190 research outputs found

    First discovery of trans-iron elements in a DAO-type white dwarf (BD−22∘3467-22{^\circ}3467)

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    We have identified 484 lines of the trans-iron elements (TIEs) Zn, Ga, Ge, Se, Br, Kr, Sr, Zr, Mo, In, Te, I, Xe, and Ba, for the first time in the ultraviolet spectrum of a DAO-type WD, namely BD−22∘3467-22{^\circ}3467, surrounded by the ionized nebula Abell 35. Our TIE abundance determination shows extremely high overabundances of up to five dex -- a similar effect is already known from hot, H-deficient (DO-type) white dwarfs. In contrast to these where a pulse-driven convection zone has enriched the photosphere with TIEs during a final thermal pulse and radiative levitation has established the extreme TIE overabundances, {here the extreme TIE overabundances are exclusively driven by radiative levitation on the initial stellar metallicity. The very low mass (0.533−0.025+0.040 M⊙0.533^{+0.040}_{-0.025}\,M_\odot) of BD−22∘3467-22{^\circ}3467 implies that a third dredge-up with enrichment of s-process elements in the photosphere did not occur in the AGB precursor.Comment: 34 pages, 19 Figure
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