Abstract
BPM 37093 is the only hydrogen-atmosphere white dwarf currently known which has sufficient mass (∼1.1 M⊙) to theoretically crystallize while still inside the ZZ Ceti instability strip (Teff ∼ 12000 K). As a consequence, this star represents our first opportunity to test crystallization theory directly. If the core is substantially crystallized, then the inner boundary for each pulsation mode will be located at the top of the solid core rather than at the center of the star, affecting mainly the average period spacing. This is distinct from the "mode trapping" caused by the stratified surface layers, which modifies the pulsation periods more selectively. In this paper we report on Whole Earth Telescope observations of BPM 37093 obtained in 1998 and 1999. Based on a simple analysis of the average period spacing we conclude that a large fraction of the total stellar mass is likely to be crystallized.
Department(s)
Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20041125
Rights Information
Reproduced with permission from Astronomy & Astrophysics, © ESO
Keywords
Stars: evolution, Stars: individual: BPM 37093, Stars: interiors, Stars: oscillations, White dwarfs
Publication Date
3-1-2005
Recommended Citation
Kanaan, A., Atsuko Nitta, Donald Earl Winget, Souza Oliveira Kepler, Michael Houston Montgomery, Travis S. Metcalfe, H. Oliveira et al. "Whole Earth Telescope observations of BPM 37093: A seismological test of crystallization theory in white dwarfs." Astronomy & Astrophysics 432, no. 1 (2005): 219-224.
Journal Title
Astronomy and Astrophysics
