A Light-curve Model of the Symbiotic Nova PU Vul (1979): A Very Quiet Explosion with Long-lasting Flat Peak

We present a light-curve model of the symbiotic nova PU Vul (Nova Vulpeculae 1979) that shows a long-lasting flat peak with no spectral indication of wind mass loss before decline. Our quasi-evolution models consisting of a series of static solutions explain both the optical flat peak and ultraviolet (UV) light curve simultaneously. The white dwarf mass is estimated to be ~0.6 M _sun. We also provide a new determination of the reddening, E(B - V) = 0.43 ± 0.05, from UV spectral analysis. Theoretical light-curve fitting of UV 1455 Å provides the distance of d = 3.8 ± 0.7 kpc.