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Astron. Astrophys. 354, L75-L78 (2000)
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Letter to the Editor
First VLT spectra of white dwarfs in a globular cluster
S. Moehler * 1,
U. Heber 1,
R. Napiwotzki 1,
D. Koester 2 and
A. Renzini 3
1 Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte, Astronomisches Institut der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Sternwartstrasse 7, 96049 Bamberg, Germany (moehler, heber, napiwotzki@sternwarte.uni-erlangen.de)
2 Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Abteilung Astrophysik, Leibnizstrasse 15, 24098 Kiel, Germany
3 European Southern Observatory, Karl Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
Received 29 November 1999 / Accepted 4 February 2000
Abstract
We present the first spectra obtained with the Very Large Telescope for white dwarfs in a globular cluster. Estimates of atmospheric parameters are obtained and compared to evolutionary tracks. We discuss possible implications for the distance scale of globular clusters and white dwarf evolution and demonstrate how white dwarfs might be used to establish an independent distance scale to globular clusters.
Key words: Stars: fundamental
parameters 
Stars:
Population II
Stars: white
dwarfs
globular clusters: individual: NGC 6397
* Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory (ESO No 63.H-0348)
Send offprint requests to: S. Moehler
© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 2000
Online publication: February 25, 2000
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