Effects of a companion star on slow nova outbursts - Transition from static to wind evolutions

Mariko Kato, Izumi Hachisu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Two types of nova evolutions can occur in low-mass white dwarfs of 0.5-0.7 M, i.e., an evolution with optically thick winds like in usual classical novae, or an another type of evolution without them like in the symbiotic nova PU Vul. The latter type is characterized by spectra with no indication of strong winds as well as a long-lasting flat optical peak in its light curve. We propose a transition from evolution with no optically thick wind to usual evolution with optically thick winds as a new outburst model for slow novae that show a relatively long-lasting multipeak phase followed by a wind phase like in the slow novae V723 Cas, HR Del, and V5558 Sgr. We calculated nova envelopes with one-dimensional approximation of the companion's effects and found that when the companion star is deeply embedded in the extended nova envelope, the structure of the static envelope approaches that of the optically thick wind solution. Thus, the transition from static to wind solution is triggered by the effect of the companion. The transition occurs in a close binary nova like V723 Cas, but is not triggered in a long-period binary like PU Vul. We reconfirm our previous results that the frictional energy deposition is negligibly small in almost all hydrogen/helium novae because of the low envelope density at the orbit.

Original languageEnglish
Article number157
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume743
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011 Dec 20
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • binaries: close
  • novae, cataclysmic variables
  • stars: individual (V723 Cas, HR Del, V5558 Sgr)
  • stars: winds, outflows

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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