The ZZ Ceti Red Edge

Abstract

With a time-series CCD photometric survey, we have demonstrated clearly that the observed red edge for the ZZ Ceti stars instability strip at 11 000 K is real, with the pulsation amplitude decreasing at least by a factor of 50. Previous surveys for variability among hydrogen atmosphere white dwarfs around 11 000 K have been carried out using time-series photoelectric photometry, not differential photometry, insensitive for small amplitude periodicities of 15 min and longer. In our survey we constantly monitor the sky brightness as well as one or more comparison stars through the same color filter, reducing the adverse effects of differential extinction and sky fluctuations, obtaining true differential photometry.