Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

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

When does an old nova become a dwarf nova? Kinematics and age of the nova shell of the dwarf nova AT Cancri Thumbnail


Authors

Michael M. Shara

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

Files

Published Journal Article (1.1 Mb)
PDF

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.





You might also like



Downloadable Citations