Photometric variability of candidate white dwarf binary systems from Palomar Transient Factory archival data

Abstract

We present a sample of 59 periodic variables from the Palomar Transient Factory, selected from published catalogues of white dwarf (WD) candidates. The variability can likely be attributed to ellipsoidal variation of the tidally distorted companion induced by the gravity of the primary (WD or hot subdwarf) or to the reflection of hot emission by a cooler companion. We searched 11311 spectroscopically or photometrically selected WD candidates from three hot star/WD catalogues, using the Lomb-Scargle periodogram to single out promising sources. We present period estimates for the candidates, 45 of which were not previously identified as periodic variables, and find that most have a period shorter than a few days. Additionally, we discuss the eclipsing systems in our sample and present spectroscopic data on selected sources.

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Cited by in corpus (3)

• A Systematic Search for Short-period Close White Dwarf Binary Candidates Based on Gaia EDR3 Catalog and Zwicky Transient Facility Data
• A Catalog of Short Period Spectroscopic and Eclipsing Binaries Identified from the LAMOST & PTF Surveys
• Galaxy Optical Variability of Virgo Cluster: New Tracer for Environmental Influences on Galaxies