Michael M. Shara
When does an old nova become a dwarf nova? Kinematics and age of the nova shell of the dwarf nova AT Cancri
Shara, Michael M.; Drissen, Laurent; Martin, Thomas; Alarie, Alexandre; Stephenson, F. Richard
Authors
Laurent Drissen
Thomas Martin
Alexandre Alarie
F. Richard Stephenson
Abstract
The Z Cam-type dwarf nova AT Cancri (AT Cnc) displays a classical nova (CN) shell, demonstrating that mass transfer in cataclysmic binaries decreases substantially after a CN eruption. The hibernation scenario of cataclysmic binaries predicts such a decrease, on a time-scale of a few centuries. In order to measure the time since AT Cnc's last CN eruption, we have measured the radial velocities of a hundred clumps in its ejecta with SITELLE, Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope's recently commissioned imaging Fourier transform spectrometer. These range from −455 to +490 km s−1. Coupled with the known distance to AT Cnc of 460 pc, the size of AT Cnc's shell, and a simple model of nova ejecta deceleration, we determine that the last CN eruption of this system occurred 330+135−90 330−90+135 yr ago. This is the most rapid transition from a high mass-transfer rate, nova-like variable to a low mass-transfer rate, dwarf nova yet measured, and in accord with the hibernation scenario of cataclysmic binaries. We conclude by noting the similarity in the deduced outburst date (within a century of 1686 CE) of AT Cnc to a ‘guest star’ reported in the constellation Cancer by Korean observers in 1645 CE.
Citation
Shara, M. M., Drissen, L., Martin, T., Alarie, A., & Stephenson, F. R. (2017). When does an old nova become a dwarf nova? Kinematics and age of the nova shell of the dwarf nova AT Cancri. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 465(1), 739-745. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stw2753
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | Oct 21, 2016 |
Online Publication Date | Oct 27, 2016 |
Publication Date | Feb 11, 2017 |
Deposit Date | Jul 25, 2017 |
Publicly Available Date | Mar 28, 2024 |
Journal | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
Print ISSN | 0035-8711 |
Electronic ISSN | 1365-2966 |
Publisher | Royal Astronomical Society |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 465 |
Issue | 1 |
Pages | 739-745 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stw2753 |
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Copyright Statement
This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ©: 2016 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
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