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Ultraviolet spectral evolution and heavy element abundances in Nova Austrinae 1981Nova CrA 1981, a moderately fast galactic nova, was systematically observed over a period of seven months with the IUE satellite. The initial evolution of the UV spectrum was similar to that of previously observed novae; however, several months after maximum, weak emission due to very high ionizating forbidden lines of Na, Mg, Al, and Si appeared, eventually decreasing in strength over the next two months. The spectral development of the lines is consistent with the photoionization of an expanding shell; a high-temperature 'coronal' origin is ruled out. Abundances deduced from the spectra show that most of the observed heavy elements in the ejected material are enhanced with respect to helium, with neon the most abundant of these. In addition, there are substantial deviations of the Na/Mg/Al/Si abundance ratios from solar values. This is interpreted as evidence for the mixing of core material with the accreted envelope on a massive O-Ne-Mg (as opposed to a C-O) white dwarf. Furthermore, the proportion of core material in the ejecta implies that the mass of the white dwarf decreased as a consequence of the outburst.
Document ID
19850045175
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Williams, R. E.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA; European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany)
Ney, E. P.
(Minnesota, University Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Sparks, W. M.
(Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, United States)
Starrfield, S. G.
(Arizona State University Tempe, AZ; Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States)
Wyckoff, S.
(Arizona State University Tempe, AZ, United States)
Truran, J. W.
(Illinois, University Urbana, IL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
February 15, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: Royal Astronomical Society, Monthly Notices
Volume: 212
ISSN: 0035-8711
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
85A27326
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-83-14738
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-83-14415
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-80-18198
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-81-17177
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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