HST Spectra of GW Librae: A Hot Pulsating White Dwarf in a Cataclysmic Variable

We have obtained Hubble Space Telescope UV spectra of the white dwarf in GW Lib, the only known non-radially pulsating white dwarf in a cataclysmic variable, and the first known DAZQ variable. The UV light curve reveals large amplitude (10%) pulsationsin the UV with the same periods (646, 376 and 237 s) as those seen at optical wavelengths, but the mean spectrum fits with an average white dwarf temperature (14,700K for a 0.6M_{odot} white dwarf) that is too hot to be in the normal instability strip for ZZ Ceti stars. A better fit is achieved with a dual temperature model (with 63% of the white dwarf surface at a temperature of 13300K and 37% at 17100K), and a higher mass (0.8M_{odot}) white dwarf with 0.1 solar metal abundance. Since the blue edge of the instability strip moves to higher temperature with increasing mass, the lower temperature of this model is within the instability strip. However, the presence of accretion likely causes abundance and atmospheric temperature differences in GW Lib compared to all known single white dwarf pulsators, and the current models that have been capable of explaining ZZ Ceti stars may not apply.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

White Dwarfs: Cosmological and Galactic Probes

The emphasis on white dwarf stars and cosmology arises from the most recent advances in cosmological and galactic structure research in which white dwarf stars are playing a very prominent role. Examples are Type Ia supernovae (i.e. white dwarf supernovae), the origin and evolution of the universe, the age of the galactic disk, cosmochronology using white dwarfs in globular clusters and galactic clusters, and the physics of accretion onto compact (very dense) stars. As an assisting guide to the reader, we have included, by invitation, comprehensive review articles in each of the four major areas of the book, white dwarf supernovae, cosmology, accretion physics and galactic structure. The reviews include introductory material that they build upon. The book is suitable and most useful to advanced undergraduates, graduate students and scientific professionals (e.g. astronomers, astrophysicists, cosmologists, physicists)

ST/STIS Spectroscopy of the White Dwarfs in the Short-Period Dwarf Novae LL And and EF Peg

We present new HST/STIS observations of the short-period dwarf novae LL And and EF Peg during deep quiescence. We fit stellar models to the UV spectra and use optical and IR observations to determine the physical parameters of the whitedwarfs in the systems, the distances to the binaries, and the properties of thesecondary stars. Both white dwarfs are relatively cool, having T_{eff} near 15000K, and consistent with a mass of 0.6 M-sun. The white dwarf in LL And appears to be of solar abundance or slightly lower while that in EF Peg is near 0.1-0.3 solar. LL And is found to be 760 pc away while EF Peg is closer at 380 pc. EF Peg appears to have an ~M5V secondary star, consistent with that expected for its orbital period, while the secondary object in LL And remains a mystery.Comment: Accepted in Ap

Development of a Critical Path Method Specification and a Training Program for use of CPM for KyTC

The Critical Path Method scheduling technique is outlined as it applies to KYTC projects. Special Provision 82 (94) and its requirements are outlined

Detection of Coronal Mass Ejections in V471 Tauri with the Hubble Space Telescope

V471 Tauri, an eclipsing system consisting of a hot DA white dwarf (WD) and a dK2 companion in a 12.5-hour orbit, is the prototype of the pre-cataclysmic binaries. The late-type component is magnetically active, due to its being constrained to rotate synchronously with the short orbital period. During a program of UV spectroscopy of V471 Tau, carried out with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) onboard the Hubble Space Telescope, we serendipitously detected two episodes in which transient absorptions in the Si III 1206 A resonance line appeared suddenly, on a timescale of <2 min. The observations were taken in a narrow spectral region around Ly-alpha, and were all obtained near the two quadratures of the binary orbit, i.e., at maximum projected separation (~3.3 Rsun) of the WD and K star. We suggest that these transient features arise when coronal mass ejections (CME's) from the K2 dwarf pass across the line of sight to the WD. Estimates of the velocities, densities, and masses of the events in V471 Tau are generally consistent with the properties of solar CME's. Given our detection of 2 events during 6.8 hr of GHRS observing, along with a consideration of the restricted range of latitudes and longitudes on the K star's surface that can give rise to trajectories passing in front of the WD as seen from Earth, we estimate that the active V471 Tau dK star emits some 100-500 CME's per day, as compared to 1-3 per day for the Sun. The K dwarf's mass-loss rate associated with CME's is at least (5-25) x 10^{-14} Msun/yr, but it may well be orders of magnitude higher if most of the silicon is in ionization states other than Si III.Comment: 24 pages AASTeX, 4 figures. Accepted by Astrophysical Journa

Ultraviolet observations of LMC nova 1988

The IUE obtained ultraviolet spectra of a nova in an external galaxy. The spectral features do not seem unusual for a nova at maximum but it is hoped to be able to follow it for a long enough time to be able to study the high ionization lines that appear when the density drops to lower values (the nebular stage). A high dispersion spectrum was also obtained to assist in the line identification and to study the line of sight to the LMC 1 deg of arc away from SN 1987A

Composite Accretion Disk and White Dwarf Photosphere Analyses of the FUSE and HST Observations of EY Cygni

We explore the origin of FUSE and HST STIS far UV spectra of the dwarf nova, EY Cyg, during its quiescence using \emph{combined} high gravity photosphere and accretion disk models as well as model accretion belts. The best-fitting single temperature white dwarf model to the FUSE plus HST STIS spectrum of EY Cygni has T$_{eff} = 24,000$K, log $g = 9.0$, with an Si abundance of 0.1 x solar and C abundance of 0.2 x solar but the distance is only 301 pc. The best-fitting composite model consists of white dwarf with T$_{eff} = 22,000$K, log $g = 9$, plus an accretion belt with T$_{belt} = 36,000$K covering 27% of the white dwarf surface with V$_{belt} sin i = 2000$ km/s. The accretion belt contributes 63% of the FUV light and the cooler white dwarf latitudes contribute 37%. This fit yields a distance of 351 pc which is within 100 pc of our adopted distance of 450 pc. EY Cyg has very weak C {\sc iv} emission and very strong N {\sc v} emission, which is atypical of the majority of dwarf novae in quiescence. We also conducted a morphological study of the surroundings of EY Cyg using direct imaging in narrow nebular filters from ground-based telescopes. We report the possible detection of nebular material^M associated with EY Cygni. Possible origins of the apparently large N {\scv}/C {\sc iv} emission ratio are discussed in the context of nova explosions, contamination of the secondary star and accretion of nova abundance-enriched matter back to the white dwarf via the accretion disk or as a descendant of a precursor binary that survived thermal timescale mass transfer. The scenario involving pollution of the secondary by past novae may be supported by the possible presence of a nova remnant-like nebula around EY Cyg.Comment: To appear in AJ, Oct. 2004. 5 figures, including 2 color ones (2D pictures