8 research outputs found
Radial Velocity Studies of Close Binary Stars.VIII
Radial-velocity measurements and sine-curve fits to the orbital velocity
variations are presented for the seventh set of ten close binary systems: V410
Aur, V523 Cas, QW Gem, V921 Her, V2357 Oph, V1130 Tau, HN UMa, HX UMa, HD
93917, NSV 223. All systems, but three (V523 Cas, HD 93917, NSV 223), were
discovered photometrically by the Hipparcos mission. All systems are
double-lined (SB2) binaries and all, but the detached, very close system V1130
Tau, are contact binaries. The broadening-function permitted improvement of the
orbital elements for V523 Cas, which was the only system observed before for
radial velocity variations. Spectroscopic/visual companions were detected for
V410 Aur and HX UMa.Comment: AASTeX5, 4 figures, 3 tables, to appear AJ, June 200
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-1, after correcting for proper motion. Our results are consistent with previous Ṗ 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 / Ṗ ⎸=⎹≥ 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