Amplitude Modulation in the ZZ Ceti Star GD 244

TL;DR

This study investigates long-term amplitude modulation in the pulsation frequencies of the ZZ Ceti star GD 244, revealing a unique 740-day periodic modulation likely due to mode interactions or unresolved modes.

Contribution

First documentation of long-term periodic amplitude modulation in a ZZ Ceti star, expanding understanding of pulsation behavior in white dwarf variables.

Findings

Detected a ~740-day amplitude modulation in one pulsation mode

Proposed nonlinear mode coupling or unresolved modes as possible causes

First report of such modulation in a ZZ Ceti star

Abstract

Previous studies of GD 244 revealed seven pulsation frequencies (two doublets and three single periods) in the light variations of the star. The data obtained at McDonald Observatory between 2003 and 2006, and our additional measurements in 2006 and 2007 at Konkoly Observatory, allow the investigation of the long-term pulsational behaviour of GD 244. We found that the 307.1 s period component of one of the doublets show long-term, periodic amplitude modulation with a time scale of ~740 days. Possible explanations are that nonlinear resonant mode coupling is operating among the rotationally split frequency components, or two modes, unresolved in the yearly data are excited at ~307.1 s. This is the first time that such long-term periodic amplitude modulation is published on a ZZ Ceti star.