Observing bright pulsating white dwarfs with PLATO: A new window into the late stages of stellar evolution

Observing bright pulsating white dwarfs with PLATO: A new window into the late stages of stellar evolution | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Observing bright pulsating white dwarfs with PLATO: A new window into the late stages of stellar evolution Murat Uzundag This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7408188/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract We present a compelling scientific case for leveraging the PLATO mission to study bright pulsating white dwarfs spanning a wide spectral range, encompassing both hydrogen-deficient types (including GW Vir and DBV stars) and hydrogen-rich classes (such as classical DAVs, pulsating extremely low-mass DA white dwarfs, and ultra-massive DA white dwarfs). PLATO’s exceptional photometric precision, long-duration continuous monitoring, and extensive sky coverage promise transformative advances in white dwarf asteroseismology. Our key objectives include probing the internal structure and chemical stratification of white dwarfs, detecting secular changes in pulsation modes over extended timescales, and discovering rare or previously unknown classes of pulsators.To assess feasibility, we constructed a sample of 650 white dwarf candidates ($G \leq 17$) identified within PLATO’s Southern LOPS2 field using the PLATO complementary science catalogue combined with \textit{Gaia} DR3, and derived atmospheric parameters through photometric modeling. This sample comprises 118 DA white dwarfs (including 23 ZZ Ceti candidates), and 41 non-DAs (including 35 DBV candidates). Simulated observations using {\tt PlatoSim} demonstrate that PLATO will be capable of detecting white dwarf pulsation modes with amplitudes as low as $\sim$0.1,mma, depending on stellar magnitude, observation duration, pixel location, and the number of contributing cameras. We provide detailed detection limits and visibility forecasts for known pulsators across a representative range of these parameters.Furthermore, we emphasize strong synergies with \textit{Gaia} astrometry, TESS photometry, and targeted spectroscopic campaigns, which together will enable robust mode identification and detailed stellar modeling. Collectively, these efforts will unlock unprecedented insights into white dwarf origins, evolution and internal physics, and the fate of their planetary systems. asteroseismology stars oscillations (including pulsations) stars interiors stars evolution stars white dwarfs Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 13 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 12 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 29 Sep, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 01 Sep, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 19 Aug, 2025 First submitted to journal 19 Aug, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7408188","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":527172164,"identity":"9d3ca0db-180f-4f2e-b224-cab37950039c","order_by":0,"name":"Murat Uzundag","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABEklEQVRIie3PMUvDQBjG8VcOLstB11eofgMhEIgBv0yCkCyXtTiUW4RzKZ37MQJCxS0lmC7ROaMSCCIOkUBwKt4JhSJJxM3h/sPxDPcjOQCT6X/n7wdJ1YHT0cvpAUEAqheyvxBm6zFIzlbxS/shRXBnXVavMBfi/GbRvpVzj4GVPSQ9xC0jBzeSBveL2vUgz3BaPK4veK5+jIVh2UtCUIQFSem7NtAUEeO1w6kiyNwBQj43EhWJOht2QhFeO3w3Sqj6iq0Id56PJNGEVLEcIUVNveLJd5LifQbBMjtesdwl8RIZHXrLNiTl1UycJNvotmk6MUHrump5J04nVpb3kcMo+vvxff5yXUean8NkMplMui+YSGU1VLijWAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"KU Leuven","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Murat","middleName":"","lastName":"Uzundag","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-08-19 11:38:26","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7408188/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7408188/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":93271362,"identity":"ee2689dd-83fe-4931-abc1-b9e608fa9c4f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-10 23:40:44","extension":"json","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":4169,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"d34c0288821c413dba7f3019f1439741.json","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7408188/v1/ac1656c8eddc5cdee9d8f89d.json"},{"id":93271382,"identity":"c7b2c1e0-2391-469f-b2ac-e91fbf3b9c53","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-10 23:48:54","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":4360156,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"PLATOwhitedwarfs.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7408188/v1_covered_190f1a35-7913-4a10-83f9-2b1cde8a234f.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Observing bright pulsating white dwarfs with PLATO: A new window into the late stages of stellar evolution","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"experimental-astronomy","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"expa","sideBox":"Learn more about [Experimental Astronomy](http://link.springer.com/journal/10686)","snPcode":"10686","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10686/3","title":"Experimental Astronomy","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"asteroseismology, stars, oscillations (including pulsations), stars, interiors, stars, evolution, stars, white dwarfs","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7408188/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7408188/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"We present a compelling scientific case for leveraging the PLATO mission to study bright pulsating white dwarfs spanning a wide spectral range, encompassing both hydrogen-deficient types (including GW Vir and DBV stars) and hydrogen-rich classes (such as classical DAVs, pulsating extremely low-mass DA white dwarfs, and ultra-massive DA white dwarfs). PLATO’s exceptional photometric precision, long-duration continuous monitoring, and extensive sky coverage promise transformative advances in white dwarf asteroseismology. Our key objectives include probing the internal structure and chemical stratification of white dwarfs, detecting secular changes in pulsation modes over extended timescales, and discovering rare or previously unknown classes of pulsators.To assess feasibility, we constructed a sample of 650 white dwarf candidates ($G \\leq 17$) identified within PLATO’s Southern LOPS2 field using the PLATO complementary science catalogue combined with \\textit{Gaia} DR3, and derived atmospheric parameters through photometric modeling. This sample comprises 118 DA white dwarfs (including 23 ZZ Ceti candidates), and 41 non-DAs (including 35 DBV candidates). 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