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Elias Aydi

Publications and source records attributed to Elias Aydi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Evidence for multiple shocks from the $γ$-ray emission of RS Ophiuchi

In August of 2021, Fermi-LAT, H.E.S.S., and MAGIC detected GeV and TeV $γ$-ray emission from an outburst of recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi. This detection represents the first very high energy $γ$-rays observed from a nova, and opens a new window to study particle acceleration. Both H.E.S.S. and MAGIC described the observed $γ$-rays as arising from a single, external shock. In this paper, we perform detailed, multi-zone modeling of RS Ophiuchi's 2021 outburst including a self-consistent prescription for particle acceleration and magnetic field amplification. We demonstrate that, contrary to previous work, a single shock cannot simultaneously explain RS Ophiuchi's GeV and TeV emission, particularly the spectral shape and distinct light curve peaks. Instead, we put forward a model involving multiple shocks that reproduces the observed $γ$-ray spectrum and temporal evolution. The simultaneous appearance of multiple distinct velocity components in the nova optical spectrum over the first several days of the outburst supports the presence of distinct shocks, which may arise either from the strong latitudinal dependence of the density of the external circumbinary medium (e.g., in the binary equatorial plane versus the poles) or due to internal collisions within the white dwarf ejecta (as powers the $γ$-ray emission in classical novae).

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Multi-Wavelength Observations Of A New Redback Millisecond Pulsar 4FGL J1910.7-5320

We present the study of multi-wavelength observations of an unidentified Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) source, 4FGL J1910.7-5320, a new candidate redback millisecond pulsar binary. In the 4FGL 95% error region of 4FGL J1910.7-5320, we find a possible binary with a 8.36-hr orbital period from the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey (CRTS), confirmed by optical spectroscopy using the SOAR telescope. This optical source was recently independently discovered as a redback pulsar by the TRAPUM project, confirming our prediction. We fit the optical spectral energy distributions of 4FGL J1910.7-5320 with a blackbody model, inferring a maximum distance of 4.1 kpc by assuming that the companion fills its Roche-lobe with a radius of R = 0.7R_sun. Using a 12.6 ks Chandra X-ray observation, we identified an X-ray counterpart for 4FGL J1910.7-5320, with a spectrum that can be described by an absorbed power-law with a photon index of 1.0+/-0.4. The spectrally hard X-ray emission shows tentative evidence for orbital variability. Using more than 12 years of Fermi-LAT data, we refined the position of the γ-ray source, and the optical candidate still lies within the 68% positional error circle. In addition to 4FGL J1910.7-5320, we find a variable optical source with a periodic signal of 4.28-hr inside the 4FGL catalog 95% error region of another unidentified Fermi source, 4FGL J2029.5-4237. However, the γ-ray source does not have a significant X-ray counterpart in a 11.7 ks Chandra observation, with a 3-σ flux upper limit of 2.4*10^-14 erg cm^-2 s^-1 (0.3-7 keV). Moreover, the optical source is outside our updated Fermi-LAT 95% error circle. These observational facts all suggest that this new redback millisecond pulsar powers the γ-ray source 4FGL J1910.7-5320 while 4FGL J2029.5-4237 is unlikely the γ-ray counterpart to the 4.28-hr variable.

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A New Flaring Black Widow Candidate and Demographics of Black Widow Millisecond Pulsars in the Galactic Field

We present the discovery of a new optical/X-ray source likely associated with the Fermi $γ$-ray source 4FGL J1408.6-2917. Its high-amplitude periodic optical variability, large spectroscopic radial velocity semi-amplitude, evidence for optical emission lines and flaring, and X-ray properties together imply the source is probably a new black widow millisecond pulsar binary. We compile the properties of the 41 confirmed and suspected field black widows, finding a median secondary mass of $0.027\pm0.003\,M_{\odot}$. Considered jointly with the more massive redback millisecond pulsar binaries, we find that the "spider" companion mass distribution remains strongly bimodal, with essentially zero systems having companion masses between $\sim0.07-0.1\,M_{\odot}$. X-ray emission from black widows is typically softer and less luminous than in redbacks, consistent with less efficient particle acceleration in the intrabinary shock in black widows, excepting a few systems that appear to have more efficient "redback-like" shocks. Together black widows and redbacks dominate the census of the fastest-spinning field millisecond pulsars in binaries with known companion types, making up $\gtrsim$80% of systems with $P_{\rm{spin}}<2\,\rm{ms}$. Similar to redbacks, the neutron star masses in black widows appear on average significantly larger than the canonical $1.4\,M_{\odot}$, and many of the highest-mass neutron stars claimed to date are black widows with $M_{\rm{NS}}\gtrsim2.1\,M_{\odot}$. Both of these observations are consistent with an evolutionary picture where spider millisecond pulsars emerge from short orbital period progenitors that had a lengthy period of mass transfer initiated while the companion was on the main sequence, leading to fast spins and high masses.

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1RXH J082623.6-505741: a new long-period cataclysmic variable with an evolved donor and a low mass transfer rate

We report the discovery of 1RXH J082623.6-505741, a 10.4 hr orbital period compact binary. Modeling extensive optical photometry and spectroscopy reveals a $\sim 0.4 M_{\odot}$ K-type secondary transferring mass through a low-state accretion disk to a non-magnetic $\sim 0.8 M_{\odot}$ white dwarf. The secondary is overluminous for its mass and dominates the optical spectra at all epochs, and must be evolved to fill its Roche Lobe at this orbital period. The X-ray luminosity $L_X \sim 1$-$2 \times 10^{32}$ erg s$^{-1}$ derived from both new XMM-Newton and archival observations, although high compared to most CVs, still only requires a modest accretion rate onto the white dwarf of $\dot{M} \sim 3 \times 10^{-11}$ to $3 \times 10^{-10} M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$, lower than expected for a cataclysmic variable with an evolved secondary. No dwarf nova outbursts have yet been observed from the system, consistent with the low derived mass transfer rate. Several other cataclysmic variables with similar orbital periods also show unexpectedly low mass transfer rates, even though selection effects disfavor the discovery of binaries with these properties. This suggests the abundance and evolutionary state of long-period, low mass transfer rate cataclysmic variables is worthy of additional attention.

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The first nova eruption in a novalike variable: YZ Ret as seen in X-rays and gamma-rays

Peaking at 3.7 mag on 2020 July 11, YZ Ret was the second-brightest nova of the decade. The nova's moderate proximity (2.7 kpc from Gaia) provided an opportunity to explore its multi-wavelength properties in great detail. Here we report on YZ Ret as part of a long-term project to identify the physical mechanisms responsible for high-energy emission in classical novae. We use simultaneous Fermi/LAT and NuSTAR observations complemented by XMM-Newton X-ray grating spectroscopy to probe the physical parameters of the shocked ejecta and the nova-hosting white dwarf. The XMM-Newton observations revealed a super-soft X-ray emission which is dominated by emission lines of CV, CVI, NVI, NVII, and OVIII rather than a blackbody-like continuum, suggesting CO-composition of the white dwarf in a high-inclination binary system. Fermi/LAT detected YZ Ret for 15 days with the gamma-ray spectrum best described by a power law with an exponential cut-off at 1.9 +/-0.6 GeV. In stark contrast with theoretical predictions and in keeping with previous NuSTAR observations of Fermi-detected classical novae (V5855 Sgr and V906 Car), the 3.5-78 keV X-ray emission is found to be two orders of magnitude fainter than the GeV emission. The X-ray emission observed by NuSTAR is consistent with a single-temperature thermal plasma. We detect no non-thermal tail of the GeV emission expected to extend down to the NuSTAR band. NuSTAR observations continue to challenge theories of high-energy emission from shocks in novae.

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3D models of the circumstellar environments of evolved stars: Formation of multiple spiral structures

We present 3D hydrodynamic models of the interaction between the outflows of evolved, pulsating, Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars and nearby ($< 3$ stellar radii) sub-stellar companions ($M_{\mathrm{comp}} \lesssim 40$ M$_J$). Our models show that due to resonances between the orbital period of the companion and the pulsation period of the AGB star, multiple spiral structures can form; the shocks driven by the pulsations are enhanced periodically in different regions as they encounter the denser material created by the sub-stellar companion's wake. We discuss the properties of these spiral structures and the effect of the companion parameters on them. We also demonstrate that the gravitational potential of the nearby companion enhances the mass loss from the AGB star. For more massive ($M_{\mathrm{comp}} > 40$ M$_J$) and more distant companions ($> 4$ stellar radii), a single spiral arm forms. We discuss the possibility of observing these structures with the new generations of high-resolution, high-sensitivity instruments, and using them to `find' sub-stellar companions around bright, evolved stars. Our results also highlight possible structures that could form in our solar system when the Sun turns into an AGB star.

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4FGL J1120.0-2204: A Unique Gamma-ray Bright Neutron Star Binary with an Extremely Low Mass Proto-White Dwarf

We have discovered a new X-ray emitting compact binary that is the likely counterpart to the unassociated Fermi-LAT GeV $γ$-ray source 4FGL J1120.0-2204, the second brightest Fermi source that still remains formally unidentified. Using optical spectroscopy with the SOAR telescope, we have identified a warm ($T_{\textrm{eff}}\sim8500$ K) companion in a 15.1-hr orbit around an unseen primary, which is likely a yet-undiscovered millisecond pulsar. A precise Gaia parallax shows the binary is nearby, at a distance of only $\sim 820$ pc. Unlike the typical "spider" or white dwarf secondaries in short-period millisecond pulsar binaries, our observations suggest the $\sim 0.17\,M_{\odot}$ companion is in an intermediate stage, contracting on the way to becoming an extremely low-mass helium white dwarf (a "pre-ELM" white dwarf). Although the companion is apparently unique among confirmed or candidate millisecond pulsar binaries, we use binary evolution models to show that in $\sim 2$ Gyr, the properties of the binary will match those of several millisecond pulsar-white dwarf binaries with very short ($< 1$ d) orbital periods. This makes 4FGL J1120.0-2204 the first system discovered in the penultimate phase of the millisecond pulsar recycling process.

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Detection of $^7$Be II in the Small Magellanic Cloud

We analyse high resolution spectra of two classical novae that exploded in the Small Magellanic Cloud. $^7$Be II resonance transitions are detected in both ASASSN-19qv and ASASSN-20ni novae. This is the first detection outside the Galaxy and confirms that thermo-nuclear runaway reactions, leading to the $^7$Be formation, are effective also in the low metallicity regime, characteristic of the SMC. Derived yields are of N($^7$Be=$^7$Li)/N(H) = (5.3 $\pm$ 0.2) $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ which are a factor 4 lower than the typical values of the Galaxy. Inspection of two historical novae in the Large Magellanic Cloud observed with IUE in 1991 and 1992 showed also the possible presence of $^7$Be and similar yields. For an ejecta of $M_{H,ej} =$ 10$^{-5}$ M$_{\odot}$, the amount of $^7$Li produced is of $M_{^7 Li} = (3.7 \pm 0.6) \times 10^{-10}$ M$_{\odot}$ per nova event. Detailed chemical evolutionary model for the SMC shows that novae could have made an amount of lithium in the SMC corresponding to a fractional abundance of A(Li) $\approx$ 2.6. Therefore, it is argued that a comparison with the abundance of Li in the SMC, as measured by its interstellar medium, could effectively constrain the amount of the initial abundance of primordial Li, which is currently controversial.

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Classical Novae at Radio Wavelengths

We present radio observations (1--40 GHz) for 36 classical novae, representing data from over five decades compiled from the literature, telescope archives, and our own programs. Our targets display a striking diversity in their optical parameters (e.g., spanning optical fading timescales, t_2 = 1--263 days), and we find a similar diversity in the radio light curves. Using a brightness temperature analysis, we find that radio emission from novae is a mixture of thermal and synchrotron emission, with non-thermal emission observed at earlier times. We identify high brightness temperature emission (T_B > 5x10^4 K) as an indication of synchrotron emission in at least 9 (25%) of the novae. We find a class of synchrotron-dominated novae with mildly evolved companions, exemplified by V5589 Sgr and V392 Per, that appear to be a bridge between classical novae with dwarf companions and symbiotic binaries with giant companions. Four of the novae in our sample have two distinct radio maxima (the first dominated by synchrotron and the later by thermal emission), and in four cases the early synchrotron peak is temporally coincident with a dramatic dip in the optical light curve, hinting at a common site for particle acceleration and dust formation. We publish the light curves as tables and encourage use of these data by the broader community in multi-wavelength studies and modeling efforts.

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Shocks and dust formation in nova V809 Cep

The discovery that many classical novae produce detectable GeV $γ$-ray emission has raised the question of the role of shocks in nova eruptions. Here we use radio observations of nova V809 Cep (Nova Cep 2013) with the Jansky Very Large Array to show that it produced non-thermal emission indicative of particle acceleration in strong shocks for more than a month starting about six weeks into the eruption, quasi-simultaneous with the production of dust. Broadly speaking, the radio emission at late times -- more than a six months or so into the eruption -- is consistent with thermal emission from $10^{-4} M_\odot$ of freely expanding, $10^4$~K ejecta. At 4.6 and 7.4 GHz, however, the radio light-curves display an initial early-time peak 76 days after the discovery of the eruption in the optical ($t_0$). The brightness temperature at 4.6 GHz on day 76 was greater than $10^5 K$, an order of magnitude above what is expected for thermal emission. We argue that the brightness temperature is the result of synchrotron emission due to internal shocks within the ejecta. The evolution of the radio spectrum was consistent with synchrotron emission that peaked at high frequencies before low frequencies, suggesting that the synchrotron from the shock was initially subject to free-free absorption by optically thick ionized material in front of the shock. Dust formation began around day 37, and we suggest that internal shocks in the ejecta were established prior to dust formation and caused the nucleation of dust.

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Multiwavelength evidence for a new flare-mode transitional millisecond pulsar

We report the discovery of a new low-mass X-ray binary near the center of the unassociated Fermi GeV gamma-ray source 4FGL J0540.0-7552. The source shows the persistent presence of an optical accretion disk and exhibits extreme X-ray and optical variability. It also has an X-ray spectrum well-fit by a hard power law with a Gamma = 1.8 and a high ratio of X-ray to gamma-ray flux. Together, these properties are consistent with the classification of the binary as a transitional millisecond pulsar (tMSP) in the sub-luminous disk state. Uniquely among the candidate tMSPs, 4FGL J0540.0-7552 shows consistent optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray evidence for having undergone a state change, becoming substantially brighter in the optical and X-rays and fainter in GeV gamma-rays sometime in mid-2013. In its current sub-luminous disk state, and like one other candidate tMSP in the Galactic field, 4FGL J0540.0-7552 appears to always be in an X-ray "flare mode", indicating that this could be common phenomenology for tMSPs.

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Discovery of a New Redback Millisecond Pulsar Candidate: 4FGL J0940.3-7610

We have discovered a new candidate redback millisecond pulsar binary near the center of the error ellipse of the bright unassociated Fermi-LAT $γ$-ray source 4FGL J0940.3-7610. The candidate counterpart is a variable optical source that also shows faint X-ray emission. Optical photometric and spectroscopic monitoring with the SOAR telescope indicates the companion is a low-mass star in a 6.5-hr orbit around an invisible primary, showing both ellipsoidal variations and irradiation and consistent with the properties of known redback millisecond pulsar binaries. Given the orbital parameters, preliminary modeling of the optical light curves suggests an edge-on inclination and a low-mass ($\sim 1.2$ - $1.4\,M_{\odot}$) neutron star, along with a secondary mass somewhat more massive than typical $\gtrsim 0.4\,M_{\odot}$. This combination of inclination and secondary properties could make radio eclipses more likely for this system, explaining its previous non-discovery in radio pulsation searches. Hence 4FGL J0940.3-7610 may be a strong candidate for a focused search for $γ$-ray pulsations to enable the future detection of a millisecond pulsar.

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Classical Novae Masquerading as Dwarf Novae? Outburst Properties of Cataclysmic Variables with ASAS-SN

The unprecedented sky coverage and observing cadence of the All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN) has resulted in the discovery and continued monitoring of a large sample of Galactic transients. The vast majority of these are accretion-powered dwarf nova outbursts in cataclysmic variable systems, but a small subset are thermonuclear-powered classical novae. Despite improved monitoring of the Galaxy for novae from ASAS-SN and other surveys, the observed Galactic nova rate is still lower than predictions. One way classical novae could be missed is if they are confused with the much larger population of dwarf novae. Here, we examine the properties of 1617 dwarf nova outbursts detected by ASAS-SN and compare them to classical novae. We find that the mean classical nova brightens by ~11 magnitudes during outburst, while the mean dwarf nova brightens by only ~5 magnitudes, with the outburst amplitude distributions overlapping by roughly 15%. For the first time, we show that the amplitude of an outburst and the time it takes to decline by two magnitudes from maximum are positively correlated for dwarf nova outbursts. For classical novae, we find that these quantities are negatively correlated, but only weakly, compared to the strong anti-correlation of these quantities found in some previous work. We show that, even if located at large distances, only a small number of putative dwarf novae could be mis-classified classical novae suggesting that there is minimal confusion between these populations. Future spectroscopic follow-up of these candidates can show whether any are indeed classical novae.

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High-Energy Neutrinos and Gamma-Rays from Non-Relativistic Shock-Powered Transients

Shock interaction has been argued to play a role in powering a range of optical transients, including supernovae (particularly the superluminous class), classical novae, stellar mergers, tidal disruption events, and fast blue optical transients. These same shocks can accelerate relativistic ions, generating high-energy neutrino and gamma-ray emission via hadronic pion production. The recent discovery of time-correlated optical and gamma-ray emission in classical novae has revealed the important role of radiative shocks in powering these events, enabling an unprecedented view of the properties of ion acceleration, including its efficiency and energy spectrum, under similar physical conditions to shocks in extragalactic transients. Here we introduce a model for connecting the radiated optical fluence of non-relativistic transients to their maximal neutrino and gamma-ray fluence. We apply this technique to a wide range of extragalactic transient classes in order to place limits on their contributions to the cosmological high-energy gamma-ray and neutrino backgrounds. Based on a simple model for diffusive shock acceleration at radiative shocks, calibrated to novae, we demonstrate that several of the most luminous transients can accelerate protons up to energies $E_{\rm max} \gtrsim 10^{16}$ eV, sufficient to contribute to the IceCube astrophysical background. Furthermore, several of the considered sources$-$particularly hydrogen-poor supernovae$-$may serve as "hidden" gamma-ray sources due to the high gamma-ray opacity of their ejecta, evading constraints imposed by the non-blazar Fermi-LAT background. However, adopting an ion acceleration efficiency $\sim$ 0.3-1$\%$ motivated by nova observations, we find that currently known classes of non-relativistic, potentially shock-powered transients contribute at most a few percent of the total IceCube background.

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Surveying the X-ray Behavior of Novae as They Emit $γ$-rays

The detection of GeV $γ$-ray emission from Galactic novae by $Fermi$-LAT has become routine since 2010, and is generally associated with shocks internal to the nova ejecta. These shocks are also expected to heat plasma to $\sim 10^7$ K, resulting in detectable X-ray emission. In this paper, we investigate 13 $γ$-ray emitting novae observed with the Neil Gehrels $Swift$ Observatory, searching for 1-10 keV X-ray emission concurrent with $γ$-ray detections. We also analyze $γ$-ray observations of novae V407 Lup (2016) and V357 Mus (2018). We find that most novae do eventually show X-ray evidence of hot shocked plasma, but not until the $γ$-rays have faded below detectability. We suggest that the delayed rise of the X-ray emission is due to large absorbing columns and/or X-ray suppression by corrugated shock fronts. The only nova in our sample with a concurrent X-ray/$γ$-ray detection is also the only embedded nova (V407 Cyg). This exception supports a scenario where novae with giant companions produce shocks with external circumbinary material and are characterized by lower density environments, in comparison with novae with dwarf companions where shocks occur internal to the dense ejecta.

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A New Candidate Transitional Millisecond Pulsar in the Sub-luminous Disk State: 4FGL J0407.7--5702

We report the discovery of a variable optical and X-ray source within the error ellipse of the previously unassociated Fermi Large Area Telescope $γ$-ray source 4FGL J0407.7--5702. A 22 ksec observation from XMM-Newton/EPIC shows an X-ray light curve with rapid variability and flaring. The X-ray spectrum is well-fit by a hard power law with $Γ= 1.7$. Optical photometry taken over several epochs is dominated by aperiodic variations of moderate amplitude. Optical spectroscopy with SOAR and Gemini reveals a blue continuum with broad and double-peaked H and He emission, as expected for an accretion disk around a compact binary. Overall, the optical, X-ray, and $γ$-ray properties of 4FGL J0407.7--5702 are consistent with a classification as a transitional millisecond pulsar in the sub-luminous disk state. We also present evidence that this source is more distant than other confirmed or candidate transitional millisecond pulsar binaries, and that the ratio of X-ray to $γ$-ray flux is a promising tool to help identify such binaries, indicating that a more complete census for these rare systems is becoming possible.

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X-ray Spectroscopy of the gamma-ray Brightest Nova V906 Car (ASASSN-18fv)

Shocks in gamma-ray emitting classical novae are expected to produce bright thermal and non-thermal X-rays. We test this prediction with simultaneous NuSTAR and Fermi/LAT observations of nova V906 Car, which exhibited the brightest GeV gamma-ray emission to date. The nova is detected in hard X-rays while it is still gamma-ray bright, but contrary to simple theoretical expectations, the detected 3.5-78 keV emission of V906 Car is much weaker than the simultaneously observed >100 MeV emission. No non-thermal X-ray emission is detected, and our deep limits imply that the gamma-rays are likely hadronic. After correcting for substantial absorption (N_H ~ 2 x 10^23 cm^-2), the thermal X-ray luminosity (from a 9 keV optically-thin plasma) is just ~2% of the gamma-ray luminosity. We consider possible explanations for the low thermal X-ray luminosity, including the X-rays being suppressed by corrugated, radiative shock fronts or the X-rays from the gamma-ray producing shock are hidden behind an even larger absorbing column (N_H >10^25 cm^-2). Adding XMM-Newton and Swift/XRT observations to our analysis, we find that the evolution of the intrinsic X-ray absorption requires the nova shell to be expelled 24 days after the outburst onset. The X-ray spectra show that the ejecta are enhanced in nitrogen and oxygen, and the nova occurred on the surface of a CO-type white dwarf. We see no indication of a distinct super-soft phase in the X-ray lightcurve, which, after considering the absorption effects, may point to a low mass of the white dwarf hosting the nova.

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Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova

Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on the surfaces of white dwarf stars in interacting binary systems (Bode & Evans 2008). 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 (Gallaher & Starrfield 1978). However, recent observations of GeV $γ$-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 (Metzger & Pejcha 2017), supernovae (Moriya et al. 2018), and tidal disruption events (Roth et al. 2016), 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.

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