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Register a new userThe spectroscopic evolution of the $gamma$-ray emitting classical nova Nova Mon 2012. I. Implications for the ONe subclass of classical novae
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S. N. Shore
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Nova Mon 2012 was the first classical nova to be detected as a high energy $gamma$-ray transient, by Fermi-LAT, before its optical discovery. We study a time sequence of high resolution optical echelle spectra (Nordic Optical Telescope) and contemporaneous NOT, STIS UV, and CHIRON echelle spectra (Nov 20/21/22). We use [O III] and H$beta$ line fluxs to constrain the properties of the ejecta. We derive the structure from the optical and UV line profiles and compare our measured line fluxes for with predictions using Cloudy with abundances from other ONe novae. Mon 2012 is confirmed as an ONe nova. We find E(B-V)=0.85$pm$0.05 and hydrogen column density $approx 5times 10^{21}$ cm$^{-2}$. The corrected continuum luminosity is nearly the same in the entire observed energy range as V1974 Cyg, V382 Mon, and Nova LMC 2000 at the same epoch after outburst. The distance, about 3.6 kpc, is quite similar to V1974 Cyg. The line profiles can be modeled using an axisymmetric bipolar geometry for the ejecta with various inclinations of the axis to the line of sight, 60 le i le 80 degrees, an opening angle of approx$70 deg, inner radius $Delta R/R(t)approx 0.4$ for permitted lines and less filled for forbidden lines. The filling factor $fapprox 0.1-0.3$ implying M(ejecta) $leq 6times 10^{-5}$M$_odot$. The ONe novae appear to comprise a single physical class with bipolar high mass ejecta, similarly enhanced abundances, and a common spectroscopic evolution within a narrow range of luminosities. The detected $gamma$-ray emission may be a generic phenomenon, common to all ONe novae, possibly to all classical novae, and connected with acceleration and emission processes within the ejecta (abstract severely truncated).
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We present and discuss accurate and densely mapped BVRI lightcurves of the neon Nova Mon 2012, supplemented by the evolution in Stromgren b and y bands and in the integrated flux of relevant emission lines. Our monitoring started with the optical discovery of the nova and extend to day +270, well past the end of the super-soft phase in X-rays. The nova displayed very smoothly evolving lightcurves. A bifurcation between y and V light-curves took place at the start of the SSS phase, and a knee developed toward the end of the SSS phase. The apparent magnitude of the nova at the unobserved optical maximum is constrained to +2.8=<V=<4.2. The appearance, grow in amplitude and then demise of a 0.29585 (+/-0.00002) days orbital modulation of the optical brightness was followed along the nova evolution. The observed modulation has a near-sinusoidal shape and a weak secondary minimum at phase 0.5. We favor an interpretation in terms of super-imposed ellipsoidal distortion of the Roche lobe filling companion and irradiation of its side facing the WD. Similar lightcurves are typical of symbiotic stars where a Roche lobe filling giant is irradiated by a very hot WD. Given the high orbital inclination, mutual occultation between the donor star and the accretion disk could contribute to the observed modulation. The optical+infrared spectral energy distribution of Nova Mon 2012 during the quiescence preceeding the outburst is nicely fitted by a early K-type main-sequence star (~K3V) at 1.5 kpc distance, reddened by E(B-V)=0.38, with a WD companion and an accretion disk contributing to the observed blue excess and moderate Halpha emission. A typical early K-type main-sequence star with a mass of ~0.75 Msun and a radius of ~0.8 Rsun, would fill its Roche lobe for a P=0.29585 day orbital period and a more massive WD companion.
Nova Mon 2012 is the third gamma-ray transient identified with a thermonuclear runaway on a white dwarf, that is, a nova event. Swift monitoring has revealed the distinct evolution of the harder and super-soft X-ray spectral components, while Swift-UV and V and I-band photometry show a gradual decline with subtle changes of slope. During the super-soft emission phase, a coherent 7.1 hr modulation was found in the soft X-ray, UV, optical and near-IR data, varying in phase across all wavebands. Assuming this period to be orbital, the system has a near-main sequence secondary, with little appreciable stellar wind. This distinguishes it from the first GeV nova, V407 Cyg, where the gamma-rays were proposed to form through shock-accelerated particles as the ejecta interacted with the red giant wind. We favor a model in which the gamma-rays arise from the shock of the ejecta with material close to the white dwarf in the orbital plane. This suggests that classical novae may commonly be GeV sources. We ascribe the orbital modulation to a raised section of an accretion disk passing through the line of sight, periodically blocking and reflecting much of the emission. The disk must, therefore, have reformed by day 150 after outburst.
The dust-forming nova V2676 Oph is unique in that it was the first nova to provide evidence of C_2 and CN molecules during its near-maximum phase and evidence of CO molecules during its early decline phase. Observations of this nova have revealed the slow evolution of its lightcurves and have also shown low isotopic ratios of carbon (12C/13C) and nitrogen (14N/15N) in its nova envelope. These behaviors indicate that the white dwarf (WD) star hosting V2676 Oph is a CO-rich WD rather than an ONe-rich WD (typically larger in mass than the former). We performed mid-infrared spectroscopic and photometric observations of V2676 Oph in 2013 and 2014 (respectively 452 and 782 days after its discovery). No significant [Ne II] emission at 12.8 micron was detected at either epoch. These provided evidence for a CO-rich WD star hosting V2676 Oph. Both carbon-rich and oxygen-rich grains were detected in addition to an unidentified infrared feature at 11.4 micron originating from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules or hydrogenated amorphous carbon grains in the envelope of V2676 Oph.
The nova T Pyx was observed with high resolution spectroscopy (R ~ 65000) spectroscopy, beginning 1 day after discovery of the outburst and continuing through the last visibility of the star at the end of May 2011. The interstellar absorption lines of Na I, Ca II, CH, CH$^+$, and archival H I 21 cm emission line observations have been used to determine a kinematic distance. Interstellar diffuse absorption features have been used to determine the extinction independent of previous assumptions. Sample Fe-peak line profiles show the optical depth and radial velocity evolution of the discrete components. We propose a distance to T Pyx $geq$4.5kpc, with a strict lower limit of 3.5 kpc (the previously accepted distance). We derive an extinction, E(B-V)$approx0.5pm$0.1, that is higher than previous estimates. The first observation, Apr. 15, displayed He I, He II, C III, and N III emission lines and a maximum velocity on P Cyg profiles of the Balmer and He I lines of $approx$2500 km s$^{-1}$ characteristic of the fireball stage. These ions were undetectable in the second spectrum, Apr. 23, and we use the recombination time to estimate the mass of the ejecta, $10^{-5}f$M$_odot$ for a filling factor $f$. Numerous absorption line systems were detected on the Balmer, Fe-peak, Ca II, and Na I lines, mirrored in broader emission line components, that showed an accelerated displacement in velocity. We also show that the time sequence of these absorptions, which are common to all lines and arise only in the ejecta, can be described by recombination front moving outward in the expanding gas without either a stellar wind or circumstellar collisions.
The POINT-AGAPE survey is an optical search for gravitational microlensing events towards the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). As well as microlensing, the survey is sensitive to many different classes of variable stars and transients. Here we describe the automated detection and selection pipeline used to identify M31 classical novae (CNe) and we present the resulting catalogue of 20 CN candidates observed over three seasons. CNe are observed both in the bulge region as well as over a wide area of the M31 disk. Nine of the CNe are caught during the final rise phase and all are well sampled in at least two colours. The excellent light-curve coverage has allowed us to detect and classify CNe over a wide range of speed class, from very fast to very slow. Among the light-curves is a moderately fast CN exhibiting entry into a deep transition minimum, followed by its final decline. We have also observed in detail a very slow CN which faded by only 0.01 mag day$^{-1}$ over a 150 day period. We detect other interesting variable objects, including one of the longest period and most luminous Mira variables. The CN catalogue constitutes a uniquely well-sampled and objectively-selected data set with which to study the statistical properties of classical novae in M31, such as the global nova rate, the reliability of novae as standard-candle distance indicators and the dependence of the nova population on stellar environment. The findings of this statistical study will be reported in a follow-up paper.
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