An asymmetric shock wave in the 2006 outburst of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi.

摘要: In February this year the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi (RS Oph) burst into life. Every 20 years or so white dwarf component of binary accumulates sufficient material from its red giant companion to power a thermonuclear explosion that we see as an increase in magnitude very dim 12.5 5. Two groups report observations recent outburst. Satellite X-ray by Sokoloski et al. reveal initial phase which blast wave expanded freely. Within two days outbound started slow, suggesting there was much less debris than had been expected such event. O'Brien trained largest terrestrial radio telescope arrays on Oph and were able directly image shock for first time, 14 after discovery. The structures revealed show evolution remnant similar type II supernova — but evolving over months rather millennia. Nova outbursts1 take place star systems comprising either low-mass Sun-like or, case Ophiuchi2, giant. Although cause these outbursts is known be matter transferred onto surface dwarf3, models previous (1985) outburst failed adequately fit evolution4 controversy single-epoch high-resolution image, suggested bipolar5,6 spherical modelled. Here detection spatially resolved structure weeks 12 2006 We track expanding it sweeps through wind, producing millennia7. As remnants, emission non-thermal (synchrotron emission), asymmetries multiple components clearly demonstrate contrary assumptions symmetry 1985 explosion, ejection jet-like, collimated central whose orientation sky can determined observations.