X-ray and UV observations of nova V598 Puppis between 147 and 255 days after outburst
Read, A. M.; Ness, J. -U.; Osborne, J. P.; Starrfield, S.; Page, K. L.; Beardmore, A. P.; Evans, P. A.; Schwarz, G. J.; Bode, M.
United Kingdom, Spain, United States
Abstract
Aims: The launch of Swift has allowed many more novae to be observed regularly over the X-ray band. Such X-ray observations of novae can reveal ejecta shocks and the nuclear burning white dwarf, allowing estimates to be made of the ejecta velocity.
Methods: We analyse XMM-Newton and Swift X-ray and UV observations of the nova V598 Pup, which was initially discovered in the XMM-Newton slew survey. These data were obtained between 147 and 255 days after the nova outburst, and are compared with the earlier, brighter slew detection.
Results: The X-ray spectrum consists of a super-soft source, with the soft emission becoming hotter and much fainter between days ~147 and ~172 after the outburst, and a more slowly declining optically thin component, formed by shocks with kT ∼ 200-800 eV (corresponding to velocities of 400-800 km s-1). The main super-soft phase had a duration of less than 130 days. The Reflection Grating Spectrometer data show evidence of emission lines consistent with optically thin emission of kT ∼ 100 eV and place a limit on the density of the surrounding medium of log (n_e/cm-3) < 10.4 at the 90% level. The UV emission is variable over short timescales and fades by at least one magnitude (at λ ~ 2246-2600 Å) between days 169 and 255.