Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11320%2F20%3A10424616" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11320/20:10424616 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=Hyy3Su2jBH" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=Hyy3Su2jBH</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y" target="_blank" >10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova

Original language description

Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems. It has long been thought that the luminosity of classical novae is powered by continued nuclear burning on the surface of the white dwarf after the initial runaway. However, recent observations of gigaelectronvolt γ-rays from classical novae have hinted that shocks internal to the nova ejecta may dominate the nova emission. Shocks have also been suggested to power the luminosity of events as diverse as stellar mergers, supernovae and tidal disruption events, but observational confirmation has been lacking. Here we report simultaneous space-based optical and γ-ray observations of the 2018 nova V906 Carinae (ASASSN-18fv), revealing a remarkable series of distinct correlated flares in both bands. The optical and γ-ray flares occur simultaneously, implying a common origin in shocks. During the flares, the nova luminosity doubles, implying that the bulk of the luminosity is shock powered. Furthermore, we detect concurrent but weak X-ray emission from deeply embedded shocks, confirming that the shock power does not appear in the X-ray band and supporting its emergence at longer wavelengths. Our data, spanning the spectrum from radio to γ-ray, provide direct evidence that shocks can power substantial luminosity in classical novae and other optical transients.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10308 - Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)

Project

<a href="/en/project/LTAUSA18093" target="_blank" >LTAUSA18093: Time-variability in astronomy: participation in project All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2020

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Nature Astronomy [online]

ISSN

2397-3366

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

4

Issue of the periodical within the volume

8

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

5

Pages from-to

776-780

UT code for WoS article

000526230500004

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85083790795