arXiv · 1404.0582
Shortest Recurrence Periods of Novae
Abstract
Stimulated by the recent discovery of the 1 yr recurrence period nova M31N 2008-12a, we examined the shortest recurrence periods of hydrogen shell flashes on mass-accreting white dwarfs (WDs). We discuss the mechanism that yields a finite minimum recurrence period for a given WD mass. Calculating the unstable flashes for various WD masses and mass accretion rates, we identified a shortest recurrence period of about two months for a non-rotating 1.38 M_sun WD with a mass accretion rate of 3.6 x 10^{-7} M_sun yr^{-1}. A 1 yr recurrence period is realized for very massive (> 1.3 M_sun) WDs with very high accretion rates (> 1.5 x 10^{-7} M_sun yr^{-1}). We revised our stability limit of hydrogen shell burning, which will be useful for binary evolution calculations toward Type Ia supernovae.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Mariko Kato, Hideyuki Saio, Izumi Hachisu, Ken'ichi Nomoto. 2014-04-02. Shortest Recurrence Periods of Novae. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/793/2/136
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.