WDEC: A Code for Modeling White Dwarf Structure and Pulsations
Abstract
The White Dwarf Evolution Code (WDEC), written in Fortran, makes models of white dwarf stars. It is fast, versatile, and includes the latest physics. The code evolves hot (~100,000 K) input models down to a chosen effective temperature by relaxing the models to be solutions of the equations of stellar structure. Here, the code can also be used to obtain g-mode oscillation modes for the models. WDEC has a long history going back to the late 1960s. Over the years, it has been updated and re-packaged for modern computer architectures and has specifically been used in computationally intensive asteroseismic fitting. Generations of white dwarf astronomers and dozens of publications have made use of the WDEC, although the last true instrument paper is the original one, published in 1975. This paper discusses the history of the code, necessary to understand why it works the way it does, details the physics and features in the code today, and points the reader to where to find the code and a user guide.
- Authors:
-
- Penn State Worthington Scranton, Dunmore, PA (United States)
- Univ.of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- The Univ.of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1514497
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NA0003843
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- The Astronomical Journal (Online)
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: The Astronomical Journal (Online); Journal Volume: 155; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 1538-3881
- Publisher:
- IOP Publishing - AAAS
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; methods: numerical; stars: oscillations; white dwarfs
Citation Formats
Bischoff-Kim, Agnès, and Montgomery, Michael H. WDEC: A Code for Modeling White Dwarf Structure and Pulsations. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aab70e.
Bischoff-Kim, Agnès, & Montgomery, Michael H. WDEC: A Code for Modeling White Dwarf Structure and Pulsations. United States. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aab70e
Bischoff-Kim, Agnès, and Montgomery, Michael H. Tue .
"WDEC: A Code for Modeling White Dwarf Structure and Pulsations". United States. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aab70e. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1514497.
@article{osti_1514497,
title = {WDEC: A Code for Modeling White Dwarf Structure and Pulsations},
author = {Bischoff-Kim, Agnès and Montgomery, Michael H.},
abstractNote = {The White Dwarf Evolution Code (WDEC), written in Fortran, makes models of white dwarf stars. It is fast, versatile, and includes the latest physics. The code evolves hot (~100,000 K) input models down to a chosen effective temperature by relaxing the models to be solutions of the equations of stellar structure. Here, the code can also be used to obtain g-mode oscillation modes for the models. WDEC has a long history going back to the late 1960s. Over the years, it has been updated and re-packaged for modern computer architectures and has specifically been used in computationally intensive asteroseismic fitting. Generations of white dwarf astronomers and dozens of publications have made use of the WDEC, although the last true instrument paper is the original one, published in 1975. This paper discusses the history of the code, necessary to understand why it works the way it does, details the physics and features in the code today, and points the reader to where to find the code and a user guide.},
doi = {10.3847/1538-3881/aab70e},
journal = {The Astronomical Journal (Online)},
number = 5,
volume = 155,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {4}
}
Web of Science
Figures / Tables:

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Works referencing / citing this record:
TESS first look at evolved compact pulsators: Asteroseismology of the pulsating helium-atmosphere white dwarf TIC 257459955
journal, November 2019
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The Impact of White Dwarf Luminosity Profiles on Oscillation Frequencies
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The Impact of White Dwarf Luminosity Profiles on Oscillation Frequencies
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TESS first look at evolved compact pulsators: asteroseismology of the pulsating helium-atmosphere white dwarf TIC 257459955
text, January 2019
- Bell, Keaton J.; Córsico, Alejandro H.; Bischoff-Kim, Agnès
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