Related papers: Metal Abundances in Hot DO White Dwarfs
The metal abundances in the atmospheres of hot white dwarfs (WDs) entering the cooling sequence are determined by the preceding Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) evolutionary phase and, subsequently, by the onset of gravitational settling and…
KPD0005+5106 is the hottest known helium-rich white dwarf. We have identified NeVIII lines in UV and optical spectra and conclude that it is significantly hotter than previously thought, namely Teff=200,000 K instead of 120,000 K. This is a…
We present high-resolution VLT spectra of a new DO white dwarf and a new PG1159 star, which we identified in the ESO SPY survey. The PG1159 star is a low-gravity, extremely hot (Teff=160,000 K, log g=6) star, having a C/He dominated…
The importance to stellar evolution of understanding the metal abundances in hot white dwarfs is well known. Previous work has found the hot DA white dwarfs REJ 1032+532, REJ 1614-085 and GD 659 to have highly abundant, stratified…
We present high-resolution VLT spectra of a new helium-rich DO white dwarf and a new PG1159 star, which we identified in the ESO SPY survey. We performed NLTE model atmosphere analyses and found that the PG1159 star is a low-gravity,…
About a dozen hot white dwarfs with effective temperatures Teff = 65,000-120,000 K exhibit unusual absorption features in their optical spectra. These objects were tentatively identified as Rydberg lines of ultra-high excited metals in…
This paper is focused on the transition phase between central stars and white dwarfs, i.e. objects in the effective temperature range 100,000 - 200,000 K. We confine our review to hydrogen-deficient stars because the common H-rich objects…
We present a series of systematic abundance measurements for a group of hot DA white dwarfs in the temperature range 20,000-75,000K, based on far-UV spectroscopy with STIS on HST, IUE and FUSE. Using our latest heavy element blanketed…
The hydrogen-deficiency in extremely hot post-AGB stars of spectral class PG1159 is probably caused by a (very) late helium-shell flash or a AGB final thermal pulse that consumes the hydrogen envelope, exposing the usually-hidden intershell…
One of the strongest absorption lines observed in far-ultraviolet FUSE spectra of many PG1159 stars remained unidentified up to now. We show that this line, located at 973.3A, stems from NeVII. We also present new optical high-resolution…
Hot, compact, hydrogen-deficient pre-white dwarfs (pre-WDs) with effective temperatures of Teff > 70,000 K and a surface gravity of 5.0 < log g < 7.0 are rather rare objects despite recent and ongoing surveys. It is believed that they are…
We continue our comprehensive theoretical investigation of the spectral evolution of white dwarfs based on sophisticated simulations of element transport. In this paper, we focus on the transformation of PG 1159 stars into DO/DB white…
PG1159 stars are hot, hydrogen-deficient (pre-) white dwarfs with atmospheres mainly composed of helium, carbon, and oxygen. The unusual surface chemistry is the result of a late helium-shell flash. Observed element abundances enable us to…
We present the first full evolutionary calculations aimed at exploring the origin of hot DQ white dwarfs. These calculations consistently cover the whole evolution from the born-again stage to the white dwarf cooling track. Our calculations…
We present a first systematic investigation of the iron abundance in very hot (Teff>50,000K) hydrogen-deficient post-AGB stars. Our sample comprises 16 PG1159 stars and four DO white dwarfs. We use recent FUSE observations as well as HST…
We present the first evidence for the direct detection of nickel in the photosphere of the hot DO white dwarf REJ0503$-$289. While this element has been seen previously in the atmospheres of hot H-rich white dwarfs, this is one of the first…
The hydrogen-deficiency in extremely hot post-AGB stars of spectral class PG1159 is probably caused by a (very) late helium-shell flash or a AGB final thermal pulse that consumes the hydrogen envelope, exposing the usually-hidden intershell…
We present a model atmosphere analysis of ten new DO white dwarfs and five new PG 1159 stars discovered in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR1, DR2 and DR3. This is a significant increase in the number of known DOs and PG 1159 stars. DO white…
Helium rich subdwarf O stars (sdOs) are hot compact stars in a pre-white dwarf evolutionary state. Most of them have effective temperatures and surface gravities in the range Teff = 40,000-50,000 K and log g = 5.5-6.0. Their atmospheres are…
Context: The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4 has provided spectra of several new PG 1159 stars and DO white dwarfs. This increase in known hot H-deficient compact objects significantly improves the statistics and helps to…