Multiperiodic pulsations of the unique DAQ white dwarf J0551+4135: insights into a merger remnant

Abstract

2MASS J05513444+4135297 (herafter J0551+4135) is the only pulsating DAQ white dwarf known with a carbon and hydrogen atmosphere. Its unusual atmospheric composition and kinematics indicate a white dwarf merger origin. We present time-series photometry of J0551+4135 obtained using the Apache Point Observatory 3.5m, Gemini North 8m, and Gran Telescopio Canarias 10m telescopes. J0551+4135 exhibits variations in pulsation amplitude and frequency over time. We detect ten significant recurring peaks across different subsets of observations, with frequencies ranging from 987 to 1180~$\mu$Hz, consistent with non-radial gravity ($g$)-mode oscillations. We present new evolutionary models suitable for spectroscopic characterization of DAQ white dwarfs, and derive a mass of $1.13\pm 0.01M_{\odot }$ and a cooling age of $1.7\pm 0.1$ Gyr for a CO core, and $1.12\pm 0.01M_{\odot }$ and $1.6\pm 0.1$\,Gyr for an ONe-core white dwarf, respectively. However, detailed asteroseismology of this unique pulsator has to wait until fully-consistent DAQ evolutionary models are available. Further observations, including multi-site campaigns to reduce daily aliasing and to improve the signal-to-noise ratio would be helpful for identification of additional modes and constraining the internal structure of this unique pulsator.

16 pages, 8 figures, Accepted by ApJ on 9 November 2025