The potential of the variable DA white dwarf G117-B15A as a tool for fundamental physics

White dwarfs are well studied objects. The relative simplicity of their physics allows one to obtain very detailed models which can be ultimately compared with their observed properties. Among white dwarfs there are specific classes of stars, known as ZZ-Ceti objects, which have a hydrogen-rich envelope and show periodic variations in their light curves. G117-B15A belongs to this particular set of stars. The luminosity variations have been successfully explained as due to g-mode pulsations. G117-B15A has recently claimed to be the most stable optical clock ever found, being the rate of change of its 215.2 s period very small: P =( 2.3 +/-1.4) x 10(-15) ss(-1), with a stability comparable to that of the most stable millisecond pulsars. The rate of change of the period is closely related to its cooling timescale, which can be accurately computed. In this paper we study the pulsational properties of G117-B15A and we use the observed rate of change of the period to impose constraints on the axion emissivity and thus, to obtain a preliminary upper bound to the mass of the axion. This upper bound turns out to be 4 cos(2)beta meVat the 95% confidence level. Although there are still several observational and theoretical uncertainties, we conclude that G117-B15A is a very promising stellar object to set up constraints on particle physics. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B. V.