High-energy observations of novae
Abstract
I will review the lessons learned from the last few years of high-energy observations of classical and recurrent novae. Some observations have reinforced previous ideas (such as ejecta dispersion revealing the hot white dwarf, and ejecta shocks), while others have revealed new behaviours still in the process of being understood. XMM-Newton, Chandra, Swift and Fermi have led the way, MAXI and Suzaku have also contributed. Novae in our own Galaxy can be studied in great detail, and M31 provides a wonderful nova-rich laboratory. The mass of the white dwarf appears to dominate many aspects of nova outbursts, the density of a companion star wind is another significant variable. Even so, there remain very high energy gamma-rays, short period QPOs, and an early soft X-ray phase of huge variability with no obvious correlates or very convincing models.
- Publication:
-
The X-ray Universe 2014
- Pub Date:
- July 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014xru..confE..14O