Dramatic change in the boundary layer in the symbiotic recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis

Journal
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Luna, G. J. M.
•
Mukai, K.
•
Sokoloski, J. L.
•
Nelson, T.
•
Kuin, P.
•
•
•
Jaque Arancibia, M.
•
Nuñez, N. E.
DOI
Abstract
A sudden increase in the rate at which material reaches the most internal part of an accretion disk, i.e., the boundary layer, can change its structure dramatically. We have witnessed such a change for the first time in the symbiotic recurrent nova T CrB. Our analysis of XMM-Newton, Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT)/X-Ray Telescope (XRT)/UltraViolet Optical Telescope (UVOT), and the American Association of Variable Stars Observers (AAVSO) V- and B-band data indicates that during an optical brightening event that started in early 2014 (∆V ≈ 1.5) the following occurred: (i) the hard X-ray emission as seen with BAT almost vanished; (ii) the XRT X-ray flux decreased significantly, while the optical flux remained high; (iii) the UV flux increased by at least a factor of 40 over the quiescent value; and (iv) the X-ray spectrum became much softer and a bright, new blackbody-like component appeared. We suggest that the optical brightening event, which could be a similar event to that observed about 8 years before the most recent thermonuclear outburst in 1946, is due to a disk instability.
Volume
619
Start page
A61
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0004-6361
Ads BibCode
2018A&A...619A..61L
Rights
open.access
File(s)
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

aa33747-18.pdf

Description
Pdf editoriale
Size

906.02 KB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

002ee8c9c813685732dcad0838115455