Three projects will be carried out centered around high speed photometry and the resulting light curves from pulsating white dwarfs. First, the non-sinusoidal light curves will be used to constrain and test developing models of convection and its dependence on the temperature (evolution) and surface gravity (mass). A further expected outcome is mode identification, which will be used to study the internal structures of the white dwarfs. Second, the pulsation drift of hot helium-atmosphere white dwarfs will be compared with models to determine the cooling rate due to neutrino production (via plasmon decay). These results will be used to test theoretical models of neutrino production in white dwarfs. Finally, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey archives will be searched for additional hot and high-mass white dwarfs both for use in the above efforts as well as to explore the temperatures and densities under which core crystallization takes place. The problems to be approached here are fundamental issues in the field of compact objects and the results are expected to have broader applications throughout astronomy (particularly with regard to convection and neutrino cooling). The project will directly involve a post doctoral researcher (the PI) and two graduate students who will also be supported. The results of this work will form the core of Ms. Agnes Kim's Ph.D. thesis. High school students and teachers will also take part in the observing via remote connections.
