZ Ceti instability strip (Teff ~ 12 000 K). As a consequence, this star represents our first opportunity to test crystallization theory directly. If the core is substantially crystallized, then the inner boundary for each pulsation mode will be located at the top of the solid core rather than at the center of the star, affecting mainly the average period spacing. This is distinct from the “mode trapping” caused by the stratified surface layers, which modifies the pulsation periods more selectively. In this paper we report on Whole Earth Telescope observations of BPM 37093 obtained in 1998 and 1999. Based on a simple analysis of the average period spacing we conclude that a large fraction of the total stellar mass is likely to be crystallized

Amplitude and frequency variability of the pulsating DB white dwarf stars KUV 05134+2605 and PG 1654+160 observed with the Whole Earth Telescope

We have acquired new time series photometry of the two pulsating DB white dwarf stars KUV 05134+2605 and PG 1654+160 with the Whole Earth Telescope. Additional single-site photometry is also presented. We use all these data plus all available archival measurements to study the temporal behaviour of the pulsational amplitudes and frequencies of these stars for the first time. We demonstrate that both KUV 05134+2605 and PG 1654+160 pulsate in many modes, the amplitudes of which are variable in time; some frequency variability of PG 1654+160 is also indicated. Beating of multiple pulsation modes cannot explain our observations; the amplitude variability must therefore be intrinsic. We cannot find stable modes to be used for determinations of the evolutionary period changes of the stars. Some of the modes of PG 1654+160 appear at the same periods whenever detected. The mean spacing of these periods (≈40 s) suggests that they are probably caused by non-radial gravity-mode pulsations of spherical degree l = 1. If so, PG 1654+160 has a mass around 0.6Mʘ. The time-scales of the amplitude variability of both stars (down to two weeks) are consistent with theoretical predictions of resonant mode coupling, a conclusion which might however be affected by the temporal distribution of our data

Constraining the evolution of ZZ Ceti

We report our analysis of the stability of pulsation periods in the DAV star (pulsating hydrogen atmosphere white dwarf ) ZZ Ceti, also called R548. On the basis of observations that span 31 years, we conclude that the period 213.13 s observed in ZZ Ceti drifts at a rate dP/dt ≤ (5:5 ± 1:9) x 10 15 s s-ˡ, after correcting for proper motion. Our results are consistent with previous _PP values for this mode and an improvement over them because of the larger time base. The characteristic stability timescale implied for the pulsation period is |P/PP| ≥ 1.2 Gyr, comparable to the theoretical cooling timescale for the star. Our current stability limit for the period 213.13 s is only slightly less than the present measurement for another DAV, G117-B15A, for the period 215.2 s, establishing this mode in ZZ Ceti as the second most stable optical clock known, comparable to atomic clocks and more stable than most pulsars. Constraining the cooling rate of ZZ Ceti aids theoretical evolutionary models and white dwarf cosmochronology. The drift rate of this clock is small enough that we can set interesting limits on reflex motion due to planetary companions