Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova

Elias Aydi; Kirill V. . Sokolovsky; Laura Chomiuk; Elad Steinberg; Kwan Lok Li; Indrek Vurm; Brian D. Metzger; Jay Strader; Koji Mukai; Ondrej Pejcha; Ken J. Shen; Gregg A. Wade; Rainer Kuschnig; Anthony F. J. Moffat; Herbert Pablo; Andrzej Pigulski; Adam Popowicz; Werner Weiss; Konstanze Zwintz; Luca Izzo; Karen R. Pollard; Gerald Handler; Stuart D. Ryder; Miroslav D. Filipovic; Rami Z. E. Alsaberi; Perica Manojlovic; Raimundo Lopes de Oliveira; Frederick M. Walter; Patrick J. Vallely; David A. H. Buckley; Michael J. I. Brown; Eamonn J. Harvey; Adam Kawash; Alexei Kniazev; Christopher S. Kochanek; Justin Linford; Joanna Mikolajewska; Paolo Molaro; Marina Orio; Kim L. Page; Benjamin J. Shappee; Jennifer L. Sokoloski

doi:10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova

Elias Aydi, Kirill V. . Sokolovsky, Laura Chomiuk, Elad Steinberg, Kwan Lok Li, Indrek Vurm, Brian D. Metzger, Jay Strader, Koji Mukai, Ondrej Pejcha, Ken J. Shen, Gregg A. Wade, Rainer Kuschnig, Anthony F. J. Moffat, Herbert Pablo, Andrzej Pigulski, Adam Popowicz, Werner Weiss, Konstanze Zwintz, Luca IzzoKaren R. Pollard, Gerald Handler, Stuart D. Ryder, Miroslav D. Filipovic, Rami Z. E. Alsaberi, Perica Manojlovic, Raimundo Lopes de Oliveira, Frederick M. Walter, Patrick J. Vallely, David A. H. Buckley, Michael J. I. Brown, Eamonn J. Harvey, Adam Kawash, Alexei Kniazev, Christopher S. Kochanek, Justin Linford, Joanna Mikolajewska, Paolo Molaro, Marina Orio, Kim L. Page, Benjamin J. Shappee, Jennifer L. Sokoloski

DARK

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

72 Citations (Scopus)

8 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems(1). 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(2). However, recent observations of gigaelectronvolt gamma-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(3), supernovae(4) and tidal disruption events(5), but observational confirmation has been lacking. Here we report simultaneous space-based optical and gamma-ray observations of the 2018 nova V906 Carinae (ASASSN-18fv), revealing a remarkable series of distinct correlated flares in both bands. The optical and gamma-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 gamma-ray, provide direct evidence that shocks can power substantial luminosity in classical novae and other optical transients.

Simultaneous optical and gamma-ray observations of nova V906 Carinae reveal correlated flares in both wavelength ranges that can be linked to shocks in the nova ejecta. Weak X-ray emission suggests that the shocks are deeply embedded, but they contribute substantially to the luminosity of the nova.

Original language	English
Journal	Nature Astronomy
Volume	4
Pages (from-to)	776-780
Number of pages	5
ISSN	2397-3366
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y
Publication status	Published - 13 Apr 2020

Keywords

GAMMA-RAY EMISSION
LIGHT CURVES
ACCELERATION
EJECTION
OUTBURST

Access to Document

10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

FulltextSubmitted manuscript, 4.77 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Aydi, E., Sokolovsky, K. V. ., Chomiuk, L., Steinberg, E., Li, K. L., Vurm, I., Metzger, B. D., Strader, J., Mukai, K., Pejcha, O., Shen, K. J., Wade, G. A., Kuschnig, R., Moffat, A. F. J., Pablo, H., Pigulski, A., Popowicz, A., Weiss, W., Zwintz, K., ... Sokoloski, J. L. (2020). Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova. Nature Astronomy, 4, 776-780. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

Aydi, E, Sokolovsky, KV, Chomiuk, L, Steinberg, E, Li, KL, Vurm, I, Metzger, BD, Strader, J, Mukai, K, Pejcha, O, Shen, KJ, Wade, GA, Kuschnig, R, Moffat, AFJ, Pablo, H, Pigulski, A, Popowicz, A, Weiss, W, Zwintz, K, Izzo, L, Pollard, KR, Handler, G, Ryder, SD, Filipovic, MD, Alsaberi, RZE, Manojlovic, P, de Oliveira, RL, Walter, FM, Vallely, PJ, Buckley, DAH, Brown, MJI, Harvey, EJ, Kawash, A, Kniazev, A, Kochanek, CS, Linford, J, Mikolajewska, J, Molaro, P, Orio, M, Page, KL, Shappee, BJ & Sokoloski, JL 2020, 'Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova', Nature Astronomy, vol. 4, pp. 776-780. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

@article{431878a4f8bd4d23ae735cc59f0d8d4f,

title = "Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova",

abstract = "Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems(1). 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(2). However, recent observations of gigaelectronvolt gamma-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(3), supernovae(4) and tidal disruption events(5), but observational confirmation has been lacking. Here we report simultaneous space-based optical and gamma-ray observations of the 2018 nova V906 Carinae (ASASSN-18fv), revealing a remarkable series of distinct correlated flares in both bands. The optical and gamma-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 gamma-ray, provide direct evidence that shocks can power substantial luminosity in classical novae and other optical transients.Simultaneous optical and gamma-ray observations of nova V906 Carinae reveal correlated flares in both wavelength ranges that can be linked to shocks in the nova ejecta. Weak X-ray emission suggests that the shocks are deeply embedded, but they contribute substantially to the luminosity of the nova.",

keywords = "GAMMA-RAY EMISSION, LIGHT CURVES, ACCELERATION, EJECTION, OUTBURST",

author = "Elias Aydi and Sokolovsky, {Kirill V. .} and Laura Chomiuk and Elad Steinberg and Li, {Kwan Lok} and Indrek Vurm and Metzger, {Brian D.} and Jay Strader and Koji Mukai and Ondrej Pejcha and Shen, {Ken J.} and Wade, {Gregg A.} and Rainer Kuschnig and Moffat, {Anthony F. J.} and Herbert Pablo and Andrzej Pigulski and Adam Popowicz and Werner Weiss and Konstanze Zwintz and Luca Izzo and Pollard, {Karen R.} and Gerald Handler and Ryder, {Stuart D.} and Filipovic, {Miroslav D.} and Alsaberi, {Rami Z. E.} and Perica Manojlovic and {de Oliveira}, {Raimundo Lopes} and Walter, {Frederick M.} and Vallely, {Patrick J.} and Buckley, {David A. H.} and Brown, {Michael J. I.} and Harvey, {Eamonn J.} and Adam Kawash and Alexei Kniazev and Kochanek, {Christopher S.} and Justin Linford and Joanna Mikolajewska and Paolo Molaro and Marina Orio and Page, {Kim L.} and Shappee, {Benjamin J.} and Sokoloski, {Jennifer L.}",

year = "2020",

month = apr,

day = "13",

doi = "10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y",

language = "English",

volume = "4",

pages = "776--780",

journal = "Nature Astronomy",

issn = "2397-3366",

publisher = "nature publishing group",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova

AU - Aydi, Elias

AU - Sokolovsky, Kirill V. .

AU - Chomiuk, Laura

AU - Steinberg, Elad

AU - Li, Kwan Lok

AU - Vurm, Indrek

AU - Metzger, Brian D.

AU - Strader, Jay

AU - Mukai, Koji

AU - Pejcha, Ondrej

AU - Shen, Ken J.

AU - Wade, Gregg A.

AU - Kuschnig, Rainer

AU - Moffat, Anthony F. J.

AU - Pablo, Herbert

AU - Pigulski, Andrzej

AU - Popowicz, Adam

AU - Weiss, Werner

AU - Zwintz, Konstanze

AU - Izzo, Luca

AU - Pollard, Karen R.

AU - Handler, Gerald

AU - Ryder, Stuart D.

AU - Filipovic, Miroslav D.

AU - Alsaberi, Rami Z. E.

AU - Manojlovic, Perica

AU - de Oliveira, Raimundo Lopes

AU - Walter, Frederick M.

AU - Vallely, Patrick J.

AU - Buckley, David A. H.

AU - Brown, Michael J. I.

AU - Harvey, Eamonn J.

AU - Kawash, Adam

AU - Kniazev, Alexei

AU - Kochanek, Christopher S.

AU - Linford, Justin

AU - Mikolajewska, Joanna

AU - Molaro, Paolo

AU - Orio, Marina

AU - Page, Kim L.

AU - Shappee, Benjamin J.

AU - Sokoloski, Jennifer L.

PY - 2020/4/13

Y1 - 2020/4/13

N2 - Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems(1). 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(2). However, recent observations of gigaelectronvolt gamma-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(3), supernovae(4) and tidal disruption events(5), but observational confirmation has been lacking. Here we report simultaneous space-based optical and gamma-ray observations of the 2018 nova V906 Carinae (ASASSN-18fv), revealing a remarkable series of distinct correlated flares in both bands. The optical and gamma-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 gamma-ray, provide direct evidence that shocks can power substantial luminosity in classical novae and other optical transients.Simultaneous optical and gamma-ray observations of nova V906 Carinae reveal correlated flares in both wavelength ranges that can be linked to shocks in the nova ejecta. Weak X-ray emission suggests that the shocks are deeply embedded, but they contribute substantially to the luminosity of the nova.

AB - Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems(1). 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(2). However, recent observations of gigaelectronvolt gamma-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(3), supernovae(4) and tidal disruption events(5), but observational confirmation has been lacking. Here we report simultaneous space-based optical and gamma-ray observations of the 2018 nova V906 Carinae (ASASSN-18fv), revealing a remarkable series of distinct correlated flares in both bands. The optical and gamma-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 gamma-ray, provide direct evidence that shocks can power substantial luminosity in classical novae and other optical transients.Simultaneous optical and gamma-ray observations of nova V906 Carinae reveal correlated flares in both wavelength ranges that can be linked to shocks in the nova ejecta. Weak X-ray emission suggests that the shocks are deeply embedded, but they contribute substantially to the luminosity of the nova.

KW - GAMMA-RAY EMISSION

KW - LIGHT CURVES

KW - ACCELERATION

KW - EJECTION

KW - OUTBURST

U2 - 10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

DO - 10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2397-3366

VL - 4

SP - 776

EP - 780

JO - Nature Astronomy

JF - Nature Astronomy

ER -