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An X-ray-emitting blast wave from the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi

Nature volume 442, pages 276–278 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Stellar explosions such as novae and supernovae produce most of the heavy elements in the Universe. The onset of a nova is well understood1 as driven by runaway thermonuclear fusion reactions on the surface of a white dwarf in a binary star system; but the structure, dynamics and mass of the ejecta are not well known. In rare cases, the white dwarf is embedded in the wind nebula of a red-giant companion, and the explosion products plough through the nebula and produce X-ray emission. Here we report X-ray observations of such an event, from the eruption of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi2,3. The hard X-ray emission from RS Ophiuchi early in the eruption emanates from behind a blast wave, or outward-moving shock wave, that expanded freely for less than 2 days and then decelerated owing to interaction with the nebula. The X-rays faded rapidly, suggesting that the blast wave deviates from the standard spherical shell structure4,5,6. The early onset of deceleration indicates that the ejected shell had a low mass, the white dwarf has a high mass7, and that RS Ophiuchi is therefore a progenitor of the type of supernova (type Ia) integral to studies of the expansion of the Universe.

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Figure 1: X-ray spectra from the first 3 weeks of the 2006 outburst of RS Oph.
Figure 2: X-ray flux and post-shock plasma temperature as a function of time.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for discussions with J. Raymond, C. Rakowski, M. Wood-Vasey and C. Matzner. J.L.S. acknowledges support from the NSF. G.J.M.L. acknowledges support from NASA, and from CNPq and FAPESP (Brazil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 60 Garden Street, Massachusetts, 02138, Cambridge, USA

    J. L. Sokoloski, G. J. M. Luna & Scott J. Kenyon

  2. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 1226, Cid. Universitária 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil

    G. J. M. Luna

  3. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Universities Space Research Association, Code 662, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771, USA

    K. Mukai

Authors
  1. J. L. Sokoloski
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  2. G. J. M. Luna
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  3. K. Mukai
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  4. Scott J. Kenyon
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Correspondence to J. L. Sokoloski.

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Sokoloski, J., Luna, G., Mukai, K. et al. An X-ray-emitting blast wave from the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi. Nature 442, 276–278 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04893

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