A near-IR spectrum of the DO white dwarf RE J0503-285
Abstract
We present a near-IR spectroscopic analysis of the intriguing DO white dwarf RE J0503-285. The IR spectrum fails to reveal evidence of the presence of a spatially unresolved, cool, late-type companion. Hence we have placed an approximate limit on the spectral-type and mass of a putative companion (later than M8, M<0.085~M⊙). This result rules out ongoing interaction between the white dwarf and a close companion with M≥0.085~M⊙ as responsible for the discrepancies between the observed photospheric abundances and model predictions. As the possibility remains that there is a cooler companion lying beyond the detection threshold of this study we use our modelling to estimate the improvement in sensitivity offered by a Spitzer observation.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- September 2005
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361:20053215
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0506384
- Bibcode:
- 2005A&A...439.1159D
- Keywords:
-
- stars: white dwarfs;
- stars: atmospheres;
- stars: binaries: spectroscopic;
- stars: individual: RE J0503-285;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Research Note, accepted for publication in A&