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; Ondřej 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. Filipović; Rami Z.E. Alsaberi; Perica Manojlović; 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, Ondřej 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. Filipović, Rami Z.E. Alsaberi, Perica Manojlović, 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

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems¹. 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 runaway². 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 mergers³, supernovae⁴ and tidal disruption events⁵, 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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	776-780
Number of pages	5
Journal	Nature Astronomy
Volume	4
Issue number	8
Early online date	13 Apr 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y
Publication status	Published - Aug 2020

Keywords

High-energy astrophysics
Stars
Time-domain astronomy
Transient astrophysical phenomena

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10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

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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(8), 776-780. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

@article{b268dc4ad23541d7b57b579831121525,

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 systems1. 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 runaway2. 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 mergers3, supernovae4 and tidal disruption events5, 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.",

keywords = "High-energy astrophysics, Stars, Time-domain astronomy, Transient astrophysical phenomena",

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 Ond{\v r}ej 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 Filipovi{\'c}, {Miroslav D.} and Alsaberi, {Rami Z.E.} and Perica Manojlovi{\'c} and Oliveira, {Raimundo Lopes de} 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 = aug,

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

language = "English",

volume = "4",

pages = "776--780",

journal = "Nature Astronomy",

issn = "2397-3366",

publisher = "Springer, Springer Nature",

number = "8",

}

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, Filipović, MD, Alsaberi, RZE, Manojlović, P, Oliveira, RLD, 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, no. 8, pp. 776-780. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

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, Ondřej

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 - Filipović, Miroslav D.

AU - Alsaberi, Rami Z.E.

AU - Manojlović, Perica

AU - Oliveira, Raimundo Lopes de

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 - 2020/8

Y1 - 2020/8

N2 - Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems1. 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 runaway2. 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 mergers3, supernovae4 and tidal disruption events5, 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.

AB - Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems1. 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 runaway2. 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 mergers3, supernovae4 and tidal disruption events5, 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.

KW - High-energy astrophysics

KW - Stars

KW - Time-domain astronomy

KW - Transient astrophysical phenomena

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85083790795&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

DO - 10.1038/s41550-020-1070-y

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85083790795

SN - 2397-3366

VL - 4

SP - 776

EP - 780

JO - Nature Astronomy

JF - Nature Astronomy

IS - 8

ER -

Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova

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