A classical nova results from runaway thermonuclear explosions on the surface of a white dwarf that accretes matter from a low-mass main-sequence stellar companion. In 2012 and 2013, three novae were detected in gamma rays and stood in contrast to the first gamma-ray-detected nova V407 Cygni 2010, which belongs to a rare class of symbiotic binary systems. Despite likely differences in the compositions and masses of their white dwarf progenitors, the three classical novae are similarly characterized as soft-spectrum transient gamma-ray sources detected over 2- to 3-week durations. The gamma-ray detections point to unexpected high-energy particle acceleration processes linked to the mass ejection from thermonuclear explosions in an unanticipated class of Galactic gamma-ray sources.

Fermi establishes classical novae as a distinct class of gamma-ray sources / Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Albert, A., Baldini, L., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Bastieri, D., Bellazzini, R., Bissaldi, E., Blandford, R.D., Bloom, E.D., Bottacini, E., Brandt, T.J., Bregeon, J., Bruel, P., Buehler, R., Buson, S., Caliandro, G.A., Cameron, R.A., Caragiulo, M., et al.. - In: SCIENCE. - ISSN 0036-8075. - 345:6196(2014), pp. 554-558. [10.1126/science.1253947]

Fermi establishes classical novae as a distinct class of gamma-ray sources

BISSALDI, Elisabetta;FAVUZZI, Cecilia;GIGLIETTO, Nicola;
2014

Abstract

A classical nova results from runaway thermonuclear explosions on the surface of a white dwarf that accretes matter from a low-mass main-sequence stellar companion. In 2012 and 2013, three novae were detected in gamma rays and stood in contrast to the first gamma-ray-detected nova V407 Cygni 2010, which belongs to a rare class of symbiotic binary systems. Despite likely differences in the compositions and masses of their white dwarf progenitors, the three classical novae are similarly characterized as soft-spectrum transient gamma-ray sources detected over 2- to 3-week durations. The gamma-ray detections point to unexpected high-energy particle acceleration processes linked to the mass ejection from thermonuclear explosions in an unanticipated class of Galactic gamma-ray sources.
2014
Fermi establishes classical novae as a distinct class of gamma-ray sources / Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Albert, A., Baldini, L., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Bastieri, D., Bellazzini, R., Bissaldi, E., Blandford, R.D., Bloom, E.D., Bottacini, E., Brandt, T.J., Bregeon, J., Bruel, P., Buehler, R., Buson, S., Caliandro, G.A., Cameron, R.A., Caragiulo, M., et al.. - In: SCIENCE. - ISSN 0036-8075. - 345:6196(2014), pp. 554-558. [10.1126/science.1253947]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11589/3177
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