Constraining convection parameters from the light curve shapes of pulsating white dwarf stars: the cases of EC 14012-1446 and WD 1524-0030

Author(s)
Gerald Handler, Judi L. Provencal, Michael H. Montgomery, Encarni Romero-Colmenero, Kaushar Sanchawala, Monika Lendl, Anthony Wood, Isaac M. Silver, Paul Beck, Wenping Chen
Abstract

Montgomery [1] developed a method to probe convection in pulsating white dwarf stars which allows the recovery of the thermal response time of the convection zone by fitting observed nonsinusoidal light curves. He applied this method to two objects; the Whole Earth Telescope (WET) observed the pulsating DB white dwarf GD 358 for just this purpose. Given this WET run's success, it is time to extend Montgomery's method to pulsating DA white dwarf (ZZ Ceti) stars. We present observations of two ZZ Ceti stars, WD 1524¿0030 and EC 14012¿1446, both observed from multiple sites. EC 14012¿1446 seems better suited thAN WD1524¿0030 for a future WET run because it has more pulsation modes excited and because it pulsation spectrum appears to be more stable in time. We call for participation in this effort to take place in April 2008.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
University of Delaware, South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani (BITS Pilani), Florida Institute of Technology, National Central University, University of Texas, Austin
Journal
Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Volume
118
ISSN
1742-6588
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/118/1/012057
Publication date
2008
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
1030 Physics, Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/878f6019-4704-4d6f-997b-2ff18124c3e2