Magnetic white dwarfs from the sloan digital sky survey: The first data release

Gary D. Schmidt; Hugh C. Harris; James Liebert; Daniel J. Eisenstein; Scott F. Anderson; J. Brinkmann; Patrick B. Hall; Michael Harvanek; Suzanne Hawley; S. J. Kleinman; Gillian R. Knapp; Jurek Krzesinski; Don Q. Lamb; Dan Long; Jeffrey A. Munn; Eric H. Neilsen; Peter R. Newman; Atsuko Nitta; David J. Schlegel; Donald P. Schneider; Nicole M. Silvestri; J. Allyn Smith; Stephanie A. Snedden; Paula Szkody; Dan Vanden Berk

doi:10.1086/377476

Magnetic white dwarfs from the sloan digital sky survey: The first data release

Gary D. Schmidt, Hugh C. Harris, James Liebert, Daniel J. Eisenstein, Scott F. Anderson, J. Brinkmann, Patrick B. Hall, Michael Harvanek, Suzanne Hawley, S. J. Kleinman, Gillian R. Knapp, Jurek Krzesinski, Don Q. Lamb, Dan Long, Jeffrey A. Munn, Eric H. Neilsen, Peter R. Newman, Atsuko Nitta, David J. Schlegel, Donald P. SchneiderNicole M. Silvestri, J. Allyn Smith, Stephanie A. Snedden, Paula Szkody, Dan Vanden Berk

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

126 Scopus citations

Abstract

Beyond its goals related to the extragalactic universe, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is an effective tool for identifying stellar objects with unusual spectral energy distributions. Here we report on the 53 new magnetic white dwarfs discovered during the first two years of the survey, including 38 whose data are made public in the 1500 deg² First Data Release. Discoveries span the magnitude range 16.3 ≤ g ≤ 20.5, and based on the recovery rate for previously known magnetic white dwarfs, the completeness of the SDSS appears to be high for reasonably hot stars with B ≳ 3 MG and g ≳ 15. The new objects nearly double the total number of known magnetic white dwarfs and include examples with polar field strengths B_p > 500 MG, as well as several with exotic atmospheric compositions. The improved sample statistics and uniformity indicate that the distribution of magnetic white dwarfs has a broad peak in the range ∼5-30 MG and a tail extending to nearly 10⁹ G. Degenerates with polar fields B_p ≳ 50 MG are consistent with being descendents of magnetic Ap/Bp main-sequence stars, but low- and moderate-field magnetic white dwarfs appear to imply another origin. Yet-undetected magnetic F-type stars with convective envelopes that destroy the ordered underlying field are attractive candidates.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1101-1113
Number of pages	13
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	595
Issue number	2 I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/377476
State	Published - Oct 1 2003

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/377476

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Schmidt, G. D., Harris, H. C., Liebert, J., Eisenstein, D. J., Anderson, S. F., Brinkmann, J., Hall, P. B., Harvanek, M., Hawley, S., Kleinman, S. J., Knapp, G. R., Krzesinski, J., Lamb, D. Q., Long, D., Munn, J. A., Neilsen, E. H., Newman, P. R., Nitta, A., Schlegel, D. J., ... Berk, D. V. (2003). Magnetic white dwarfs from the sloan digital sky survey: The first data release. Astrophysical Journal, 595(2 I), 1101-1113. https://doi.org/10.1086/377476

@article{b3ab4d2eabd0413ca5e304dae394425f,

title = "Magnetic white dwarfs from the sloan digital sky survey: The first data release",

abstract = "Beyond its goals related to the extragalactic universe, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is an effective tool for identifying stellar objects with unusual spectral energy distributions. Here we report on the 53 new magnetic white dwarfs discovered during the first two years of the survey, including 38 whose data are made public in the 1500 deg2 First Data Release. Discoveries span the magnitude range 16.3 ≤ g ≤ 20.5, and based on the recovery rate for previously known magnetic white dwarfs, the completeness of the SDSS appears to be high for reasonably hot stars with B ≳ 3 MG and g ≳ 15. The new objects nearly double the total number of known magnetic white dwarfs and include examples with polar field strengths Bp > 500 MG, as well as several with exotic atmospheric compositions. The improved sample statistics and uniformity indicate that the distribution of magnetic white dwarfs has a broad peak in the range ∼5-30 MG and a tail extending to nearly 109 G. Degenerates with polar fields Bp ≳ 50 MG are consistent with being descendents of magnetic Ap/Bp main-sequence stars, but low- and moderate-field magnetic white dwarfs appear to imply another origin. Yet-undetected magnetic F-type stars with convective envelopes that destroy the ordered underlying field are attractive candidates.",

author = "Schmidt, {Gary D.} and Harris, {Hugh C.} and James Liebert and Eisenstein, {Daniel J.} and Anderson, {Scott F.} and J. Brinkmann and Hall, {Patrick B.} and Michael Harvanek and Suzanne Hawley and Kleinman, {S. J.} and Knapp, {Gillian R.} and Jurek Krzesinski and Lamb, {Don Q.} and Dan Long and Munn, {Jeffrey A.} and Neilsen, {Eric H.} and Newman, {Peter R.} and Atsuko Nitta and Schlegel, {David J.} and Schneider, {Donald P.} and Silvestri, {Nicole M.} and Smith, {J. Allyn} and Snedden, {Stephanie A.} and Paula Szkody and Berk, {Dan Vanden}",

year = "2003",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1086/377476",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "595",

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Schmidt, GD, Harris, HC, Liebert, J, Eisenstein, DJ, Anderson, SF, Brinkmann, J, Hall, PB, Harvanek, M, Hawley, S, Kleinman, SJ, Knapp, GR, Krzesinski, J, Lamb, DQ, Long, D, Munn, JA, Neilsen, EH, Newman, PR, Nitta, A, Schlegel, DJ, Schneider, DP, Silvestri, NM, Smith, JA, Snedden, SA, Szkody, P & Berk, DV 2003, 'Magnetic white dwarfs from the sloan digital sky survey: The first data release', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 595, no. 2 I, pp. 1101-1113. https://doi.org/10.1086/377476

TY - JOUR

T1 - Magnetic white dwarfs from the sloan digital sky survey

T2 - The first data release

AU - Schmidt, Gary D.

AU - Harris, Hugh C.

AU - Liebert, James

AU - Eisenstein, Daniel J.

AU - Anderson, Scott F.

AU - Brinkmann, J.

AU - Hall, Patrick B.

AU - Harvanek, Michael

AU - Hawley, Suzanne

AU - Kleinman, S. J.

AU - Knapp, Gillian R.

AU - Krzesinski, Jurek

AU - Lamb, Don Q.

AU - Long, Dan

AU - Munn, Jeffrey A.

AU - Neilsen, Eric H.

AU - Newman, Peter R.

AU - Nitta, Atsuko

AU - Schlegel, David J.

AU - Schneider, Donald P.

AU - Silvestri, Nicole M.

AU - Smith, J. Allyn

AU - Snedden, Stephanie A.

AU - Szkody, Paula

AU - Berk, Dan Vanden

PY - 2003/10/1

Y1 - 2003/10/1

N2 - Beyond its goals related to the extragalactic universe, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is an effective tool for identifying stellar objects with unusual spectral energy distributions. Here we report on the 53 new magnetic white dwarfs discovered during the first two years of the survey, including 38 whose data are made public in the 1500 deg2 First Data Release. Discoveries span the magnitude range 16.3 ≤ g ≤ 20.5, and based on the recovery rate for previously known magnetic white dwarfs, the completeness of the SDSS appears to be high for reasonably hot stars with B ≳ 3 MG and g ≳ 15. The new objects nearly double the total number of known magnetic white dwarfs and include examples with polar field strengths Bp > 500 MG, as well as several with exotic atmospheric compositions. The improved sample statistics and uniformity indicate that the distribution of magnetic white dwarfs has a broad peak in the range ∼5-30 MG and a tail extending to nearly 109 G. Degenerates with polar fields Bp ≳ 50 MG are consistent with being descendents of magnetic Ap/Bp main-sequence stars, but low- and moderate-field magnetic white dwarfs appear to imply another origin. Yet-undetected magnetic F-type stars with convective envelopes that destroy the ordered underlying field are attractive candidates.

AB - Beyond its goals related to the extragalactic universe, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is an effective tool for identifying stellar objects with unusual spectral energy distributions. Here we report on the 53 new magnetic white dwarfs discovered during the first two years of the survey, including 38 whose data are made public in the 1500 deg2 First Data Release. Discoveries span the magnitude range 16.3 ≤ g ≤ 20.5, and based on the recovery rate for previously known magnetic white dwarfs, the completeness of the SDSS appears to be high for reasonably hot stars with B ≳ 3 MG and g ≳ 15. The new objects nearly double the total number of known magnetic white dwarfs and include examples with polar field strengths Bp > 500 MG, as well as several with exotic atmospheric compositions. The improved sample statistics and uniformity indicate that the distribution of magnetic white dwarfs has a broad peak in the range ∼5-30 MG and a tail extending to nearly 109 G. Degenerates with polar fields Bp ≳ 50 MG are consistent with being descendents of magnetic Ap/Bp main-sequence stars, but low- and moderate-field magnetic white dwarfs appear to imply another origin. Yet-undetected magnetic F-type stars with convective envelopes that destroy the ordered underlying field are attractive candidates.

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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0142261091&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/377476

DO - 10.1086/377476

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:0142261091

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 595

SP - 1101

EP - 1113

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 I

ER -

Magnetic white dwarfs from the sloan digital sky survey: The first data release

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