Resolving short supersoft source states of optical novae in the core of M31
Abstract
We propose to continue the monitoring of the M31 core with 5x23ks XMM-Newton EPIC and 5x20ks Chandra HRC-I observations equally distributed from Nov 2011 to mid Feb 2012 to determine additional light curves for short SSS states of optical novae. SSS states with <100 d duration indicate accreting massive white dwarfs (WDs). They are proposed as SN Ia progenitors and determining their frequency is very important. We will correlate detected sources with novae from optical monitoring. With a nova rate in the field of ~38/yr and SSS states lasting from weeks to years we will follow light curves of many novae. Durations of the nova SSS state will allow us to constrain envelope and white dwarf masses. We will also monitor time variability of ~200 M31 X-ray sources (mostly XRBs).
- Publication:
-
XMM-Newton Proposal
- Pub Date:
- October 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010xmm..prop..178P
- Keywords:
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- White Dwarf Binaries;
- Neutron Star Binaries;
- Cataclysmic Variables;
- ULXs;
- Black Holes;
- M31