Supersoft X-Ray Light Curve of RS Ophiuchi (2006)

One of the candidates for Type Ia supernova progenitors, the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi, underwent its sixth recorded outburst in 2006 February, and for the first time a complete light curve of supersoft X-rays has been obtained. It shows the much earlier emergence and longer duration of a supersoft X-ray phase than expected before. These characteristics can be naturally understood when a significant amount of helium layer piles up beneath the hydrogen-burning zone during the outburst, suggesting that the white dwarf (WD) is effectively growing in mass. We have estimated the WD mass in RS Oph to be 1.35+/-0.01 M_solar and the growth rate of the WD mass to be at an average rate of ~1×10^-7 M_solar yr^-1. The white dwarf will probably reach the critical mass for Type Ia explosion if the present accretion continues further for a few to several times 10⁵ yr.