A Light-curve Analysis of the X-Ray Flash First Observed in Classical Novae

Abstract

An X-ray flash, expected in a very early phase of a nova outburst, was at last detected with the SRG/eROSITA in the classical nova YZ Reticuli 2020. The observed flash timescale, luminosity, and blackbody temperature substantially constrain the nova model. We present light-curve models of the X-ray flash for various white dwarf (WD) masses and mass-accretion rates. We have found the WD mass in YZ Ret to be as massive as M WD ∼ 1.3 M ☉ with mass-accretion rates of yr−1, including the case where the mass-accretion rate is changing between them, consistent with the SRG/eROSITA observation. The X-ray observation confirms the luminosity to be close to the Eddington limit at the X-ray flash. The occurrence of optically thick winds, with the photospheric radius exceeding ∼0.1 R ☉, terminated the X-ray flash of YZ Ret by strong absorption. This sets a constrain on the starting time of wind mass loss. A slight contamination of the hydrogen-rich envelope by the core material seems to be preferred to explain the very short duration of the X-ray flash.