The demise of mode identification in the pulsating DA white dwarf GD 66.

An analysis of new photometric and spectroscopic observations of the pulsating DA white dwarf GD 66 is presented. It is shown that the mode identification suggested by Dolez, Vauclair, and Chevreton (1983) is premature. The photometric data reveal the existence of several additional pulsation frequencies which do not fit with their model. Moreover, the 3.90 mHz peak seen in the Fourier spectrum of their light curve of GD 66 is shown to be an artifact of both insufficient time resolution and rotational splitting of the frequency of the dominant pulsation mode. It is not caused by the presence of an independent (different k value) pulsation mode as suggested. In addition, a comparison of model atmosphere calculations with the spectroscopic observations suggests that the surface gravity of GD 66 is quite normal (log g = 7.7 + 0.4 or - 0.2). This is in conflict with the model of the above authors which further requires a significantly larger surface gravity (log g equal to approximately 8.45) to account for the observed pulsation properties of GD 66.