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PG 1351+489 is one of the 20 DBVs ― pulsating helium-atmosphere white dwarf stars ― known and has the simplest power spectrum for this class of star, making it a good candidate to study cooling rates. We report accurate period determinations for the main peak at 489.334 48 s and two other normal modes using data from the Whole Earth Telescope (WET) observations of 1995 and 2009. In 2009, we detected a new pulsation mode and the main pulsation mode exhibited substantial change in its amplitude compared to all previous observations. We were able to estimate the star's rotation period, of 8.9 h, and discuss a possible determination of the rate of period change of (2.0 ± 0.9) x 10 ―13 s s ―1 , the first such estimate for a DBV.

PG 2303+243 is a cool DA variable (also called ZZ Ceti) star with a rich pulsation spectrum and variable amplitudes. A mini-campaign involving six observatories yielded time-resolved photometric measurements of PG 2303+243 during the period 2004 September 5-20. A duty cycle of 35 per cent was achieved. We detected 24 possible independent frequencies, their amplitudes and phases for future mode identification. We confirm the occurrence of short-term amplitude and frequency variations. Our analysis suggests an l = 1 rotational splitting around 8.4 μHz, implying a rotation period of 16.5 h.

KPD 1930+2752 is a short-period pulsating subdwarf B (sdB) star. It is also an ellipsoidal variable with a known binary period just over two hours. The companion is most likely a white dwarf and the total mass of the system is close to the Chandresakhar limit. In this paper we report the results of Whole Earth Telescope (WET) photometric observations during 2003 and a smaller multisite campaign from 2002. From 355 hours of WET data, we detect 68 pulsation frequencies and suggest an additional 13 frequencies within a crowded and complex temporal spectrum between 3065 and 6343 $\mu$Hz (periods between 326 and 157 s). We examine pulsation properties including phase and amplitude stability in an attempt to understand the nature of the pulsation mechanism. We examine a stochastic mechanism by comparing amplitude variations with simulated stochastic data. We also use the binary nature of KPD 1930+2752 for identifying pulsation modes via multiplet structure and a tidally-induced pulsation geometry. Our results indicate a complicated pulsation structure that includes short-period ($\approx 16$ h) amplitude variability, rotationally split modes, tidally-induced modes, and some pulsations which are geometrically limited on the sdB star.

AM CVn stars are the outcome of a fine-tuned binary star evolution pathway. They are helium-rich and their binary orbital periods are less than 65 minutes. They evolve through one or two common envelope (CE) events, which are difficult to model. Observations of AM CVn stars are important to understand the CE phase. Thanks to intensive observing campaigns, the number of AM CVn stars has increased from 5 to 25 during the last 15 yr. We have witnessed long photometric campaigns, time-resolved spectroscopy, UV and X-ray observations, and progress in modeling of the internal structure of donor and accretor stars, disk structure, disk atmosphere, and their evolution. Two possible new members of the AM CVn family have orbital periods of less than 10 minutes. For these, four different models have been proposed, including one without mass transfer, driven by electricity generated by the secondary star moving in the magnetic field of the primary. Short-period AM CVn stars are among the first possible detectable sources of low-frequency gravitational wave (GW) radiation. They are also possible progenitors of a Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) and subluminous explosions, and they can produce helium novae during their evolution. From systematic searches in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, it has been possible to estimate population densities that can be tested against population synthesis models. One important question to investigate is the relative importance of the three proposed birth channels: a low-mass white dwarf donor, a helium-star donor, or a highly evolved cataclysmic variable (CV) as a donor. A review of the research on AM CVn stars covering the last 15 yr is given, and the outlook for future research is discussed.

The pre-white dwarf pulsators of PG 1159 type, or GW Virginis variable stars, are in a phase of rapid evolution towards the white dwarf cooling sequence. The rate of change of their nonradial g-mode frequencies can be measured on a reasonably short time scale. From a theoretical point of view, it was expected that one could derive the rate of cooling of the stellar core from such measurements. At the cool end of the GW Virginis instability strip, it is predicted that the neutrinos flux dominates the cooling. PG 0122+200 which defines the red edge of the instability strip is in principle a good candidate to check this prediction. It has been followed-up through multisite photometric campaigns for about fifteen years. We report here the first determination of the rate of change of its 7 largest amplitude frequencies. We find that the amplitudes of the frequency variations are one to two orders of magnitude larger than predicted by theoretical models based on the assumption that these variations are uniquely caused by cooling. The time scales of the variations are much shorter than the ones expected from a neutrino dominated core cooling. These results point to the existence of other mechanisms responsible for the frequency variability. We discuss the role of nonlinearities as one possible mechanism.

Ultraviolet observations using the Solar Blind Channel on the Hubble Space Telescope provide light curves and low resolution spectra of three pulsating white dwarfs in the cataclysmic variables SDSS013132.39-090122.3, SDSSJ161033.64-010223.3 and SDSSJ220553.98+115553.7. The UV light curves show enhanced pulsation amplitudes over those from simultaneous and previous optical photometry, while the UV-optical spectra are fit with white dwarf temperatures near 15,000K. These temperatures place the accreting white dwarfs outside the instability zone for non-interacting DAV white dwarfs and show that the instability strip is complex for accreting white dwarfs.

Context. Since the discovery in 1997 of stellar oscillations in some B-type hot subdwarfs (sdBs), much effort is being made both observationally and theoretically to characterize this new group of pulsating objects. Aims. To increase the number of members of such pulsators and to perform a theoretical analysis of new pulsating stars. Methods. The Nordic Optical Telescope was used to measure the brightness as function of time for a list of selected sdBs. Pulsator candidates were selected by deriving the effective temperatures and gravities of sdB stars from various spectroscopic surveys, and picking targets in the instability region. Pulsational properties were investigated by Fourier analysis. For the theoretical analysis, the predicted frequencies of sdB structural models in the $T_{\rm eff}{-}\log\,g$ region of interest were computed. Results. From our list of candidates we detected one, PG 1657+416, as a new oscillating star. Follow-up photometry revealed at least four frequencies in the range 6.9-7.9 mHz, whose amplitudes vary from one data set to another. The theoretical comparison indicates that the observed periods are well reproduced by structural models whose physical parameters are in good agreement with the effective temperature and gravity estimates from a spectral energy distribution fit, which also shows that the sdB has a G5 main sequence companion with $T_{\rm eff}\sim5500$ K.

Aims. We searched for photometric variability in a sample of hot, hydrogen-deficient planetary nebula nuclei (PNNi) with “PG 1159” or “O VI” spectral type, most of them embedded in a bipolar or elliptical planetary nebula envelope (PNe). These characteristics may indicate the presence of a hidden close companion and an evolution affected by episodes of interaction between them. Methods. We obtained time-series photometry from a sample of 11 candidates using the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) with the Andalucia Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera (ALFOSC), modified with our own control software to be able to observe in a high-speed multi-windowing mode. The data were reduced on-line with the real time photometry (RTP) code, which allowed us to detect periodic variable stars with small amplitudes from CCD data in real time. We studied the properties of the observed modulation frequencies to investigate their nature. Results. We report the first detection of low-amplitude pulsations in the PNNi VV 47, NGC 6852, and Jn 1. In addition, we investigated the photometric variability of NGC 246. Time-series analysis shows that the power spectra of VV 47, NGC 6852, and NGC 246 are variable on time scales of hours. Power spectra from consecutive nights of VV 47 and NGC 6852 show significant peaks in different frequency regions. The same type of variability is present in NGC 246 in 2 observing runs separated by 3 days. Changes are also found in the power spectra of VV 47 and NGC 246 during the same night. The VV 47 power spectra are peculiar since they present modulation frequencies in a wide range from 175 to 7600 μ Hz. This is different from the previously known pulsating PNNi where no frequencies are found above ~3000 μ Hz. The high-frequency modulation observed in VV 47 may be due to g -modes triggered by the ϵ -mechanism, observed for the first time.

International audience; This paper analyses the Whole Earth Telescope observations of HL Tau 76, the first discovered pulsating DA white dwarf. The star was observed during two Whole Earth Telescope campaigns. It was a second priority target during the XCOV13 campaign in 1996 and the first priority one during the XCOV18 campaign in 1999. The 1999 campaign reached 66.5% duty cycle. With a total duration of 18 days, the frequency resolution achieved is 0.68 ?Hz. With such a frequency resolution, we were able to find as many as 78 significant frequencies in the power spectrum, of which 34 are independent frequencies after removal of all linear combinations. In taking into account other frequencies present during the 1996 WET campaign and those present in earlier data, which do not show up in the 1999 data set, we find a total of 43 independent frequencies. This makes HL Tau 76 the richest ZZ Ceti star in terms of number of observed pulsation modes. We use those pulsation frequencies to determine as much as possible of the internal structure of HL Tau 76. The pulsations in HL Tau 76 cover a wide range of periods between 380 s and 1390 s. We propose an identification for 39 of those 43 frequencies in terms of ?=1 and ?=2 non-radial g-modes split by rotation. We derive an average rotation period of 2.2 days. The period distribution of HL Tau 76 is best reproduced if the star has a moderately "thick" hydrogen mass fraction log qH ? -7.0. The results presented in this paper constitute a starting point for a detailed comparison of the observed periods with the periods calculated for models as representative as possible of HL Tau 76.

We report observations of the planetary nebula nucleus Abell 43, obtained at the 2.5m Nordic Optical Telescope, which shows that it is a pulsator. Abell 43, a "hybrid-PG 1159" type star, is the second pulsator of this class, after HS 2324+3944. From the limited data set aquired, we find that Abell 43 exhibits at least two periods of 2600s and 3035s, the longest ones observed up to now in PG 1159 and "hybrid-PG 1159" pulsators. This strongly suggests that the variations are due to non-radial g-mode pulsations and cannot be a consequence of binarity. This discovery raises puzzling questions regarding the exitation mechanism in this H rich, C and O poor "hybrid-PG 1159" since the C and O abundances are too low to trigger the instability through the $\kappa$-mechanism invoked to explain the instability in the PG 1159 stars and in the previously known "hybrid-PG 1159" pulsator HS 2324+3944., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

We have discovered periodic light variations (P = 0.1718023 d) in the sdB star HS 2333+3927 in the BVR bands with amplitudes of 0.21, 0.28 and 0.33 mag, respectively. Sinusoidal radial velocity variations at the same period were detected with a semi-amplitude of K1 = 89. 6k m s −1 , indicating that it is binary system and that the light variations are caused by the reflection effect with no eclipses. A mass function of f (m) = 0.0128 Mhas been determined. The analysis of the light curve did not yield a unique solution, mainly because the albedo of the secondary is poorly constrained. Two solutions of equal quality with a high (A2 = 1.0) and a low (A2 = 0.39) albedo were considered further. Variability of the Balmer line profiles, most notably for Hα, was discovered, probably also caused by the reflection effect. A spectroscopic analysis results in Teff = 36 500 K, log g = 5.70, and log (nHe/nH) = −2.15. These characteristics are typical for sdB stars. Mass-radius relations are derived from the results of the analysis of light and radial-velocity curves. Comparison with the observed mass-radius relation of the sdB star and with that of lower main sequence stars for the companion allows us to discard the high albedo solution, because the resulting mass of the primary and the radius of the secondary would be unreasonably low. From a discussion of evolutionary models we constrain the plausible mass of the sdB to the range between 0.29 Mand 0.47 M� . Accordingly, the mass of the secondary is between 0.24 Mand 0.32 M� , indicating a spectral type of M3 to M4. HS 2333+3927 is only the sixth sdB+dM system discovered so far. An improved measurement of the gravity and the projected rotational velocity of the sdB star is required to further constrain the masses and to identify the evolutionary state of the sdB star uniquely.

A search program for pulsating sdBs was conducted with the Nordic Optical Telescope in the years 1999–2001. Possible candidates were selected from the HS, HE and PG surveys. In total 10 pulsators were found, some quite bright. In addition one more was found from a small SDSS sample observed in Oct. 2002.

The Whole Earth Telescope (WET) saw first light in 1988. It was invented by scientists from the Astronomy Department, University of Texas at Austin. The idea was to generate a world-wide network of cooperating astronomical observatories to obtain uninterrupted time-series measurements of some variable stars. The technological goal was to resolve the multi-periodic oscillations in these objects into their individual components; the scientific goal was to construct accurate theoretical models of the target objects, constrained by their observed behavior, from which fundamental astrophysical parameters could be derived. This approach has been extremely successful, and has placed stellar seismology at the forefront of stellar astrophysics. The network is run as a single astronomical instrument with many operators, and the collaboration includes scientists from all continents on our planet, taking part in the observations, data reduction, analysis and theoretical interpretation. The expertise of Lithuanian astronomers in photometry, and their access to the observing station Mt. Maidanak in Uzbekistan, has been important for the success of the network.

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 (5.5 plus or minus 1.9) x 10(exp -15) ss(sup -1), after correcting for proper motion. Our results are consistent with previous P 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||P(raised dot)|greater than or equal to 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.

The goal of the WET collaboration is to produce a photometric light curve as continuous and accurate as possible, given the weather and technical constraints. In order to join light curves from different observers, it is important that all observer’s clocks are accurately synchronised with Universal Time, and with a precision substantially better than one second. This requires vigilance and careful checking by the observer, who needs to be familiar with the instrument and how the integration intervals are determined. This is in particular important with the introduction of the more complex CCD photometers. Ideally each observer should have access to their own time source, and a GPS solution is recommended. It is also important that the information about timing peculiarities are carefully checked and recorded and passed on to the data analysts.

We report on the 323 hours of nearly uninterrupted time series photometric observations of the DBV star GD 358 acquired with the Whole Earth Telescope (WET) during May 23 to June 8, 2000. We acquired more than 232 000 independent measurements and detected the non-radial g-modes consistent with degree ℓ = 1 and radial order 8 to 20 and their linear combinations up to 6th order. We also detect, for the first time, a high amplitude ℓ = 2 mode, with a period of 796 s. In the 2000 WET data, the largest amplitude modes are similar to those detected with the WET observations of 1990 and 1994, but the highest combination order previously detected was 4th order.

We report the discovery of an eclipsing binary - HS 0705+6700 - being an sdB star with a faint companion. From its light curve the orbital period of 8263.87 s, the mass ratio of the system q = 0.28, the inclination of 84.4 deg and other system parameters are derived. The companion does not contribute to the optical light of the system except through a strong reflection effect. The semi-amplitude of the radial velocity curve K1 = 85.8 km/s and a mass function of f(m) = 0.00626 Msun are determined. A spectroscopic analysis of the blue spectra results in Teff = 28800K, log g = 5.40, and log n(He)/n(H) = -2.68. These characteristics are typical for sdB stars, as is its mass of 0.48 Msun. According to its mass (0.13 Msun) and radius (0.19 Rsun), the companion is an M dwarf. The primary is in a core helium burning phase of evolution, and the system must have gone through a common envelope stage when the primary was near the tip of the red giant branch., Comment: 12 pages, 9 eps figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

We report the detection of short period oscillations in the sdB stars HS 0039+4302, HS 0444+0408, HS 1824+5745 and HS 2151+0857 from time-series photometry made at the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) of a sample of 55 candidates. Hence these four hot subdwarfs are new members of the EC 14026 class of pulsating sdB stars. HS 0039+4302 is a multi-mode pulsator with at least four distinct periods in the range between 182 and 234 s, and amplitudes up to 8 mma. HS 0444+0408 shows one dominant pulsation at 137 s (A 12 mma) and a second weaker pulsation at 170 s (A 3 mma). For HS 1824+5745 we nd a single period of 139 s with an amplitude of about 5 mma. HS 2151+0857 shows four periods in the range 129{151 s with amplitudes between 2 and 5 mma. Our NLTE model atmosphere analysis of the time-averaged optical spectra place all stars well within the theoretical sdBV instability strip.

We present models of the optical spectra of two types of accretion disc atmospheres: a pure helium model and a H-He model, in a low mass ratio, helium transferring, interacting binary white dwarf system. The computations are restricted to stationary discs in LTE and NLTE cases. We also investigate the influence on the spectra of some of the disc parameters such as the mass accretion rate, the angle of inclination, the H/He mass ratio, and the inner and outer radius of the disc. Departures from LTE are also investigated in order to assess the necessity of computing more complicated and more time consuming models. We found that dierences in predicted equivalent widths of helium line computed in LTE and NLTE models range between 10 and 40 percent. Finally we compare our disc models with 4 of the AM CVn systems observed with the Nordic Optical Telescope: AM CVn, HP Lib, V803 Cen and CR Boo to determine their parameters as mass transfer rates and inclinations of their discs.

We report the detection of short period oscillations in the sdB stars HS 0815+4243, HS 2149+0847 and HS 2201+2610 from time-series photometry made at the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) from a sample of 31 candidates. Hence these three hot subdwarfs are new members of the EC 14026 class of pulsating sdB stars. One short period is detected for HS 0815+4243 ( P ∼ 126 s; A ∼ 7 mma) and two short periods are seen for HS 2149+0847 ( P ∼ 142, 159 s; A ∼ 11, 7 mma), whereas the single oscillation detected for HS 2201+2610 has a considerably longer period ( P ∼ 350 s; A ∼ 11 mma). Our NLTE model atmosphere analysis of the time-averaged optical spectra indicate that HS 0815+4243 has T eff = 33 700 K and , HS 2149+0847 has K and log , and HS 2201+2610 has T eff = 29 300 K and log . This places the former two at the hot end and the latter at the cool end of the theoretical sdBV instability strip.

We present a detailed mode identification performed on the 1994 Whole Earth Telescope (WET) run on GD 358. The results are compared with that obtained for the same star from the 1990 WET data. The two temporal spectra show very few qualitative differences, although amplitude changes are seen in most modes, including the disappearance of the mode identified as k=14 in the 1990 data. The excellent coverage and signal-to-noise ratio obtained during the 1994 run lead to the secure identification of combination frequencies up to fourth order, i.e. peaks that are sums or differences of up to four parent frequencies, including a virtually complete set of second-order frequencies, as expected from harmonic distortion. We show how the third-order frequencies are expected to affect the triplet structure of the normal modes by back-interacting with them. Finally, a search for l=2 modes was unsuccessful, not verifying the suspicion that such modes had been uncovered in the 1990 data set.

The white dwarfs are promising laboratories for the study of cosmochronology and stellar evolution. Through observations of the pulsating white dwarfs, we can measure their internal structures and compositions, critical to understanding post-main-sequence evolution, along with their cooling rates, which will allow us to calibrate their ages directly. The most important set of white dwarf variables to measure are the oldest of the pulsators, the cool DA variables (DAVs), which have not been explored previously through asteroseismology due to their complexity and instability. Through a time-series photometry data set spanning 10 yr, we explore the pulsation spectrum of the cool DAV, G29-38 and find an underlying structure of 19 (not including multiplet components) normal-mode, probably l=1 pulsations amidst an abundance of time variability and linear combination modes. Modeling results are incomplete, but we suggest possible starting directions and discuss probable values for the stellar mass and hydrogen layer size. For the first time, we have made sense out of the complicated power spectra of a large-amplitude DA pulsator. We have shown that its seemingly erratic set of observed frequencies can be understood in terms of a recurring set of normal-mode pulsations and their linear combinations. With this result, we have opened the interior secrets of the DAVs to future asteroseismological modeling, thereby joining the rest of the known white dwarf pulsators.

Observation of g-mode pulsations in the variable pre-white dwarf (GW Virginis) stars provides a unique means to probe their interiors and to study the late stages of stellar evolution. Multisite campaigns have in several cases proved highly successful in decoding pre-white dwarf light curves. Three previous attempts to untangle the pulsation spectrum of the coolest GW Virginis star, PG 0122+200, confirmed the existence of multiple g-modes but left the fundamental period spacing and therefore the star's mass and luminosity in doubt. We present an analysis based on new observations of PG 0122+200 obtained during a Whole Earth Telescope (WET) campaign conducted in the fall of 1996. Although our coverage was, because of bad weather, far poorer than in previous WET campaigns, we confirm the previous result that PG 0122+200 rotates once in 1.6 ± 0.1 days. The most likely period spacing supported by the data implies a mass of 0.69±0.03 M☉. Based on the best seismology we can currently do, the cooling of PG 0122+200 is dominated by neutrino losses. This is not true for all pre-white dwarf stars and makes PG 0122+200 the prime candidate for learning useful physics. Constraints placed on the cooling rate of PG 0122+200 by future measurement of dΠ/dt could provide a unique test of the standard theory of lepton interactions in the (experimentally unexplored) region of phase-space appropriate to pre-white dwarf interiors.

Because PG 2303+243 had not been observed since 1992, we have arranged the mini-campaign of six observatories on PG 2303+243 in 2004 Sep. 5-21 for the more detailed frequency analysis of variations. The amplitudes of the most frequencies change even during the one night and some frequencies can disappear or appear in one year. Probably it is resonance effect. We have estimated 69 frequencies of pulsations and their amplitudes according the observations from 2004 and 36 frequencies and its amplitudes from 2005.

The pulsating DA white dwarf R 548 was observed for 46 h in October 1993 in an eight-site campaign. New peaks near the known doublets in the Fourier transform are found.

Context: The PG 1159 pre-white dwarf stars experiment a rapidly cooling phase with a time scale of a few 10 6 years. Theoretical models predict that the neutrinos produced in their core should play a dominant role in the cooling, mainly at the cool end of the PG 1159 sequence. Measuring the evolutionary time scale of the coolest PG 1159 stars could offer a unique opportunity to empirically constrain the neutrino emission rate. Aims. A subgroup of the PG 1159 stars are nonradial pulsators, the GW Vir type of variable stars. They exhibit g-mode pulsations with periods of a few hundred seconds. As the stars cool, the pulsation frequencies evolve according to the change in their internal structure. It was anticipated that the measurement of their rate of change would directly determine the evolution time scale and so constrain the neutrino emission rates. As PG 0122+200 (BB Psc) defines the red edge of the GW Vir instability strip, it is a good candidate for such a measurement. Methods. The pulsations of PG 0122+200 have been observed during 22 years from 1986 to 2008, through the fast photometry technique. We used those data to measure the rate of change of its frequencies and amplitudes. Results. Among the 24 identified ℓ = 1 modes, the frequency and amplitude variations have been obtained for the seven largest amplitude ones. We find changes of their frequency of much larger amplitudes and shorter time scales than the one predicted by theoretical models that assume that the cooling dominates the frequency variations. In the case of the largest amplitude mode at 2497 μHz (400 s), its variations are best fitted by a combination of two terms: one long term with a time scale of 5.4 × 10 4 years, which is significantly shorter than the predicted evolutionary time scale of 8 × 10 6 years; and one additional periodic term with a period of either 261 or 211 days. Some other mechanism(s) than the cooling must be responsible for such variations. We suggest that the resonant coupling induced within triplets by the star rotation could be such a mechanism. As a consequence, no useful constraints on the neutrino emission rate can presently be derived as long as the dominant mechanism is not properly understood. Conclusions. The temporal variations in the pulsation frequencies observed in PG 0122+200 cannot be simply attributed to the cooling of the star, regardless of the contribution of the neutrino losses. Our results suggest that the resonant coupling induced by the rotation plays a dominant role which must be further investigated., Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas

A search programme for pulsating subdwarf B stars was conducted with the Nordic Optical Telescope on La Palma over 59 nights between 1999 and 2009. The purpose of the programme was to significantly extend the number of rapidly pulsating sdB stars to better understand the properties of this new group of variable compact stars. Candidates were selected initially from the HS and HE surveys, but were supplemented with additional objects from other surveys. Short sequences of time-series photometry were made on the candidates to determine the presence of rapid pulsations. In total twenty new pulsators were found in this survey, most of which have already been published and some extensively studied. We present four new short period pulsators, bringing the total of such pulsators up to 49. We also give limits on pulsation amplitudes for 285 objects with no obvious periodic variations, summarise the results of the survey, and provide improved physical parameters on the composite pulsators for which only preliminary estimates were published earlier., 17 pages, accepted for publication in A&A

AM CVn stars are the final outcome of a fine tuned binary star evolution. They are hydrogen deficient and have orbital periods less than 65 minutes, which make them possible detectable sources for Gravitational Wave (GW) radiation. Mass is transferred between a low mass star with a variable degree of degeneracy to a heavier white dwarf. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and other surveys have increased the number of such binaries to 25, including two with orbital periods of less than 10 minutes. For these, four different models have been proposed, including one without mass transfer, driven by electricity generated by the secondary star moving in the magnetic field of the primary. AM CVn stars are also possible progenitors of SN Ia or weaker explosive events. There are three birth channels for AM CVn stars: Either a low mass white dwarf donor, a low mass helium star donor, or a strongly evolved hydrogen CV. In this contribution I will discuss observational constraints that may give us possibilities to determine birth channels for AM CVn stars based on mass‐radius relations and chemical composition.

We report on the analysis of 436.1 hrs of nearly continuous high-speed photometry on the pulsating DB white dwarf GD358 acquired with the Whole Earth Telescope (WET) during the 2006 international observing run, designated XCOV25. The Fourier transform (FT) of the light curve contains power between 1000 to 4000 microHz, with the dominant peak at 1234 microHz. We find 27 independent frequencies distributed in 10 modes, as well as numerous combination frequencies. Our discussion focuses on a new asteroseismological analysis of GD358, incorporating the 2006 data set and drawing on 24 years of archival observations. Our results reveal that, while the general frequency locations of the identified modes are consistent throughout the years, the multiplet structure is complex and cannot be interpreted simply as l=1 modes in the limit of slow rotation. The high k multiplets exhibit significant variability in structure, amplitude and frequency. Any identification of the m components for the high k multiplets is highly suspect. The k=9 and 8 modes typically do show triplet structure more consistent with theoretical expectations. The frequencies and amplitudes exhibit some variability, but much less than the high k modes. Analysis of the k=9 and 8 multiplet splittings from 1990 to 2008 reveal a long-term change in multiplet splittings coinciding with the 1996 "sforzando" event, where GD358 dramatically altered its pulsation characteristics on a timescale of hours. We explore potential implications, including the possible connections between convection and/or magnetic fields and pulsations. We suggest future investigations, including theoretical investigations of the relationship between magnetic fields, pulsation, growth rates, and convection., 18 pages, 20 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

IUE spectra of 4 known Interacting Binary White Dwarf (IBWD) stars show spectra with no hydrogen, only helium and some traces of metals. From the continuum spectra it is possible to model a disk component and a hot central object.

Context. PG 1159-035, a pre-white dwarf with Teff ≃ 140000 K, is the prototype of both two classes: the PG 1159 spectroscopic class and the DOV pulsating class. Previous studies of PG 1159-035 photometric data obtained with the Whole Earth Telescope (WET) showed a rich frequency spectrum allowing the identification of 122 pulsation modes. Analyzing the periods of pulsation, it is possible to measure the stellar mass, the rotational period and the inclination of the rotation axis, to estimate an upper limit for the magnetic field, and even to obtain information about the inner stratification of the star. Aims. We have three principal aims: to increase the number of detected and identified pulsation modes in PG 1159-035, study trapping of the star's pulsation modes, and to improve or constrain the determination of stellar parameters. Methods. We used all available WET photometric data from 1983, 1985, 1989. 1993 and 2002 to identify the pulsation periods. Results. We identified 76 additional pulsation modes, increasing to 198 the number of known pulsation modes in PG 1159-035, the largest number of modes detected in any star besides the Sun. From the period spacing we estimated a mass M/M⊙= 0.59 ±0.02 for PG 1159-035, with the uncertainty dominated by the models, not the observation. Deviations in the regular period spacing suggest that some of the pulsation modes are trapped, even though the star is a pre-white dwarf and the gravitational settling is ongoing. The position of the transition zone that causes the mode trapping was calculated at rc/R* = 0.83 ± 0.05. From the multiplet splitting, we calculated the rotational period Prot = 1.3920 ± 0.0008 days and an upper limit for the magnetic field, B < 2000 G. The total power of the pulsation modes at the stellar surface changed less than 30% for ℓ = 1 modes and less than 50% for ℓ = 2 modes. We find no evidence of linear combinations between the 198 pulsation mode frequencies. PG 1159-035 models have not significative convection zones, supporting the hypothesis that nonlinearity arises in the convection zones in cooler pulsating white dwarf stars., La lista completa de autores que integran el documento puede consultarse en el archivo., Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas, Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata

Based on 24h high speed photometry of the hybrid PG 1159 star Abell 43, we have detected 6 sighificant pulsations with periods between 2380 s and 6075 s. A short (4h) run on the almost spectroscopic twin NGC 7094 central star resulted in detection of 3 low amplitude pulsations with periods between 2000 s and 5000 s. The results are close to predictions for g-mode pulsations driven by the kappa-mechanism induced by the partial ionization of carbon and oxygen., 5 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Astronomy and Astrophysics

The number of discovered non-radially pulsating white dwarfs (WDs) in cataclysmic variables (CVs) is increasing rapidly by the aid of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We performed photometric observations of two additional objects, SDSS J133941.11+484727.5 (SDSS 1339), independently discovered as a pulsator by Gansicke et al., and SDSS J151413.72+454911.9, which we identified as a CV/ZZ Ceti hybrid. In this Letter we present the results of the remote observations of these targets performed with the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) during the Nordic-Baltic Research School at Moletai Observatory, and follow-up observations executed by NOT in service mode. We also present 3 candidates we found to be non-pulsating. The results of our observations show that the main pulsation frequencies agree with those found in previous CV/ZZ Ceti hybrids, but specifically for SDSS 1339 the principal period differs slightly between individual observations and also from the recent independent observation by Gansicke et al. Analysis of SDSS colour data for the small sample of pulsating and non-pulsating CV/ZZ Ceti hybrids found so far, seems to indicate that the r-i colour could be a good marker for the instability strip of this class of pulsating WDs., Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters

We report the results of a synthetic spectral analysis of Hubble STIS spectra of the AM CVn-type cataclysmic variable CP Eri obtained when the system was in quiescence. The FUV spectrum is best fitted by a helium-dominated, hybrid composition (DBAZ) white dwarf with Teff=17,000K +/- 1000K, log g=8, He abundance ~1000 times solar, H abundance ~0.1 times solar, metallicity Z ~ 0.05 times solar, V sin i = 400 km/s. This is the first directly detected primary white dwarf in any AM CVn and the surface abundance and rotation rate for the white dwarf primary are the first to be reported for AM CVn systems. The model-predicted distance is ~ 1000 pc. The spectral fits using pure He photospheres or He-rich accretion disks were significantly less successful. Based upon the analysis of our FUV spectra, CP Eri appears to contain a hybrid composition DBAZ white dwarf with a metallicity which sets it apart from the other two AM Cvn stars which have been observed in quiescence and are metal-poor. The implications of this analysis for evolutionary channels leading to AM CVn systems are discussed., Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures

We report on the first pointed X-ray observations with XMM-Newton and RXTE satellites of the X-ray source RXJ0757.0+6306=HT Cam. We detect a strong 515s X-ray modulation confirming the optical photometric period found in 1998, which definitively assigns this source to the intermediate polar class of magnetic cataclysmic variables. The lack of orbital sidebands in the X-rays indicates that the X-ray period is the spin period of the accreting white dwarf. Simultaneous ultraviolet and optical B-band photometry acquired with the XMM-Newton Optical Monitor and coordinated optical UBVRI photometric data acquired at the Nordic Optical Telescope (La Palma) show that the optical pulse is in phase with the X-rays and hence originates in the magnetically confined accretion flow. The lack of ultraviolet spin modulation suggests that accretion-induced heating on the white dwarf surface is not important in this source. Spectral analyses of XMM-Newton EPIC and RGS spectra show that HT Cam has a multi-temperature spectrum and, contrary to most intermediate polars, it does not suffer from strong absorption. With its 86min orbital period, HT Cam is then the third confirmed system of this class below the 2-3hr period gap accreting at a low rate., Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Main Journal

HR 1217 is one of the best-studied rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars, with a frequency spectrum of alternating even- and odd-� modes that are distorted by the presence of a strong, global magnetic field. Several recent theoretical studies have found that within the observable

International audience; We observed the pulsating hydrogen atmosphere white dwarf G 185-32 with the Whole Earth Telescope in 1992. We report on a weighted Fourier transform of the data detecting 18 periodicities in its light curve. Using the Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph time resolved spectroscopy, and the wavelength dependence of the relative amplitudes, we identify the spherical harmonic degree (l) for 14 pulsation signals. We also compare the determinations of effective temperature and surface gravity using the excited modes and atmospheric methods, obtaining Teff=11 960 ± 80 K, \log g=8.02 ± 0.04 and M=0.617 ± 0.024 M&sun;.

The cataclysmic variable SDSSJ 015543.40+002807.2 is confirmed to be a magnetic system of the AM Herculis type. With an orbital period of 87.13 min, it is also the shortest-period eclipsing Polar known. Monitoring with XMM-Newton finds a high-state light curve dominated by a single X-ray emitting accretion pole located slightly prograde of the secondary star. The hard X-ray spectrum is typical of radial shocks on magnetic white dwarfs (kT ~ 10keV), and there is evidence for a soft X-ray component consistent with reprocessing from the stellar surface. The optical circular polarization is weak (v < 3%) when the accretion rate is high (mV ~ 15.5), due to optically-thick cyclotron emission and the apparent competition between two accreting poles. However, in low states (mV ~ 18), the polarization increases smoothly to the blue, reaching 20% at 4200A, and the flux spectrum displays a rich set of thermally-broadened cyclotron harmonics that indicate a polar field of 29MG. The phase interval preceding the 6.5 min eclipse depicts the development of P-Cygni components followed by complete absorption reversals in the emission lines. This phenomenon is not unexpected for a strongly accreting magnetic system viewed through the cool base of the funnel, and high-quality spectroscopy through this interval will likely lead to new insights into the dynamics of magnetic coupling and gas flow onto the white dwarf., 20 pages, 12 figures

WOS: 000182039700036, We have acquired new time series photometry of the two pulsating DB white dwarf stars KUV 05134+2605 and PG 1654+160 with the Whole Earth Telescope. Additional single-site photometry is also presented. We use all these data plus all available archival measurements to study the temporal behaviour of the pulsational amplitudes and frequencies of these stars for the first time. We demonstrate that both KUV 05134+2605 and PG 1654+160 pulsate in many modes, the amplitudes of which are variable in time; some frequency variability of PG 1654+160 is also indicated. Beating of multiple pulsation modes cannot explain our observations; the amplitude variability must therefore be intrinsic. We cannot find stable modes to be used for determinations of the evolutionary period changes of the stars. Some of the modes of PG 1654+160 appear at the same periods whenever detected. The mean spacing of these periods (approximate to40 s) suggests that they are probably caused by non-radial gravity-mode pulsations of spherical degree l = 1. If so, PG 1654+160 has a mass around 0.6 M.. The time-scales of the amplitude variability of both stars (down to two weeks) are consistent with theoretical predictions of resonant mode coupling, a conclusion which might however be affected by the temporal distribution of our data.

We report 323 hours of nearly uninterrupted time series photometric observations of the DBV star GD 358 acquired with the Whole Earth Telescope (WET) during May 23rd to June 8th, 2000. We acquired more than 232 000 independent measurements. We also report on 48 hours of time-series photometric observations in Aug 1996. We detected the non-radial g-modes consistent with degree l=1 and radial order 8 to 20 and their linear combinations up to 6th order.We also detect, for the first time, a high amplitude l=2 mode, with a period of 796s. In the 2000 WET data, the largest amplitude modes are similar to those detected with the WET observations of 1990 and 1994, but the highest combination order previously detected was 4th order. At one point during the 1996 observations, most of the pulsation energy was transferred into the radial order k=8 mode, which displayed a sinusoidal pulse shape in spite of the large amplitude. The multiplet structure of the individual modes changes from year to year, and during the 2000 observations only the k=9 mode displays clear normal triplet structure. Even though the pulsation amplitudes change on timescales of days and years, the eigenfrequencies remain essentially the same, showing the stellar structure is not changing on any dynamical timescale., 34 pages, 14 figures, WET data, accepted to A&A

Five new Interacting Binary White Dwarf systems, also called AM CVn systems are presented. I also show results of mass determinations from known orbital and superhump periods, and mass transfer rates determined from spectral modelling. The result indicates that the donor star in AM CVn systems is a low mass semi-degenerate helium star

HR1217 is a prototypical rapidly oscillating Ap star that has presented a test to the theory of nonradial stellar pulsation. Prior observations showed a clear pattern of five modes with alternating frequency spacings of 33.3 μHz and 34.6 μHz, with a sixth mode at a problematic spacing of 50.0 μHz (which equals 1.5 × 33.3 μHz) to the highfrequency side. Asymptotic pulsation theory allowed for a frequency spacing of 34 μHz, but hipparcos observations rule out such a spacing. Theoretical calculations of magnetoacoustic modes in Ap stars by Cunha (2001) predicted that there should be a previously undetected mode 34 μHz higher than the main group, with a smaller spacing between it and the highest one. The 20th extended coverage campaign of the Whole Earth Telescope (XCov20) has discovered this frequency as predicted by Cunha (2001). Amplitude modulation of several of the pulsation modes between the 1986 and 2000 data sets has also been discovered, while important parameters for modelling the geometry of the pulsation modes have been shown to be unchanged. With stringent selection of the best data from the WET network the amplitude spectrum shows highest peaks at only 50 μmag and formal errors on the determined amplitudes are 14 μmag. Some lessons for future use of WET for the highest precision photometry on bright stars are discussed.

The pulsating DAV white dwarf G185-32 was observed with the Whole Earth Telescope in 1992, during XCov8. We briefly report on the weighted Fourier transform of the data obtained.

We present results from a multisite (‘Whole Earth Telescope’) photometric campaign on PG 1336−018, the close eclipsing binary system containing a pulsating subdwarf B (sdB) star. The main part of the campaign (1999 April) resulted in ~172 h of observations, representing a coverage of about 47 per cent, and additional data were obtained outside the core campaign. Periodogram analysis shows that the light variations are dominated by three frequencies near 5757, 5585 and 5369 μHz (~174, 179 and 186s, respectively), although many frequencies are present, particularly in the range 5000–6000 μHz (~200–170 s). We identify, with some confidence, 28 frequencies down to a semi-amplitude of 0.0005 in fractional intensity (equivalent to about 0.5 mmag). It is clear that the pulsation frequencies of PG 1336−018 have changed substantially since the 1996 discovery observations were made, and that amplitude changes occur, at least in the dominant three frequencies, on relatively short time-scales (of the order of a day). On the assumption that the pulsating star is phase-locked in the binary system, we have searched for rotational splitting of frequencies near the orbital and half of the orbital period, but the results are confused by aliasing at those frequencies (due to the data gaps caused by the eclipses). A preliminary model qualitatively matches the distribution of frequencies in PG 1336−018, with some good individual correspondences, but cannot be considered adequate because geometric cancellation should hide some of the modes which are apparently detected. Analysis of the pulsations during eclipse recovers three of the strongest modes, but the limited eclipse data – which can, at best, be only about 9 per cent of the total – do not allow mode identification at this stage. Simulations indicate that an overall coverage of about 80 per cent would be required for this to be viable. An attempt was made to determine phase shifts in the pulsation frequencies as a way of directly measuring the size of the binary orbit, but the uncertainties in the method are comparable to the light travel time across the orbit (probably less than a second).

The World Space Observatory is an unconventional space project proceeding via distributed studies. The present design, verified for feasibilty, consists of a 1.7-meter telescope operating at the second Largangian point of the Earth-Sun system. The focal plane instruments consist of three UV spectrometers covering the spectral band from Lyman alpha to the atmospheric cutoff with R~55,000 and offering long-slit capability over the same band with R~1,000. In addition, a number of UV and optical imagers view adjacent fields to that sampled by the spectrometers. Their performance compares well with that of HST/ACS and the spectral capabilities of WSO rival those of HST/COS., Comment: 11 pages, including 7 figures and 5 tables To be published in Proc SPIE, vol 4854