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Title: DYNAMICAL FRAGMENTATION OF THE T PYXIDIS NOVA SHELL DURING RECURRENT ERUPTIONS

Abstract

Hubble Space Telescope images of the ejecta surrounding the nova T Pyxidis resolve the emission into more than 2000 bright knots. We simulate the dynamical evolution of the ejecta from T Pyxidis during its multiple eruptions over the last 150 years using the adaptive mesh refinement code Ramses. We demonstrate that the observed knots are the result of Richtmyer-Meshkov gas dynamical instabilities (the equivalent of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in an accelerated medium). These instabilities are caused by the overrunning of the ejecta from the classical nova of 1866 by fast-moving ejecta from the six subsequent recurrent nova outbursts. Magnetic fields may play a role in determining knot scale and preventing their conductive evaporation. The model correctly predicts the observed expansion and dimming of the T Pyx ejecta as well as the knotty morphology. The model also predicts that deeper, high-resolution imagery will show filamentary structure connecting the knots. We show reprocessed Hubble Space Telescope imagery that shows the first hints of such a structure.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22126838
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 768; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; EMISSION; ERUPTION; EVAPORATION; EVOLUTION; EXPANSION; FRAGMENTATION; HYDRODYNAMICS; IMAGES; MAGNETIC FIELDS; MORPHOLOGY; NOVAE; RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY; SHOCK WAVES; SPACE

Citation Formats

Toraskar, Jayashree, Mac Low, Mordecai-Mark, Shara, Michael M., and Zurek, David R., E-mail: toraskar@amnh.org, E-mail: mordecai@amnh.org, E-mail: mshara@amnh.org, E-mail: dzurek@amnh.org. DYNAMICAL FRAGMENTATION OF THE T PYXIDIS NOVA SHELL DURING RECURRENT ERUPTIONS. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/768/1/48.
Toraskar, Jayashree, Mac Low, Mordecai-Mark, Shara, Michael M., & Zurek, David R., E-mail: toraskar@amnh.org, E-mail: mordecai@amnh.org, E-mail: mshara@amnh.org, E-mail: dzurek@amnh.org. DYNAMICAL FRAGMENTATION OF THE T PYXIDIS NOVA SHELL DURING RECURRENT ERUPTIONS. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/768/1/48
Toraskar, Jayashree, Mac Low, Mordecai-Mark, Shara, Michael M., and Zurek, David R., E-mail: toraskar@amnh.org, E-mail: mordecai@amnh.org, E-mail: mshara@amnh.org, E-mail: dzurek@amnh.org. 2013. "DYNAMICAL FRAGMENTATION OF THE T PYXIDIS NOVA SHELL DURING RECURRENT ERUPTIONS". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/768/1/48.
@article{osti_22126838,
title = {DYNAMICAL FRAGMENTATION OF THE T PYXIDIS NOVA SHELL DURING RECURRENT ERUPTIONS},
author = {Toraskar, Jayashree and Mac Low, Mordecai-Mark and Shara, Michael M. and Zurek, David R., E-mail: toraskar@amnh.org, E-mail: mordecai@amnh.org, E-mail: mshara@amnh.org, E-mail: dzurek@amnh.org},
abstractNote = {Hubble Space Telescope images of the ejecta surrounding the nova T Pyxidis resolve the emission into more than 2000 bright knots. We simulate the dynamical evolution of the ejecta from T Pyxidis during its multiple eruptions over the last 150 years using the adaptive mesh refinement code Ramses. We demonstrate that the observed knots are the result of Richtmyer-Meshkov gas dynamical instabilities (the equivalent of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in an accelerated medium). These instabilities are caused by the overrunning of the ejecta from the classical nova of 1866 by fast-moving ejecta from the six subsequent recurrent nova outbursts. Magnetic fields may play a role in determining knot scale and preventing their conductive evaporation. The model correctly predicts the observed expansion and dimming of the T Pyx ejecta as well as the knotty morphology. The model also predicts that deeper, high-resolution imagery will show filamentary structure connecting the knots. We show reprocessed Hubble Space Telescope imagery that shows the first hints of such a structure.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/768/1/48},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22126838}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 1,
volume = 768,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}