An archival study of extended X-ray emission from classical and recurrent novae

Balman S.

Colloquium on Spectra and Timing of Compact X-ray Binaries, Bombay, India, 17 - 21 January 2005, vol.38, pp.2840-2843 identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • Volume: 38
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.asr.2005.12.028
  • City: Bombay
  • Country: India
  • Page Numbers: pp.2840-2843
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

I discuss morphology and spectrum of the first resolved and detected classical nova shell in the X-rays - the remnant of GK Persei (1901). The existence of such a nebulosity brings about the possibility of other nova remnants emitting X-rays. I calculate that the X-ray luminosity should be about 10(26) - 10(33) ergs s(-1) on the onset of cooling for nova remnants. I have done an archival search on 250 classical and recurrent nova candidates using Chandra, XMM-Newton, ROSAT and ASCA databases. There is no significant extended emission detected which places an upper limit of F(x) < x 10(-12) erg s(-1) cm(-2) (unabsorbed). Only exceptions are GK Per, RR Pic and DQ Her (all observed by Chandra ACIS-S and GK Per also by ROSAT HRI) where the latter two show marginal extended emission in the X-rays associated with emission knots (DQ Her) or an equatorial ring (RR Pic). (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of COSPAR.