GALEX absolute calibration based on white dwarfs

We use white dwarfs within 100pc to verify the linearity correction to the GALEX data. We find that the linearity correction is valid for magnitudes brighter than 15.95 and 16.95 for the far-ultraviolet (FUV) and near-ultraviolet (NUV) bands, respectively.

We also use DA white dwarfs beyond 250pc to calculate extinction coefficients in the FUV and NUV bands: R_FUV_=8.01+/-0.07 and R_NUV_=6.72+/-0.04. These are consistent with the predicted extinction coefficients for Milky Way-type dust in the FUV, but smaller than predictions in the NUV. With well understood optical spectra and state-of-the-art model atmosphere analysis, these white dwarfs currently provide the best constraints on the extinction coefficients for the GALEX data.