X-RAY GRATING OBSERVATIONS OF RECURRENT NOVA T PYXIDIS DURING THE 2011 OUTBURST

The recurrent nova T Pyx was observed with the X-ray gratings of Chandra and XMM-Newton, 210 and 235 days, respectively, after the discovery of the 2011 April 14 outburst. The X-ray spectra show prominent emission lines of C, N, and O, with broadening corresponding to an FWHM of ~2000-3000 km s supe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2013-12, Vol.779 (1), p.1-13
Main Authors: TOFFLEMIRE, BENJAMIN M, Orio, Marina, Page, Kim L, Osborne, Julian P, Ciroi, Stefano, Cracco, Valentina, Di Mille, Francesco, Maxwell, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANISOTROPY
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ATMOSPHERES
Continuums
Ejecta
EMISSION
EQUILIBRIUM
Gratings (spectra)
MASS
Nova
NOVAE
Outbursts
PLASMA DENSITY
SOFT X RADIATION
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
SULFUR IONS
SYMMETRY
TELESCOPES
Temperature
WHITE DWARF STARS
X-RAY SPECTRA
X-rays
XMM (spacecraft)
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Summary:The recurrent nova T Pyx was observed with the X-ray gratings of Chandra and XMM-Newton, 210 and 235 days, respectively, after the discovery of the 2011 April 14 outburst. The X-ray spectra show prominent emission lines of C, N, and O, with broadening corresponding to an FWHM of ~2000-3000 km s super(-1), and line ratios consistent with high-density plasma in collisional ionization equilibrium. On day 210 we also measured soft X-ray continuum emission that appears to be consistent with a white dwarf (WD) atmosphere at a temperature ~420,000 K, partially obscured by anisotropic, optically thick ejecta. The X-ray continuum emission is modulated with the photometric and spectroscopic period observed in quiescence. The continuum at day 235 indicated a WD atmosphere at a consistent effective temperature of 25 days earlier, but with a lower flux. The effective temperature indicates a mass of ~1 M sub([middot in circle]). The conclusion of partial WD obscuration is supported by the complex geometry of non-spherically symmetric ejecta confirmed in recent optical spectra obtained with the Southern African Large Telescope in November and December of 2012. These spectra exhibited prominent [OIII] nebular lines with velocity structures typical of bipolar ejecta.
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/779/1/22