Nova Research Articles

The sustained post-outburst brightness of Nova Per 2018, the evolved companion, and the long orbital period

Nova Per 2018 (= V392 Per) halted the decline from maximum when it was 2 mag brighter than quiescence and since 2019 has been stable at such a plateau. The ejecta have already fully diluted into the interstellar space. We obtained BVRIgrizY photometry and optical spectroscopy of V392 Per during the plateau phase and compared it with equivalent data gathered prior to the nova outburst. We find the companion star (CS) to be a G9 IV/III and the orbital period to be 3.4118 days, making V392 Per the longest known period for a classical nova. The location of V392 Per on the theoretical isochrones is intermediate between that of classical novae and novae erupting within symbiotic binaries, in a sense bridging the gap. The reddening is derived to be EB − V = 0.72 and the fitting to isochrones returns a 3.6 Gyr age for the system and 1.35 M⊙, 5.3 R⊙, and 15 L⊙ for the companion. The huge Ne overabundance in the ejecta and the very fast decline from nova maximum both point to a massive white dwarf (WD) (MWD ≥ 1.1−1.2 M⊙). The system is viewed close to pole-on conditions and the current plateau phase is caused by irradiation of the CS by the WD still burning at the surface.

NLTE modeling and spectroscopically derived abundances of lithium and beryllium for classical nova ejecta

Context. Extreme super-solar abundances of lithium and beryllium have been reported in recent years for classical novae based on absorption lines in ultraviolet and optical spectra during the optically thick stages, but these findings have not been compared with spectrum syntheses of the ejecta. Aims. We present a grid of nova ejecta models calculated with PHOENIX aimed at simulating the reported Li I and Be II features with super-solar abundances. Methods. We computed a sequence of models, finely exploring the parameter space of effective temperature, ejecta expansion velocity, and Li and Be overabundances. Results. Regardless of temperature and expansion velocity, the synthetic spectra for large Li and Be overabundances strongly disagree with those presented in recent literature. Assuming a wide range of Be overabundances (factors of 100 to 10 000 relative to solar), we predict a much stronger spectroscopic feature at Be II 3130 Å than those so far observed. A similar overabundance for Li would instead result in a barely observable change in the emitted flux at Li I 6709 Å. The observed extended absorption feature at 3131 Å reported in V838 Her and other novae appears even in zero-Be models with only solar abundances (which for novae are underestimates). Conclusions. The computed spectra do not support the lithium and beryllium abundances, and caution is warranted in the interpretation of the phenomenology.

Accretion flows in nonmagnetic white dwarf binaries as observed in X-rays

Cataclysmic Variables (CVs) are compact binaries with white dwarf (WD) primaries. CVs and other accreting WD binaries (AWBs) are useful laboratories for studying accretion flows, gas dynamics, outflows, transient outbursts, and explosive nuclear burning under different astrophysical plasma conditions. They have been studied over decades and are important for population studies of galactic X-ray sources. Recent space- and ground-based high resolution spectral and timing studies, along with recent surveys indicate that we still have observational and theoretical complexities yet to answer. I review accretion in nonmagnetic AWBs in the light of X-ray observations. I present X-ray diagnostics of accretion in dwarf novae and the disk outbursts, the nova-like systems, and the state of the research on the disk winds and outflows in the nonmagnetic CVs together with comparisons and relations to classical and recurrent nova systems, AM CVns and Symbiotic systems. I discuss how the advective hot accretion flows (ADAF-like) in the inner regions of accretion disks (merged with boundary layer zones) in nonmagnetic CVs explain most of the discrepancies and complexities that have been encountered in the X-ray observations. I stress how flickering variability studies from optical to X-rays can be probes to determine accretion history and disk structure together with how the temporal and spectral variability of CVs are related to that of LMXBs and AGNs. Finally, I discuss the nature of accretion in nonmagnetic WDs in terms of ADAF-like accretion flows, and elaborate on the solutions it brings and its complications, constructing an observational framework to motivate new theoretical calculations that introduce this flow-type in disks, outflow and wind models together with disk-instability models of outbursts and nova outbursts in AWBs and WD physics, in general.

Hydrodynamic simulations of classical novae; CO and ONe white dwarfs are supernova ia progenitors

Cataclysmic Variables (CVs) and Symbiotic Binaries are close (or not so close) binary star systems which contain both a white dwarf (WD) primary and a larger cooler secondary star that typically fills its Roche Lobe. The cooler star is losing mass through the inner Lagrangian point of the binary and a fraction of this material is accreted by the WD. Here we report on our hydrodynamic studies of the thermonuclear runaway (TNR) in the accreted material that ends in a Classical Nova explosion. We have followed the evolution of the TNRs on both carbon-oxygen (CO) and oxygen-neon (ONe) WDs. We report on 3 studies in this paper. First, simulations in which we accrete only solar matter using NOVA (our 1-D, fully implicit, hydro code). Second, we use MESA for similar studies in which we accrete only Solar matter and compare the results. Third, we accrete solar matter until the TNR is ongoing and then switch the composition in the accreted layers to a mixed composition: either 25% WD and 75% solar or 50% WD and 50% Solar matter. We find that the amount of accreted material is inversely proportional to the initial 12C abundance (as expected). Thus, accreting solar matter results in a larger amount of accreted material to fuel the outburst; much larger than in earlier studies where a mixed composition was assumed from the beginning of the simulation. Our most important result is that all these simulations eject significantly less mass than accreted and, therefore, the WD is growing in mass toward the Chandrasekhar Limit.

JINR stand measurements for improvements in the NOvA detector simulation chain

The NOvA [1] (NuMI Off-axis νe Appearance) is a long-baseline neutrino experiment studying neutrino oscillation phenomenon in the muon neutrino beam. The apparatus consists of a Near Detector at the Fermilab (U.S.A.) site, where the neutrinos are produced by the NuMI facility, and a Far Detector placed 810 km away. Both detectors are of similar construction based on a large-volume liquid scintillator tracking calorimeter with a finely segmented structure. Two test stands have been built at JINR (Dubna, Russia) to measure the Birks constant for protons of NOvA scintillator and the signal shaping of the NOvA electronics. During the years of the NOvA experiment operation, a comprehensive understanding of the NOvA detectors' performance was achieved, in particular, due to important additional measurements of electronics and scintillator parameters performed at the test benches. The parameters measured using these test stands have been implemented in the custom NOvA simulation chain.

Brazilian Bossa Nova and Cultural Anthropophagy

The music discourse was central for the definition of the national identity in the 1920s Brazil, as the Modernista movement assumed it to start a profound reflection on what would be the features of the culture of the Country. Choro and maxixe, dances and music for questionable people living in deprived areas of Rio de Janeiro, spread an energetic culture of life, soon contaminating the rest of the Brazilian society. The ‘negro’ music of mulato musicians could resist the European cultural colonization by imposing sensual and complicated rhythms onto traditional styles as waltz and polka imported from Europe by colonizers. It has been ‘cannibalized’ by formally educated European composers such as the French Darius Milhaud. In its turn, it has been capable of cannibalizing the European and North American cultures. The musical descendants of choro are today well known as samba, bossa-nova, and jazz-samba, produced by contamination and hybridization by Antonio Carlos ‘Tom’ Jobim, and Joao Gilberto. This music conquered the worldwide success maintaining, over time, an indisputable cultural-geographical identity forged onto the ideas that Oswald de Andrade heralded by his Manifesto Antropofago.

Low-energy Al23β -delayed proton decay and Na22 destruction in novae

The radionuclide $^{22}$Na is a target of $\gamma$-ray astronomy searches, predicted to be produced during thermonuclear runaways driving classical novae. The $^{22}$Na(p,$\gamma$)$^{23}$Mg reaction is the main destruction channel of $^{22}$Na during a nova, hence, its rate is needed to accurately predict the $^{22}$Na yield. However, experimental determinations of the resonance strengths have led to inconsistent results. In this work, we report a measurement of the branching ratios of the $^{23}$Al $\beta$-delayed protons, as a probe of the key 204--keV (center-of-mass) $^{22}$Na(p,$\gamma$)$^{23}$Mg resonance strength. We report a factor of 5 lower branching ratio compared to the most recent literature value. The variation in $^{22}$Na yield due to nuclear data inconsistencies was assessed using a series of hydrodynamic nova outburst simulations and has increased to a factor of 3.8, corresponding to a factor of $\sim$2 uncertainty in the maximum detectability distance. This is the first reported scientific measurement using the Gaseous Detector with Germanium Tagging (GADGET) system.

Cataclysmic variables as possible counterparts of ancient Far Eastern guest stars

ABSTRACT Continuing our efforts to select possible classical nova candidates among Far Eastern guest stars and to identify them with modern cataclysmic variables (CVs), we present a search for counterparts in 24 promising areas of the sky corresponding to ancient observations between 204 bce and 1690 ce. These areas were derived by us in a previous paper. Based on the physical entities of the CVs in our areas and reasonable magnitude limits compatible with the distribution of known eruption amplitudes of telescopic classical novae, we present a catalogue of a total of 80 CVs and related targets that could possibly have caused the historical sightings. This list could potentially be reduced by additionally discussing further information such as brightness or duration. In some cases, we present a detailed discussion of the interpretation of ancient sources comparing them with properties of the brightest CVs in the field. In order to estimate whether this list is representative, we discuss the distribution of CV types in our catalogue of counterparts for the historical events. Compared to the entire sky, the surface densities of most CV subtypes in our search fields reveal similar values, except for polars and intermediate polars, i.e. strongly magnetic CVs, for which a significant excess in our search fields was detected. Finally, we give an outlook towards future research in this topic, and provide in the online supplementary information a complete atlas of the celestial maps of all 24 guest star events, displaying the search areas and locations of CVs within them.

Spectroscopic and geometrical evolution of the ejecta of the classical nova ASASSN-18fv

ABSTRACT The optical spectroscopic observations of ASASSN-18fv observed from 2018 March 24 to 2019 January 26 are presented. The optical spectra are obtained from Mirranook, Vainu Bappu, and South African Astronomical observatories. The spectra are dominated by the hydrogen Balmer, Fe ii, and O i lines with P-Cygni profiles in the early phase, typical of an Fe ii class nova. The spectra show He i lines along with H i and O i emission lines in the decline phase placing the nova in the hybrid class of novae. The spectra show rapid development in high-ionization lines in this phase. Analysis of the light curve indicates t2 and t3 values of about 50 and 70 d, respectively, placing the nova in the category of moderately fast nova. The ejectum geometry, inclination, and position angle are estimated using morpho-kinematic analysis. The geometry of the ejecta is found to be an asymmetric bipolar structure with an inclination angle of about 53○. The ejected mass using photoionization analysis is found to be 6.07 × 10−4 M⊙.

AT 2016dah and AT 2017fyp: the first classical novae discovered within a tidal stream

ABSTRACT AT 2016dah and AT 2017fyp are fairly typical Andromeda galaxy (M 31) classical novae. AT 2016dah is an almost text book example of a ‘very fast’ declining, yet uncommon, Fe ii‘b’ (broad-lined) nova, discovered during the rise to peak optical luminosity, and decaying with a smooth broken power-law light curve. AT 2017fyp is classed as a ‘fast’ nova, unusually for M 31, its early decline spectrum simultaneously shows properties of both Fe ii and He/N spectral types – a ‘hybrid’. Similarly, the light curve of AT 2017fyp has a broken power-law decline but exhibits an extended flat-topped maximum. Both novae were followed in the UV and X-ray by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, but no X-ray source was detected for either nova. The pair were followed photometrically and spectroscopically into their nebular phases. The progenitor systems were not visible in archival optical data, implying that the mass donors are main-sequence stars. What makes AT 2016dah and AT 2017fyp particularly interesting is their position with respect to M 31. The pair are close on the sky but are located far from the centre of M 31, lying almost along the semiminor axis of their host. Radial velocity measurements and simulations of the M 31 nova population leads to the conclusion that both novae are members of the Andromeda Giant Stellar Stream (GSS). We find the probability of at least two M 31 novae appearing coincident with the GSS by chance is $\sim \!1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. Therefore, we claim that these novae arose from the GSS progenitor, not M 31 – the first confirmed novae discovered in a tidal steam.

Carbon–Oxygen Classical Novae Are Galactic 7Li Producers as well as Potential Supernova Ia Progenitors

Abstract We report on studies of classical nova (CN) explosions where we follow the evolution of thermonuclear runaways (TNRs) on carbon–oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs). We vary both the mass of the WD (from 0.6 M ⊙ to 1.35 M ⊙) and the composition of the accreted material. Our simulations are guided by the results of multidimensional studies of TNRs in WDs, which find that sufficient mixing with WD core material occurs after the TNR is well underway, and levels of enrichment are reached that agree with observations of CN ejecta abundances. We use NOVA (our one-dimensional hydrodynamic code) to accrete solar matter until the TNR is ongoing and then switch to a mixed composition (either 25% WD material and 75% solar or 50% WD material and 50% solar). Because the amount of accreted material is inversely proportional to the initial 12C abundance, by first accreting solar matter the amount of material taking part in the outburst is larger than in those simulations where we assume a mixed composition from the beginning. Our results show large enrichments of 7Be in the ejected gases, implying that CO CNe may be responsible for a significant fraction (∼100 M ⊙) of the 7Li in the galaxy (∼1000 M ⊙). Although the ejected gases are enriched in WD material, the WDs in these simulations eject less material than they accrete. We predict that the WD is growing in mass as a consequence of the accretion–outburst–accretion cycle, and CO CNe may be an important channel for SN Ia progenitors.

An evolutionary system of mineralogy. Part I: Stellar mineralogy (>13 to 4.6 Ga).

Minerals preserve records of the physical, chemical, and biological histories of their origins and subsequent alteration, and thus provide a vivid narrative of the evolution of Earth and other worlds through billions of years of cosmic history. Mineral properties, including trace and minor elements, ratios of isotopes, solid and fluid inclusions, external morphologies, and other idiosyncratic attributes, represent information that points to specific modes of formation and subsequent environmental histories-information essential to understanding the co-evolving geosphere and biosphere. This perspective suggests an opportunity to amplify the existing system of mineral classification, by which minerals are defined solely on idealized end-member chemical compositions and crystal structures. Here we present the first in a series of contributions to explore a complementary evolutionary system of mineralogy-a classification scheme that links mineral species to their paragenetic modes. The earliest stage of mineral evolution commenced with the appearance of the first crystals in the universe at >13 Ga and continues today in the expanding, cooling atmospheres of countless evolved stars, which host the high-temperature (T > 1000 K), low-pressure (P < 10-2 atm) condensation of refractory minerals and amorphous phases. Most stardust is thought to originate in three distinct processes in carbon- and/or oxygen-rich mineral-forming stars: (1) condensation in the cooling, expanding atmospheres of asymptotic giant branch stars; (2) during the catastrophic explosions of supernovae, most commonly core collapse (Type II) supernovae; and (3) classical novae explosions, the consequence of runaway fusion reactions at the surface of a binary white dwarf star. Each stellar environment imparts distinctive isotopic and trace element signatures to the micro- and nanoscale stardust grains that are recovered from meteorites and micrometeorites collected on Earth's surface, by atmospheric sampling, and from asteroids and comets. Although our understanding of the diverse mineral-forming environments of stars is as yet incomplete, we present a preliminary catalog of 41 distinct natural kinds of stellar minerals, representing 22 official International Mineralogical Association (IMA) mineral species, as well as 2 as yet unapproved crystalline phases and 3 kinds of non-crystalline condensed phases not codified by the IMA.

Astrophysical 22Mg(p, γ)23Al reaction rates from asymptotic normalization coefficient of 23Ne→22Ne+n * * Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFA0400502), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11975316, 11490561, 11535004, 11775013), the Continuous Basic Scientific Research Project (WDJC-2019-13) and the 973 Program (2013CB834406)

The radionuclide 22Na generates the emission of a characteristic 1.275 MeV -ray. This is a potential astronomical observable, whose occurrence is suspected in classical novae. The reaction is relevant to the nucleosynthesis of 22Na in Ne-rich novae. In this study, employing the adiabatic distorted wave approximation and continuum discretized coupled channel methods, the squared neutron asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANCs) for the virtual decay of + n were extracted, and determined as fm−1 and fm−1 for the ground state and the first excited state from the experimental angular distributions of populating the ground state and the first excited state of , respectively. Then, the squared proton ANC of was obtained as fm−1 according to the charge symmetry of the strong interaction. The astrophysical S-factors and reaction rates for the direct capture contribution in were also presented. Furthermore, the proton width of the first excited state of was derived to be eV from the neutron ANC of its mirror state in and used to compute the contribution from the first resonance of . This result demonstrates that the direct capture dominates the reaction at most temperatures of astrophysical relevance for .

Evolution of late Palaeozoic shearing in the Cobequid Highlands: constraints on the fragmentation of the Appalachian orogen in Nova Scotia along intra-continental shear zones

Evolution of late Palaeozoic shearing in the Cobequid Highlands: constraints on the fragmentation of the Appalachian orogen in Nova Scotia along intra-continental shear zones

Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova

Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems1. It has long been thought that the luminosity of classical novae is powered by continued nuclear burning on the surface of the white dwarf after the initial runaway2. However, recent observations of gigaelectronvolt γ-rays from classical novae have hinted that shocks internal to the nova ejecta may dominate the nova emission. Shocks have also been suggested to power the luminosity of events as diverse as stellar mergers3, supernovae4 and tidal disruption events5, but observational confirmation has been lacking. Here we report simultaneous space-based optical and γ-ray observations of the 2018 nova V906 Carinae (ASASSN-18fv), revealing a remarkable series of distinct correlated flares in both bands. The optical and γ-ray flares occur simultaneously, implying a common origin in shocks. During the flares, the nova luminosity doubles, implying that the bulk of the luminosity is shock powered. Furthermore, we detect concurrent but weak X-ray emission from deeply embedded shocks, confirming that the shock power does not appear in the X-ray band and supporting its emergence at longer wavelengths. Our data, spanning the spectrum from radio to γ-ray, provide direct evidence that shocks can power substantial luminosity in classical novae and other optical transients. Simultaneous optical and gamma-ray observations of nova V906 Carinae reveal correlated flares in both wavelength ranges that can be linked to shocks in the nova ejecta. Weak X-ray emission suggests that the shocks are deeply embedded, but they contribute substantially to the luminosity of the nova.

A unified theory of cataclysmic variable evolution from feedback-dominated numerical simulations

The envelopes accreted by white dwarf stars from their hydrogen-rich companions1 experience thermonuclear-powered runaways2,3 observed as classical nova eruptions4,5 peaking at 105–106 solar luminosities6–9. Virtually all nova progenitors—‘nova-like variables’—exhibit high mass transfer rates to their white dwarfs before and after an eruption10. Surprisingly, 10–1,000 times lower mass transfer rate11 binaries, exhibiting accretion-powered ‘dwarf nova’ outbursts12, exist at identical orbital periods. Nova shells surrounding dwarf novae13–16 demonstrate that at least some novae metamorphize into dwarf novae17,18, though the mechanisms and timescales governing mass transfer rate variations are poorly understood. Here, we report simulations of the multi-Gyr evolution of novae modelling every eruption’s thermonuclear runaway, mass and angular momentum losses, feedback due to irradiation and variable mass transfer rate, and orbital size and period changes. These feedback-dominated simulations reproduce the observed range of mass transfer rates at a given orbital period, with large and cyclic kyr–Myr timescale changes. They also demonstrate Myr-long deep hibernation (complete stoppage of mass transfer), but only in short-period binaries; that initially different binaries converge to become nearly identical systems; low-mass-transfer-rate dwarf novae occasionally generate novae; and that the masses of white dwarfs decrease monotonically, but only slightly while their red dwarf companions are consumed. Cataclysmic variables—a binary pairing of a white dwarf and a hydrogen-rich donor star—experience mass transfer and other complex interactions. This numerical simulation by Hillman et al. models in particular the feedback between the stellar pair, and succeeds in reproducing many of the observed characteristics of cataclysmic variables.

Model-independent test for CPT violation using long-baseline and atmospheric neutrino experiments

Charge-Parity-Time (CPT) symmetry governs that the oscillation parameters for neutrinos and anti-neutrinos are to be identical. Different mass and mixing parameters for these particles may give us a possible hint for CPT violation in the neutrino sector. Using this approach, we discuss the ability of long-baseline and atmospheric neutrino experiments to determine the difference between mass squared splittings ($\Delta m^{2}_{32}-\Delta\bar{m}^{2}_{32}$) and atmospheric mixing angles ($\sin^{2}\theta_{23}-\sin^{2}\bar{\theta}_{23}$) of neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. We show the joint sensitivity of the T2K, NOvA and INO experiments to such CPT violating observables in different possible combinations of octant for neutrinos and anti-neutrinos.

Classical Nova Carinae 2018: discovery of circumbinary iron and oxygen

ABSTRACT We present time-lapse spectroscopy of a classical nova explosion commencing 9 d after discovery. These data reveal the appearance of a transient feature in Fe ii and [O i]. We explore different models for this feature and conclude that it is best explained by a circumbinary disc shock-heated following the classical nova event. Circumbinary discs may play an important role in novae in accounting for the absorption systems known as transient heavy element absorption (THEA), the transfer of angular momentum, and the possible triggering of the nova event itself.

The ambiguous transient ASASSN-17hx

Aims. Some transients, although classified as novae based on their maximum and early decline optical spectra, cast doubts on their true nature, and raise the question of whether nova impostors might exist. Methods. We monitored a candidate nova that displayed a distinctly unusual light curve at maximum and early decline through optical spectroscopy (3000–10 000 Å, 500 &lt; R &lt; 100 000) complemented with Swift UV and AAVSO optical photometry. We use the spectral line series to characterize the ejecta dynamics, structure, and mass. Results. We find that the ejecta are in free ballistic expansion and have a typical classical nova structure. However, their derived mass is at least an order of magnitude higher than the typical ejecta masses obtained for classical novae. Specifically, we find Mej ≃9 × 10−3 M⊙ independent of the distance for a filling factor ε = 1. By constraining the distance we derived ε in the range 0.08–0.10, giving a mass 7 × 10−4 ≲ Mej ≲ 9 × 10−4 M⊙. The nebular spectrum, characterized by unusually strong coronal emission lines, confines the ionizing source energy to the range 20–250 eV, possibly peaking in the range 75–100 or 75–150 eV. Conclusions. We link this source to other slow novae that show similar behavior, and we suggest that they might form a distinct physical subgroup. The sources may result from a classical nova explosion occurring on a very low-mass white dwarf or they may be impostors for an entirely different type of transient.

X-ray grating spectra of novae in outburst, and the cases of two luminous novae in the Magellanic Clouds

High resolution X-ray spectra of classical and recurrent novae in outburst have opened a new window into the nova phenomenon, allowing to observe both the hydrogen burning white dwarf (WD) with only a very thin atmosphere on top, and violent phenomena occurring in the ejecta. By means of these spectra, the mass and chemical composition of the WD can be estimated and insight is obtained into the mass ejection process. I present here the cases of two Magellanic Clouds novae, the recurrent LMC 2009a, and SMC 2016a, the most luminous nova observed in the Clouds. The bolometric and X-ray luminosity of LMC 2009a peaked at only about 10% of the Eddington luminosity; our interpretation is that the WD was partially obscured, probably by the accretion disk, or by large clumps in the ejecta. SMC 2016a instead reached super-Eddington luminosity and was observed at or above the Eddington level for about 6 months. The WD was more massive than 1.2 M⊙ in both novae, but the short recurrence time and the (inferred) much higher accretion rate caused a less energetic outburst in LMC 2009a. While the SMC 2016a spectrum is dominated by the characteristic continuum and features of the WD atmosphere, the LMC 2009a spectrum is much more complex and has an overlap of absorption and emission features. The main contribution to the continuum in both novae originated in the WD atmosphere, but the spectral features of N LMC 2009a were produced also in different regions, and most likely were due to more than one mechanism.