Observational Proof of the ZZ Ceti Red Edge

Abstract

With a time-series CCD photometry survey, we have demonstrated clearly that the observed red edge for the ZZ Ceti stars instability strip at 11,000 K is not an observational selection effect. Previous surveys for variability among hydrogen atmosphere white dwarfs at around 11,000 K have been carried out using high speed photometry which suffers from variable extinction effects that start becoming important at periods of 15 minutes. In our survey we constantly monitor the sky brightness as well as one or more comparison stars. This is done through the same color filter, therefore minimizing adverse effects of differential extinction. The fact that the theoretical red edge should be around 8,000 K remains, but effects not included in the theory, especially convection-aulsation interaction, could explain it.