Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1991

Publication Title

The Astronomical Journal

Department

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

A high-resolution ultraviolet spectrum of the helium-rich degenerate LDS 678A, obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite, is presented. LDS 678A is the coolest metallic line degenerate (DQ or DZ) yet observed with the IUE echelle. These observations provide a detailed line profile of the strong C I 2479 absorption line and equivalent width W2479 = 2.35 + or - 0.06 A from which theoretical profile fits yield a carbon abundance of log C/He = (-6.7 + or- 0.2). The presence of carbon in a He-rich atmosphere lends credence to the notion that LDS 678A is a transitional case between the DB white dwarfs with nearly pure helium atmospheres and the helium-rich DQ white dwarfs which exhibit carbon bands. Corrected for an inferred pressure shift Vp = + 38 + or - 4 km/s for the C I 2479 line, a gravitational redshift of Vrs = + 26 + or - 13 km/s is deduced from which a most probable mass of 0.55 solar mass is derived.

DOI

10.1086/115707

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