As the ultimate fate of nearly all stars, including our Sun, white dwarfs (WDs) hold rich and informative histories in their observable light. To determine a fundamental parameter of WDs, mass, we perform the first measurement of the average gravitational redshift of an ensemble of WDs. We find a larger mean mass than that determined from the primary and expansive technique known as the spectroscopic method. The potential inaccuracy of this method has broad astrophysical implications, including for our understanding of Type 1a supernova progenitors and for constraining the age of the Universe. This motivates us to investigate the WD atmosphere models used with the spectroscopic method, particularly the input theoretical line profiles, by developing a new experimental platform to create plasmas at WD photospheric conditions (T_e ~ 1 eV, n_e ~ 10^17 cm^-3). Instead of observing WD spectra to infer the plasma conditions at the surface of the star, we set the conditions and measure the emergent spectra in the laboratory. X-rays from a z-pinch dynamic hohlraum generated at the Z Pulsed Power Facility at Sandia National Laboratories irradiate a gas cell to initiate formation of a large (120x20x10 mm or 24 cm^3) plasma. We observe multiple Balmer lines from our plasma in emission and in absorption simultaneously along relatively long (~120 mm) lines of sight perpendicular to the heating radiation. Using a large, radiation-driven plasma aides us to achieve homogeneity along our observed lines of sight. With time-resolved spectroscopy we measure lines at a range of electron densities that spans an order of magnitude, and we do this within one pulsed power shot experiment. Observing our plasma in absorption not only provides the signal-to-noise to measure relative line shapes, it allows us to measure relative line strengths because the lines share the same lower level population. This constrains the theoretical reduction factors used to describe ionization potential depression or the occupation probabilities associated with these Balmer lines. We compare our measured line shapes with the theoretical ones used in WD atmosphere models as part of the first fruits of this rich experimental platform. / text

We report on a search for short -period binary systems composed of pairs of evolved stars. The search is being carried out concurrently with a program to characterize the kinematical properties of two different samples of stars. Each sample has produced one close binary candidate for which further spectroscopic observations are planned. We also recapitulate the discovery of a close detached binary system composed of two cool DA white dwarfs, and we discuss the null results of Ha observations of the suspected white dwarf /brown dwarf system G 29-38.

We report on high dispersion spectroscopy of the Ha absorption line of the cool DA white dwarf G 29 -38. This is the star for which a recently detected infrared excess has been suggested to be due to a possible brown dwarf companion by Zuckerman and Becklin (1986, 1987). Three echelle spectra obtained at the Multiple Mirror Telescope and at the Kitt Peak Mayall 4m telescope in 1987 December show no evidence for radial velocity variations larger than -'1.1 ± 8.7 km s -1 and are used to derive a weighted heliocentric radial velocity Vr = 33.7 ± 4.3 km s -1 for the white dwarf. No emission component from the hypothesized secondary star is detected. These negative results do not constitute strong evidence against the companion hypothesis, since the expected orbital velocity of the white dwarf component could be quite small, and the companion's line emission could be too faint to be detected. However, the observation of a sharp absorption line core restricts the possible rotation of the white dwarf to < 40 km s -1 and ensures that any surface magnetic field has a strength < 105 gauss. These results make it unlikely that the DA white dwarf has previously been in a cataclysmic variable accretion phase.

We have analyzed the ultraviolet spectra of 40 hydrogen-rich (DA) white dwarfs. These spectra have been obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite and are publicly available via the MAST FUSE database. We derived the effective temperature and surface gravity by fitting the hydrogen Lyman spectral lines with model spectra. By applying white dwarf evolutionary models, we were able to determine the white dwarf mass, cooling age and absolute magnitude. These then allowed us to determine the distance to each star and its predicted gravitational redshift. We have identified several chemical elements in the white dwarf spectra. We determined the abundances of C, Si, P and S by measuring the equivalent widths of selected lines of these elements. Finally, we studied the spectra of J0623-376 and LM Com in more detail.

The success of asteroseismology lies in the correct identification of the normal modes of oscillation. The Whole Earth Telescope (WET) identified the normal modes of a helium white dwarf pulsator, GD358, by analyzing the period distribution of the pulsation modes. Another way to identify modes is by comparing pulsation amplitudes in the UV to the optical. To cross-calibrate the two mode identification methods, we observed GD358 in August, 1996 with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to obtain the UV data while observing nearly simultaneously from the ground. During our observations, GD358 went through a very drastic amplitude modulation in a time scale of hours. These short time scale amplitude changes made the direct UV to optical amplitude determinations difficult. We successfully eliminate the possibility that the 423s mode, the dominant mode at the time of these observations, is an l=3 or 4 g-mode pulsation, but we cannot unambiguously decide if it is an l=1 or 2. Theoretical calculations indicate that the massive pulsating DA white dwarf BPM 37093 has a crystallized interior (Winget et al. 1997; Kanaan 1996; Montgomery 1998). Crystallization was predicted theoretically 40 years ago (Kirshnitz 1960; Abrisokov 1961; Salpeter 1961) although uncertainties in the nature and extent of crystallization, as well as its associated effects, are the largest sources of uncertainty in calculating the ages of the coolest white dwarf stars- important chronometers of the galactic disk. The WET observed BPM 37093 in April 1998 and again in April 1999, simultaneously with the HST, in hopes of using both the period distribution and the amplitude comparison method to identify the l value of the modes and measure the first crystallized mass-fraction of a stellar interior. Here we also rule out the possibility of the observed modes being l=3 and higher and demonstrate that not all the observed modes are l-1. If all the observed modes are l-2, then we conclude that the crystallization mass fraction is between 0-80%, depending mainly on the surface H layer. In the end, we evaluate the amplitude comparison method and address advantages and problems using this method compared to other mode identification methods. / text

We search for planets and brown dwarves around white dwarves (WDs). Finding extra-solar planets is the first step toward establishing the existence and abundance of life in the Universe. The low mass and luminosity of WDs make them ideal stars to search for low mass companion objects. Theoretical predictions generally agree that a star will consume and destroy close-in, low mass planets as it ascends the red giant and asymptotic giant branch evolutionary tracks, but larger mass objects and those further out will survive. The matter ejected from the star as it evolves into a white dwarf may also be accreted onto daughter planets, or may coalesce into a disk from which planets can form. We employ two techniques to search for planets and brown dwarves (BDs) around WDs. A subset of pulsating white dwarf stars have a pulsational stability that rivals pulsars and atomic clocks. When a planet is in orbit around a such a star the orbital motion of the star around the centre of mass is detectable as a change in arrival times of the otherwise stable pulsations. We search for, and find, a sample of suitable pulsators, monitor them for between three and four years, and place limits on companions by constraining the variation consistent with a 2.4M[subscript J] planet in a 4.6 year orbit. We also observe a large sample of WDs to search for a mid-infrared excess caused by the presence of sub-stellar companions. We present evidence for a potential binary system consisting of a WD and a BD on the basis of an observed excess flux at near and mind-infrared wavelengths. We also place limits on the presence of planetary mass companions around those stars and compare our results to predictions of planetary survival theories. Our findings do not support suggestions of planet formation or accretion of extra mass during stellar death.

Open clusters have long been objects of interest in astronomy. As a good approximation of essentially pure stellar populations, they have proved very useful for studies in a wide range of astrophysically interesting questions, including stellar evolution and atmosphere, the chemical and dynamical evolution of our Galaxy, and the structure of our Galaxy. Of fundamental importance to our understanding of open clusters, as well as many other questions in astrophysics, is the accurate determination of ages. Currently there are two main techniques for independently determining the ages of stellar populations: main sequence evolution theory (via cluster isochrones) and white dwarf cooling theory. Open clusters provide the ideal environment for the calibration of these two important clocks, as well as the unique opportunity to directly compare and refine our understanding of both theories. Here I present a photometric study of six open clusters, including both ground-based data, and new, deep photometric data from the Hubble Space Telescope. From the former I derive main sequence turn off ages, while the latter will be used to search for faint cluster white dwarfs. From these data I measure a white dwarf age for each cluster and directly compare these ages with those I find from the main sequence turn off age. For this analysis I employ a new Bayesian statistical technique that has been developed by our group. Additionally, I use this new technique to explore the feasibility of a new method to determine cluster white dwarf ages from the hot (bright) white dwarfs alone, and its first successful application to the Hyades. / text

White dwarf stars are the burnt out remnants that remain after a star like the Sun has completed its nuclear evolution. In such a star there are no remaining nuclear energy sources, so the star evolves by simply radiating its stored thermal energy out into space. This may seem rather uninteresting, but in fact there is a wealth of physical phenomena that occur during this part of a star's life - from getting kicked at birth, to neutrino emission in early life, to some interesting high density physics, through to functioning as precise clocks that can provide an age for some of the oldest know stars in the Universe. Some of these phases will be illustrated with detailed observations taken recently with the Hubble Space Telescope.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

White dwarf stars are the most common final stage of stellar evolution, corresponding to 99% of all stars in the Galaxy. White dwarf models can be used to obtain the age of stellar populations, to build an initial to final mass relation to understand the connection between the properties of white dwarfs and their progenitors, determine the upper mass limit that separates white dwarfs progenitors from Type II supernovae, enhance the comprehension of the physical properties of high density matter and derive ages and masses for observed white dwarfs from the cooling tracks. The literature is populated with low mass and intermediate mass white dwarf models, however the massive white dwarfs are often forgotten and the evolutionary sequences are incomplete. In this dissertation, we compute full evolutionary sequences for massive white dwarfs, exploring the evolution of hydrogen-rich and hydrogen-deficient white dwarfs stars with masses between 1.012 and 1.307 M , and initial metallicity of Z = 0.02. These sequences are the result of main sequence stars with masses between 8.8 and 11.8 M . The simulations were performed with the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics - MESA code, starting at the zero-age main sequence, through thermally pulsing and mass-loss phases, ending as the white dwarfs at the cooling sequence. Our simulations are full evolutionary, in which we consider the entire evolutionary history of the progenitors. We present reliable nuclear chemical profiles for the whole mass range considered, covering the different expected central compositions, i.e. C/O, O/Ne and Ne/O/Mg, and their dependence with the stellar mass. In addition, we present detailed chemical profiles of hybrid C/O-O/Ne core white dwarfs, found in the mass range between 1.024 and 1.150 M . We present the initial-to-final mass relation, mass-radius relation, and cooling times with improved crystallization limits, considering the effects of atmosphere and core composition.