Searching for white dwarf variables in TESS data

TL;DR

This study cross-matched Gaia and TESS data to identify potential white dwarf variables, revealing over 600 candidates with periodic variability, advancing the search for variable white dwarfs.

Contribution

It introduces a method for identifying white dwarf variables using Gaia and TESS data, providing early results on candidate detection.

Findings

Over 600 sources show indications of periodic variability.

Most targets observed over at least 27 days with 30-minute cadence.

The study demonstrates the effectiveness of combined Gaia and TESS data for white dwarf variability searches.

Abstract

A sample of 4 thousands Gaia sources with apparent $G$-band magnitudes of $<17$ and trigonometric parallaxes of $>3.33$ milli-arcseconds were cross-matched to the Transiting Exoplanet Survey high level science products and the Full-Frame Images in order to extract the light curves of possible white dwarf variables. Most of the targets in the sample were observed in at least 27-day observing cycle with 30-minutes cadence. Based on Lomb-Scargle periodogram constructed from de-trended light curves, more than 600 sources have indication of periodic variability. This paper presents the early results from the identification.