Constraints on accretion column parameters for the intermediate polar LS Pegasi from the power spectrum of its optical light curve

The properties of the hot zone in the accretion flow near the surface of a magnetized white dwarf have been studied. For this purpose, the aperiodic optical variability of LS Peg, one of the brightest intermediate polars in the northern sky, has been investigated. The main radiation of the hot zone, which is then reemitted in the optical band, results from the radiation of an optically thin plasma heated during the passage of the accretion flow of a standing shock. Recently, Semena and Revnivtsev (2012) have shown that the aperiodic variability (flickering) of accreting magnetized white dwarfs should have a characteristic feature in the range of Fourier frequencies corresponding to the plasma cooling time in this hot region. The photometric brightness measurements for LS Peg made with the RTT-150 telescope using a high-speed ANDOR iXon CCD array have allowed the break frequency in the power spectrum of the source’s variability to be constrained. Constraints on the geometry of the accretion column for the white dwarf in LS Peg and on the plasma parameters in it have been obtained.     

Structure and Evolution of White Dwarfs and their Interaction with the Local Interstellar Medium

The development of far-UV astronomy has been particularly important for the study of hot white dwarf stars. A significant fraction of their emergent flux appears in the far-UV and traces of elements heavier than hydrogen or helium are, in general, only detected in this waveband or at shorter wavelengths that are also only accessible from space. Although white dwarfs have been studied in the far-UV throughout the past ∼25 years, since the launch of IUE, only a few tens of objects have been studied in great detail and a much larger sample is required to gain a detailed understanding of the evolution of hot white dwarfs and the physical processes that determine their appearance. We review here the current knowledge regarding hot white dwarfs and outline what work needs to be carried out by future far-UV observatories.     

Evolutionary and pulsational properties of white dwarf stars

White dwarf stars are the final evolutionary stage of the vast majority of stars, including our Sun. Since the coolest white dwarfs are very old objects, the present population of white dwarfs contains a wealth of information on the evolution of stars from birth to death, and on the star formation rate throughout the history of our Galaxy. Thus, the study of white dwarfs has potential applications in different fields of astrophysics. In particular, white dwarfs can be used as independent reliable cosmic clocks, and can also provide valuable information about the fundamental parameters of a wide variety of stellar populations, such as our Galaxy and open and globular clusters. In addition, the high densities and temperatures characterizing white dwarfs allow these stars to be used as cosmic laboratories for studying physical processes under extreme conditions that cannot be achieved in terrestrial laboratories. Last but not least, since many white dwarf stars undergo pulsational instabilities, the study of their properties constitutes a powerful tool for applications beyond stellar astrophysics. In particular, white dwarfs can be used to constrain fundamental properties of elementary particles such as axions and neutrinos and to study problems related to the variation of fundamental constants. These potential applications of white dwarfs have led to renewed interest in the calculation of very detailed evolutionary and pulsational models for these stars. In this work, we review the essentials of the physics of white dwarf stars. We enumerate the reasons that make these stars excellent chronometers, and we describe why white dwarfs provide tools for a wide variety of applications. Special emphasis is placed on the physical processes that lead to the formation of white dwarfs as well as on the different energy sources and processes responsible for chemical abundance changes that occur along their evolution. Moreover, in the course of their lives, white dwarfs cross different pulsational instability strips. The existence of these instability strips provides astronomers with a unique opportunity to peer into their internal structure that would otherwise remain hidden from observers. We will show that this allows one to measure stellar masses with unprecedented precision and to infer their envelope thicknesses, to probe the core chemical stratification, and to detect rotation rates and magnetic fields. Consequently, in this work, we also review the pulsational properties of white dwarfs and the most recent applications of white dwarf asteroseismology.     

He-rich white dwarfs: Birth-rate and kinematics of different groups of white dwarfs

The temperatures, radii, and masses of 81 He-rich white dwarfs are calculated from photometric data. It is shown that, on the average, they are less massive than DA white dwarfs: 70% of He-rich white dwarfs have masses<0.55M _⊙. Space density and birth-rate for different mass groups of H-rich and He-rich white dwarfs are obtained. Birth-rate is 1×10^?12 pc^?3 yr^?1 and 1.5×10^?12pc^?3yr^?1 for He-rich and H-rich white dwarfs, respectively. The mean mass of nascent white dwarfs is about 0.55M _⊙. It is shown thatV _Tand its dispersion σ are correlated with the mass of white dwars, and from this progenitors' masses — of different mass groups of white dwarfs are estimated.     

Evolution of central stars of planetary nebulae towards the crystallizing white dwarf stage

The evolution of the central stars of planetary nebulae, interpreted as hot white dwarfs with liquefying cores, towards the cold white dwarf stage is discussed and theoretical (non-computational) evolutionary tracks are built for such central stars as they cool towards the crystallizing region. The conclusions seem to hint a picture in which crystalline white dwarfs can be looked at as final stages of the central stars of planetary nebulae.     

Estimation of plasma parameters in an accretion column near the surface of accreting white dwarfs from their flux variability

We consider the behavior of matter in the accretion column that emerges under accretion in binary systems near the surface of a white dwarf. The plasma heated in a standing shock wave near the white dwarf surface efficiently radiates in the X-ray energy band. We suggest a method for estimating post-shock plasma parameters, such as the density, temperature, and height of the hot zone, from the power spectrum of its X-ray luminosity variability. The method is based on the fact that the flux variability amplitude for the hot region at various Fourier frequencies depends significantly on its cooling time, which is determined by the parameters of the hot zone in the accretion column. This allows the density and temperature of the hot matter to be estimated. We show that the characteristic cooling time can be efficiently determined from the break frequency in the power spectrum of the X-ray flux variability for accreting white dwarfs. The currently available X-ray instruments do not allow such measurements to be made because of an insufficient collecting area, but this will most likely become possible with new-generation large-area X-ray spectrometers.     

The cooling of liquefying hot white dwarfs

The consequences of gas-liquid phase transitions in the core of hot white dwarf stars are discussed. Expressions for the latent heat and the liquefaction curveT _l =T _l (Q) are obtained. Then amodel for a hot white dwarf is introduced and the corresponding liquefaction sequences are built on the H-R diagram; relations luminosity-central temperature and effective temperature-central temperature are also given for liquefying white dwarfs.Finally the cooling curves are obtained for such stars taking into account the effect of latent heat emission.Our results seem to suggest a possible identification of the central stars of planetary nebulae as hot liquefying white dwarfs.     

The effect of photospheric heavy elements on the hot DA white dwarf temperature scale

Using the latest non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) synthetic spectra and stellar model calculations, we have evaluated the potential effect of the presence of heavy elements in the photospheres of hot H-rich DA white dwarfs. In particular, we have examined their influence on the effective temperature and surface gravity perceived from analysis of the Balmer line profiles. It is apparent that both the inclusion of non-LTE effects in the models and significant quantities of heavy elements act independently to lower the value of T _eff determined from a particular spectrum. Hence, the true effective temperatures of the heavy element-rich DA white dwarfs, currently estimated to be above 55 000 K, are apparently lower than previously reported from pure-H LTE analyses, by some 4000–7000 K. We do not see any similar influence on measurements of log g . This work concentrates on a group of relatively bright well-studied objects, for which heavy element abundances are known. As a consequence of this, establishment of correct temperatures for all other hot white dwarfs will require a programme of far-UV spectroscopy in order to obtain the essential compositional information. Since only stars with effective temperatures lying notionally in the range from ≈ 55 000 to 70 000 K (52 000–62 000 K when the non-LTE effects and heavy elements are taken into account) have been considered here, important questions remain regarding the magnitude of any similar effects in even hotter white dwarfs and pre-white dwarfs. The resulting implications for the plausibility of the evolutionary link between the main hot DA population and their proposed precursors, the H-rich central stars of planetary nebulae, need to be investigated.     

Interaction of hot plasma with radiation of magnetic white dwarfs

The influence of radiation on the electron velocity distribution in a hot nonrelativistic plasma localized near the surface of magnetic white dwarfs is investigated. The part played by the plasma in the formation of cyclotron features in the optical spectrum of these stars is studied. The region of parameters where the transverse temperature of plasma is defined by the brightness temperature of extraordinary radiation at the gyrofrequency is found. When escaping from the plasma in a homogeneous magnetic field, this component forms a cyclotron line in absorption. The ordinary radiation at the gyrofrequency and both modes at higher cyclotron harmonics are in emission or absorption depending on the magnetic field strength and hot plasma density. Possible interpretation of the observed spectral features of magnetic white dwarfs in terms of the developed theory is discussed.     

Criculation in rotating degenerate objects

It is shown that due to degeneracy rather high Eddington-Vogt circulation velocities occur in cooling white dwarfs. The conclusion is that in fast rotating white dwarfs angular momentum is redistributed within a time scale short compared to the cooling time of the star. This might be important for the theory of very oblate rotating white dwarfs.It is shown that similar mechanisms work in the interior of degenerate, rotating cores of evolved stars, where circulations are driven by contraction energy and by neutrino losses. The circulations redistribute the core's matter within time scales shorter than or comparable with the evolution time scale.     

Relation of Velocity Distribution and Mass for DA White Dwarfstwo

White dwarfs are the evolutionary endpoint of the low-and-medium mass stars. In the studies of white dwarfs, the mass of white dwarf is an important physical parameter. In this paper, we give an analysis about the velocity distribution of DA white dwarfs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and hope to find the relation between mass and velocity distribution of white dwarfs. We get the radial velocity and tangential velocity of every DA white dwarf according to their proper motion and spectral shift. Through analyzing the velocity distribution of DA white dwarfs, we find that the small-mass white dwarfs, which are produced from the single-star evolution channel, have a relatively large velocity dispersion.     

Optical identifications of southern rosat EUV and soft X-ray sources

This paper discusses the first all-sky surveys of cosmic extreme ultra-violet and soft X-ray sources, discovered by ROSAT. Details of the surveys are presented, with comparisons made to previous selected surveys in the X-ray regime. The subsequent optical identification programs are described, and the major results summarized. We then discuss the main classes of EUV emitters: active chromosphere stars and hot white dwarfs, and describe the importance of EUV observations in understanding the astrophysics of these objects. Many bright, and relatively nearby, sources have been identified as hitherto unrecognized active stars, representing the extremes in chromospheric and coronal activity, be it binary or age related. Many new hot DA white dwarfs have also been indentified, and the most exciting result in this area is the discovery that significant traces of heavier elements (e.g. C, N, O, Si, Fe and Al) exist in their atmospheres, substantially increasing their EUV opacities. The importance of hot white dwarfs as standard candles in probing the local interstellar medium is also discussed. Miscellaneous counterparts (AGN, PNN, O-B stars and CVs) that make up the rest of the sample of EUV sources are also briefly mentioned. We finish with a discussion of the on-going ROSAT Galactic Plane Survey (RGPS) identification program.     

Treatment of pulsating white dwarfs including general relativistic effects

In this paper, pulsating white dwarfs are treated via general relativity. Numerical integration of Einstein's equations was used to find equilibrium white dwarfs models and the fundamental periods of small oscillations about these equilibrium models. In these calculations account was taken of coulomb, Thomas-Fermi, and exchange interactions as well as ion zero point energies. It is shown that general relativity makes not just a quantitative difference in the results but a qualitative differences; pure C¹² models which are stable in Newtonian mechanics can be unstable against collapse (at a central density of 3×10¹⁰ g/cm³) when general relativity is taken into account. The collapsing model may become a neutron star or may continue towards the Schwarzschild radius.More realistic white dwarf models with carbon burning products at the center, also were studied. For these models, the density at which the star becomes unstable against collapse due to electron capture (3×10⁹ g/cm³) was found to be lower than the density at which general relativistic instability occurs.     

White Dwarfs with Anisotropic Pressure in Postnewtonian Gravity

The theory of equilibrium of nonrotating, spherically symmetric neutron stars and white dwarfs is revisited. We propose that the condition for equilibrium is that the total energy is a minimum, for given baryon number, amongst configurations fulfilling Einstein's equations. The isotropy of the stress tensor is not assumed 'a priori'. Using this condition it is shown that, in post-Newtonian gravity, there are equilibrium configurations of white dwarfs, with local anisotropy, having mass above the Chandrasekhar limit. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spectral observations of blue stellar objects from FBS in the zone δ =+39°

Spectral observations of blue stellar objects from FBS are reported for the purpose of classifying them, discovering interesting new objects, and studying the FBS sample as a whole. 59 FBS objects in the zone with central declination δ =+39° were observed with the 2.6-m telescope at the Byurakan Observatory during 1987–1991. The images have been digitized with a professional scanner and processed by MIDAS in a way similar to CCD spectra. In addition, 4 objects were observed with the BAO-2.6 and OHP-1.93 telescopes using modern techniques during 1997–2000. 3 white dwarfs, 45 hot subdwarfs, 4 HBB stars, and 2 class F stars were discovered. Spectra of 20 of the most interesting objects are shown. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 51–59 (February 2008).     

The polarization of optical radiation from the magnetic white dwarfs

It is pointed out that, because of the large Faraday rotation an outlet of linear polarization from the photosphere of a white dwarf is hampered. In accordance with this fact it is proposed to distinguish two types of magnetic white dwarfs. The first type (its representative is Grw 70°8247) has a linear polarization which is comparable in magnitude with the circular one. Polarization of radiation from the white dwarfs of the first type cannot arise in the photosphere. It arises in the corona of the star either as a result of cyclotron emission of hot electrons (T～10⁶ K) or as a result of scattering of slightly polarized emission from the photosphere in the corona. For the first type dwarfs such magnetic fields are required thatω _B ω_opt, i.e.B(1?3)×10⁸G. The white dwarfs of the second type (its representative is G 99-37) have their linear polarization much smaller than the circular one. Polarization of these white dwarfs can arise as a result of the transfer of radiation in the nonisothermal photosphere. Magnetic fields required for the second type can be much smaller:B cos γ=(1?10)×10⁶ G. It is shown that the photospheric model allows to obtain the quantitative accordance of the theory with all the observational data for G 99-37 and is not in accordance with the data for Grw 70°8247, at the same time the model with cyclotron emission from the corona explains the magnitude of both linear and circular polarization and their wavelength dependence for Grw 70°8247.     

TheROSAT survey of extreme UV sources: a new window on the universe

This paper discusses the first all-sky suvey of cosmic extreme ultra-violet sources, discovered by theROSAT Wide Field Camera. Details of the instrument and the survey are presented, with comparisons made to previous selected surveys in the X-ray regime. The subsequent optical identification program is described, and the major results summarized. I then discuss the main classes of EUV emitters: active chromosphere stars and hot white dwarfs, and describe the importance of EUV obserevations in understanding the astrophysics of these objects. Many bright, and relatively nearby, sources have been identified with hitherto unrecognized active stars, representing the extremes in chromospheric and coronal activity, be it binary or age related. Many new hot DA white dwarfs have also been indentified, and the most exciting result in this area is the discovery that significant traces of heavier elements (e.g. C, N, O, Si, Fe & Al) exist in their atmospheres, substantially increasing their EUV opacities. The importance of hot white dwarfs as standard candles in probing the local interstellar medium is also discussed. Miscellaneous counterparts (AGN, PNN, O-B stars and CVs) that make up the rest of the sample of EUV sources are also briefly mentioned. I conclude the paper with a discussion of the new magnetic cataclysmic variables discovered at SAAO, which have been the subject of intensive follow-up observations.     

A study of optically featureless objects from the EC Survey: searching for new southern BL Lac objects

In an attempt to discover new southern BL Lac objects, 14 optically featureless objects from the Edinburgh–Cape Survey were selected. Optical polarimetry and spectroscopy, radio and IR observations were carried out in order to improve their classifications. The 14 objects were examined according to special criteria that are described. Their UBV and JHK colour–colour distributions, spectrograms, radio observations and visible-region polarimetry were utilized to conclude that the selected objects are not BL Lacs. Most of them are apparently not extragalactic objects. It is suggested that four of the 14 candidates are DC white dwarfs, one is a QSO, three are DA white dwarfs or sdB subdwarfs, one is a cataclysmic variable, one is a DAO/sdO and another is possibly a DA+dM binary (composite system with a 'primary' hot white dwarf and a 'secondary' M-type main-sequence dwarf) or a cataclysmic variable. One object is likely to be a subdwarf, while two remain unclassifiable.     

Combination frequencies in the Fourier spectra of white dwarfs

Combination frequencies are observed in the Fourier spectra of pulsating DA and DB white dwarfs, along with frequencies that are associated with stellar gravity modes. They appear at the sum and difference frequencies of the stellar modes. Brickhill proposed that the combination frequencies result from mixing of the eigenmode signals by a depth-varying surface convection zone when undergoing pulsation. The depth changes cause time-dependent thermal impedance.
Following Brickhill's proposal, we developed analytical expressions for the amplitudes and phases of these combination frequencies. The parameters that appear in these expressions are the depth of the stellar convection zone when at rest, the sensitivity of this depth towards changes in the stellar effective temperature, the inclination angle of the stellar pulsation axis with respect to the line of sight, and lastly the spherical degrees of the eigenmodes involved in the mixing. Adopting credible values for these parameters, we apply our expressions to DA and DB variable white dwarfs. We find reasonable agreement between theory and observation, although some discrepancies remain unexplained. It is possible to identify the spherical degrees of the pulsation modes using the combination frequencies.     

Hot vibrating white dwarf models of pulsating X-ray sources

A number of white dwarf models have been calculated which correspond to various radial and nonradial modes of vibration with eigenfrequencies in agreement with the observed pulsation frequencies of the X-ray sources Hercules X-1 and Centaurus X-3. Most of the white dwarf models have hot interiors, but for calculational purposes these were simplified so that the bulk of the interior was isothermal, and the surface layers were designed to produce an energy generation rate of 10³⁷ erg s^?1 and to transport this energy continuously to the surface by radiative transfer. Cold white dwarfs have a fairly large spread of masses corresponding to the different overtone modes with the given eigenfrequencies, but in the hot models this spread of masses is greatly reduced, for both radial and nonradial modes. It is concluded that if the pulsating X-ray sources are hot white dwarfs, the mass of Cen X-3 probably lies in the range 0.7–1.2M _⊙, and the mass of Her X-1 probably lies in the range 1.1–1.25M _⊙ (in accord with observation).