The Soft X-Ray Turn-Off of Nova Muscae 1983

Abstract

Nova GQ Muscae 1983 was unique among recent novae in maintaining nearly constant bolometric luminosity for nearly a decade after outburst. During most of this time GQ Mus maintained a high temperature and was observed as a “supersoft” x-ray source (e.g., Ögelman et al. 1993). ROSAT observations in 1992 showed that the super-soft source was still present, and thus GQ Mus offered the opportunity to investigate a classical post-nova where the theoretically anticipated, multiple-year nuclear burning phase appears to have occurred. To this end, follow up observations were obtained. ROSAT PSPC observations taken in January and September 1993 were complimented with B band photometry taken in January 1993. By January 1993, the X-ray count rate had declined by a factor of 17, yet no appreciable decrease in the optical magnitude nor change in the amplitute of modulation was evident. By September 1993 GQ Mus was no longer detected by ROSAT, requiring a decrease in soft X-ray flux by a factor of ≥30. This decline may be attributed to a nuclear burning shutdown resulting from the complete consumption of the residual hydrogen rich envelope. However, observations indicate that the optical luminosity is not simply coupled to the X-ray luminosity (e.g. through reprocessing).KeywordsComplete ConsumptionBurning PhaseAppreciable DecreaseIcal JournalBolometric LuminosityThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.