Bibcode
Valyavin, G.; Antonyuk, K.; Plachinda, S.; Clark, D. M.; Wade, G. A.; Fox Machado, Lester; Alvarez, M.; Lopez, J. M.; Hiriart, D.; Han, Inwoo; Jeon, Young-Beom; Bagnulo, S.; Zharikov, S. V.; Zurita, C.; Mujica, R.; Shulyak, D.; Burlakova, T.
Referencia bibliográfica
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 734, Issue 1, article id. 17 (2011).
Fecha de publicación:
6
2011
Revista
Número de citas
20
Número de citas referidas
16
Descripción
We present and interpret simultaneous new photometric and spectroscopic
observations of the peculiar magnetic white dwarf WD 1953-011. The flux
in the V-band filter and intensity of the Balmer spectral lines
demonstrate variability with the rotation period of about 1.45 days.
According to previous studies, this variability can be explained by the
presence of a dark spot having a magnetic nature, analogous to a
sunspot. Motivated by this idea, we examine possible physical
relationships between the suggested dark spot and the strong-field
magnetic structure (magnetic "spot" or "tube") recently identified on
the surface of this star. Comparing the rotationally modulated flux with
the variable spectral observables related to the magnetic "spot," we
establish their correlation and therefore their physical relationship.
Modeling the variable photometric flux assuming that it is associated
with temperature variations in the stellar photosphere, we argue that
the strong-field area and dark, low-temperature spot are comparable in
size and located at the same latitudes, essentially overlapping each
other with a possible slight longitudinal shift. In this paper, we also
present a new, improved value of the star's rotational period and
constrain the characteristics of the thermal inhomogeneity over the
degenerate's surface.