SIMBAD references

HS2253+8023 is a helium-rich white dwarf with traces of metals and hydrogen, which was recently discovered in the Hamburg Quasar Survey. We have derived temperatures and element abundances from optical and UV spectra by comparison with synthetic line profiles. In addition UV (HST, IUE) and optical spectra of the well-known white dwarf GD 40 with very similar atmospheric parameters were analysed and element abundances determined. For both stars we derive an effective temperature of about 15000K. Within the framework of the diffusion-accretion theory, metal-to-metal ratios are consistent with accretion in solar element proportions, except for calcium which might be overabundant in GD 40. However the accretion of hydrogen must be reduced by a factor of 10⁶ with respect to the predicted metal-to-hydrogen ratio in order to explain the observed abundances.