Open AccessWhite dwarfs in the 2dF QSO Redshift Survey – I. Hydrogen‐rich (DA) stars
Author(s) -
Vennes S.,
Smith R. J.,
Boyle B. J.,
Croom S. M.,
Kawka A.,
Shanks T.,
Miller L.,
Loaring N.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05658.x
Subject(s) - physics , white dwarf , balmer series , astrophysics , stars , galaxy , redshift , population , spectral line , astronomy , emission spectrum , medicine , environmental health
We report the spectroscopic identification of close to 1000 hydrogen‐rich (DA) white dwarfs discovered in the course of the Anglo‐Australian 2dF QSO Redshift Survey (2QZ). We measured the atmospheric parameters of a subsample of 201 stars based on good‐quality Balmer line spectra and we determine the 2QZ population characteristics. Over ten per cent of the sample are potential ZZ Ceti variables. We estimate the DA white dwarf birthrate ( b DA = 0.5–1.0 × 10 −12 yr −1 pc −3 ) and the scaleheight ( h = 220–300 pc) of the population in the thin disc of the Galaxy by combining information acquired in the Palomar–Green, AAT–UVX and new 2QZ surveys. White dwarfs appear related to G and late‐F progenitors. A catalogue of 201 DA white dwarfs is presented.