Classical Novae

This page intentionally left blank CLASSICAL NOVAE Second Edition Since the first edition of this book was published, knowledge regarding the nova phenomenon has grown significantly. This is due to the advent of new observational facilities, both on the ground and in space, and considerable advances in theoretical work. This second edition has been fully updated and revised and contains new contributions which comprehensively cover the important developments in this field, and reflect on interesting new insights into the outbursts of classical novae. The book begins with an historical perspective and an overview of nova properties. It then examines in detail thermonuclear processes, the evolution of nova systems, nova atmospheres and winds, abundance studies, the evolution of dust and molecules in novae, nova remnants, and observations of novae in other galaxies. The book details knowledge gained from observations across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio to gamma rays, and discusses some of the most important outstanding problems in classical nova research. This is the only book devoted solely to the study of classical novae, and as such is an important reference for researchers actively engaged in the subject and graduate students seeking an introduction. The contributors to this book are internationally recognized experts in their field, and present a balanced mix of observation and theory. M i c h a e l B o d e is Director of the Astrophysics Research Institute and Professor of Astrophysics at Liverpool John Moores University. His research interests include the study of novae, interstellar and circumstellar dusts, and the use of robotic telescopes to further ‘time domain astrophysics’ in general. A n e u r i n E v a n s is Professor of Astrophysics at Keele University. His research interests include the study of novae, ‘born-again’ systems like ‘Sakurai’s Object’, the interstellar medium in globular clusters, and mapping the Galactic plane at sub-mm wavelengths. Cambridge Astrophysics Series Series editors Andrew King, Douglas Lin, Stephen Maran, Jim Pringle and Martin Ward Titles available in this series 10. Quasar Astronomy by D. W. Weedman 18. Plasma Loops in the Solar Corona by R. J. Bray, L. E. Cram, C. Durrant and R. E. Loughhead 19. Beams and Jets in Astrophysics edited by P. A. Hughes 22. Gamma-ray Astronomy, 2nd Edition by P. V. Ramana Murthy and A. W. Wolfendale 24. Solar and Stellar Activity Cycles by Peter R. Wilson 25. 3K: The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation by R. B. Partridge 26. X-ray Binaries edited by Walter H. G. Lewin, Jan van Paradijs and Edward P. J. van den Heuvel 27. RR Lyrae Stars by Horace A. Smith 28. Cataclysmic Variable Stars by Brian Warner 29. The Magellanic Clouds by Bengt E. Westerlund 30. Globular Cluster Systems by Keith M. Ashman and Stephen E. Zepf 32. Accretion Processes in Star Formation by Lee Hartmann 33. The Origin and Evolution of Planetary Nebulae by Sun Kwok 34. Solar and Stellar Magnetic Activity by Carolus J. Schrijver and Cornelius Zwaan 35. The Galaxies of the Local Group by Stanley van den Bergh 36. Stellar Rotation by Jean-Louis Tassoul 37. Extreme Ultraviolet Astronomy by Martin A. Barstow and Jay B. Holberg 38. Pulsar Astronomy, 3rd Edition by Andrew G. Lyne and Francis Graham-Smith 39. Compact Stellar X-ray Sources edited by Walter Lewin and Michiel van der Klis 41. The Physics of the Cosmic Microwave Background by Pavel D. Naselsky, Dmitry I. Novikov and