2006/09/11 by A. Kawka, S. Vennes, Gary D. Schmidt +3 · 2 citations
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Chemistry #Condensed matter physics #Magnetic field #Magnetism #Physics #Spectral line #Stars #Stellar classification #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #White (mutation) #White dwarf #Zeeman effect #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/509072
published as Astrophys.J.654:499-520,2006 · Accepted for publication in ApJ
arxiv created 2006/09/11 · openalex publication_date 2006/12/29 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We have conducted a survey of 61 southern white dwarfs searching for magnetic fields using Zeeman spectropolarimetry. Our objective is to obtain a magnetic field distribution for these objects and, in particular, to find white dwarfs with weak fields. We found one possible candidate (WD 0310-688) that may have a weak magnetic field of -6.1 ± 2.2 kG. Next, we determine the fraction and distribution of magnetic white dwarfs in the solar neighborhood and investigate the probability of finding more of these objects based on the current incidence of magnetism in white dwarfs within 20 pc of the Sun. We have also analyzed the spectra of the white dwarfs to obtain effective temperatures and surface gravities.