X-ray detection of a nova in the fireball phase

König O, Wilms J, Arcodia R, Dauser T, Dennerl K, Doroshenko V, Haberl F, Hämmerich S, Kirsch C, Kreykenbohm I, Lorenz M, Malyali A, Merloni A, Rau A, Rauch T, Sala G, Schwope A, Suleimanov V, Weber P, Werner K (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Nature Nature Research

Book Volume: 605

Pages Range: 248-250

Journal Issue: 7909

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04635-y

Abstract

Novae are caused by runaway thermonuclear burning in the hydrogen-rich envelopes of accreting white dwarfs, which leads to a rapid expansion of the envelope and the ejection of most of its mass1,2. Theory has predicted the existence of a ‘fireball’ phase following directly on from the runaway fusion, which should be observable as a short, bright and soft X-ray flash before the nova becomes visible in the optical3–5. Here we report observations of a bright and soft X-ray flash associated with the classical Galactic nova YZ Reticuli 11 h before its 9 mag optical brightening. No X-ray source was detected 4 h before and after the event, constraining the duration of the flash to shorter than 8 h. In agreement with theoretical predictions4,6–8, the source’s spectral shape is consistent with a black-body of 3.27+0.11−0.33 × 105 K (28.2+0.9−2.8 eV), or a white dwarf atmosphere, radiating at the Eddington luminosity, with a photosphere that is only slightly larger than a typical white dwarf.

Authors with CRIS profile

Ole König Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Jörn Wilms Lehrstuhl für Astronomie und Astrophysik Thomas Dauser Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Steven Hämmerich Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Christian Kirsch Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Ingo Kreykenbohm Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Maximilian Lorenz Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut Philipp Weber Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) / Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics DE Germany (DE) Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen DE Germany (DE) Polytechnic University of Catalonia / Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya ES Spain (ES) Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam / Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

König, O., Wilms, J., Arcodia, R., Dauser, T., Dennerl, K., Doroshenko, V.,... Werner, K. (2022). X-ray detection of a nova in the fireball phase. Nature, 605(7909), 248-250. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04635-y

MLA:

König, Ole, et al. "X-ray detection of a nova in the fireball phase." Nature 605.7909 (2022): 248-250.

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