Asymmetric Line Profiles in Spectra of Gaseous Metal Disks Around Single White Dwarfs

Abstract

Around several single DAZ and DBZ white dwarfs metal-rich disks have been observed, which are mostly believed to originate from disruption of smaller rocky planetesimals. In some cases the material does not (only) form a dusty but gaseous disk. In the case of SDSS J122859.93+104032.9 the double peaked infrared Ca II triplet at about 8500 angstrom, one of only two emission features of the spectra, exhibits a strong red/violet asymmetry. Assuming a composition similar to a chondrite-like asteroid, being the most prominent type in our own solar system, we calculated the spectrum and vertical structure of the disk using the Tuebingen NLTE accretion disk code "AcDc". Modified to simulate different non axis-symmetrical disk geometries, the first preliminary results are in good agreement with the observed asymmetric line profile.