arXiv subjects

L. S. Sonith

Publications and source records attributed to L. S. Sonith.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Quiet Host in an Active Planet-Forming Disk: Optical Spectroscopy of WISPIT 2

WISPIT 2 is a young pre-main-sequence star hosting a multi-ringed transition disk and two directly imaged protoplanets, including the accreting WISPIT 2b, making it the closest known analogue to PDS 70. We present the first optical spectrum of its central star, obtained with HFOSC on the 2-m Himalayan Chandra Telescope, and derive its atmospheric parameters, test its youth, and constrain its accretion state. We analyse low-resolution spectra with iSpec and validate the pipeline at HFOSC resolution against Gaia FGK Benchmark Stars and K-type pre-main-sequence templates. We measure T_eff = 4551 +/- 150 K, log g = 4.32 +/- 0.18, and a low-resolution, model-dependent global metallicity [M/H] = -0.17 +/- 0.16. The surface gravity and Li I equivalent width support the pre-main-sequence nature of the host. H-alpha remains in net absorption but is partially filled by weak emission at only 1.5-2.0 sigma, approximately 1.1 dex below the expected chromospheric-noise level and therefore consistent with chromospheric activity rather than detectable accretion. We place a 95% upper limit on the stellar accretion rate of 3.6 x 10^-11 solar masses per year, below even the lowest monitored value for PDS 70 and implying a host-to-planet accretion-rate ratio below approximately 18. Both known double-protoplanet hosts therefore show strongly suppressed or undetectable stellar accretion. Larger spectroscopic samples are needed to determine whether this is common in multi-protoplanet transition disks.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

Optical observations of the fast nova V1674 Herculis

We present the evolution of optical spectra and lightcurves of the fast nova V1674 Herculis during 150 days past its eruption. Using the post-eruption AAVSO light curve, we have calculated the orbital period of V1674 Her to be 0.153 days. There is no unambiguous white dwarf spin period in our data. The optical spectra show that the ionisation increases with time. A morpho-kinematic analysis of the H$α$ line profile indicates a bipolar morphology with polar blobs and an equatorial ring. Lyman beta fluorescence is found to be the dominant mechanism for the excitation of neutral oxygen. On day 19.87, [Ne III] & [Ne V] lines are present, indicating the presence of the ONe white dwarf. On day 147.66, the nebular lines are still present, implying that the nova had not gone into quiescence yet; this spectrum is accretion-dominated.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

The 2021 Hot-type Symbiotic Outburst of YY Herculis: An Optical Follow-up Study

We have followed up on the hot-type classical symbiotic outburst reported in YY Her using the Himalayan Chandra telescope. The outburst coincides with the secondary minima of the system. Approximately 12 similar brightening events have been reported between 1890 and 2020, with only the 1993 outburst being studied spectroscopically. In our study, we monitored the system from 2021 to 2023, covering $\sim$1.5 orbital cycles, providing an opportunity to understand the spectral evolution of the outburst over a complete orbital period of YY Her. We found that the temperature and luminosity estimations based on emission line fluxes exhibit orbital phase dependence. The values estimated at phase 0.5, corresponding to the secondary minimum, were the most reliable. The temperature of the hot component is $\approx 1.41 \times 10^5 \, \text{K}$, and the luminosity is $\approx 1020 \, L_{\odot}$ during the outburst, reduced to $\approx 1.3 \times 10^5 \, \text{K}$ and $\approx 830 \, L_{\odot}$ after one orbital cycle at phase 0.5. Temperature estimations during the outbursts suggest that YY Her exhibits both hot-type (2021) and cool-type (1993) behavior, similar to another symbiotic star, AG Dra. Using variations of the Ca II absorption lines, we confirmed the contribution of the ellipsoidal effect in secondary minima in the YY Her light curve.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

Multi-wavelength observations of multiple eruptions of the recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a

We report the optical, UV, and soft X-ray observations of the $2017-2022$ eruptions of the recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a. We infer a steady decrease in the accretion rate over the years based on the inter-eruption recurrence period. We find a ``cusp'' feature in the $r'$ and $i'$ band light curves close to the peak, which could be associated to jets. Spectral modelling indicates a mass ejection of 10$^{-7}$ to 10$^{-8}$ M$_{\odot}$ during each eruption, and an enhanced Helium abundance of He/He$_{\odot}$ $\approx$ 3. The super-soft source (SSS) phase shows significant variability, which is anti-correlated to the UV emission, indicating a common origin. The variability could be due to the reformation of the accretion disk. A comparison of the accretion rate with different models on the $\rm M_{WD}$$-\dot{M}$ plane yields the mass of a CO WD, powering the ``H-shell flashes'' every $\sim$ 1 year to be $>1.36$ M$_{\odot}$ and growing with time, making M31N 2008-12a a strong candidate for the single degenerate scenario of Type Ia supernovae progenitor.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Soft X-ray and FUV observations of Nova Her 2021 (V1674~Her) with AstroSat

Nova Her 2021 or V1674 Her was one of the fastest novae to be observed so far. We report here the results from our timing and spectral studies of the source observed at multiple epochs with AstroSat. We report the detection of a periodicity in the source in soft X-rays at a period of 501.4--501.5 s which was detected with high significance after the peak of the super-soft phase, but was not detected in the far ultraviolet (FUV) band of AstroSat. The shape of the phase-folded X-ray light curves has varied significantly as the nova evolved. The phase-resolved spectral studies reveal the likely presence of various absorption features in the soft X-ray band of 0.5--2 keV, and suggest that the optical depth of these absorption features may be marginally dependent on the pulse phase. Strong emission lines from Si, N and O are detected in the FUV, and their strength declined continuously as the nova evolved and went through a bright X-ray state.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

TCP J18224935-2408280: a symbiotic star identified during outburst

TCP J18224935-2408280 was reported to be in outburst on 2021 May 19. Follow-up spectroscopic observations confirmed that the system was a symbiotic star. We present optical spectra obtained from the Himalayan Chandra Telescope during 2021-22. The early spectra were dominated by Balmer lines, He I lines and high ionization lines such as He II. In the later observations, Raman scattered O VI was also identified. Outburst in the system started as a disc instability, and later the signature of enhanced shell burning and expansion of photospheric radius of the white dwarf was identified. Hence we suggest this outburst is of combination nova type. The post-outburst temperature of the hot component remains above 1.5 x 10$^5$ K indicating a stable shell burning in the system for a prolonged time after the outburst. Based on our analysis of archival multiband photometric data, we find that the system contains a cool giant of M1-2 III spectral type with a temperature of $\sim$ 3600K and a radius of $\sim$ 69 R$_\odot$. The pre- and post-outburst light curve shows a periodicity of 631.25 $\pm$ 2.93 d; we consider this as the orbital period.

astro-ph.SR↗