Procyon B: Outside the Iron Box
J. L. ProvençalDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716H. L. ShipmanDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716D. KoesterInstitut für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Universität Kiel, D-24098, Kiel, GermanyF. WesemaëlDépartement de Physique, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, CanadaP. BergeronDépartement de Physique, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
2002en
ABI
Abstract
Procyon B is one of a select group of white dwarf stars in visual binaries that are used to put stringent constraints on the fundamental physics of stellar degeneracy. We present Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph observations of this elusive white dwarf. Our spectra cover 1800-10000 Å and contain carbon Swan bands, Mg II, and numerous iron features. Procyon B is therefore a rare DQZ white dwarf. Our analysis of the spectrum yields an effective temperature of 7740 ± 50 K and a radius of 0.01234 ± 0.00032 R☉. We discuss the implications of these results on observational support for the white dwarf mass-radius relation.
Identifiers
Citations and references
Cited by 10 references