The E-Nova Project: Insights from X-ray Observations
Abstract
Classical and recurrent novae are often seen to emit optically thin X-ray emissions in the 1-10 keV range, 1 week to several years after optical peak. We present selected results from Swift and Suzaku observations of recent novae obtained as part of the E-Nova project (see Nelson et al.) as well as archival data. The very presence of such X-rays show that collisions between multiple systems of ejecta, at relative velocities of >1,000 km/s, are common in classical novae. The fact that some of these shocks are also capable of particle acceleration has been demonstrated by the recent Fermi detection of 3 novae. We will present the temperature and luminosity evolution of shock X-ray emission in several novae. We can put some constraints on the cooling time of the shocked ejecta; we will consider the implications on the density of ejecta. Furthermore, we commonly observe intrinsic absorption that decreases with time. We interpret this as due to expansion of the unshocked part of the outer ejecta. We will use this, in conjunction with radio data (see Chomiuk et al.), to infer the often complex history of mass ejection in classical and recurrent novae.
- Publication:
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AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #13
- Pub Date:
- April 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013HEAD...1312602M