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Nova Explosions in 2040

Alessandro Ederoclite, Domitilla De Martino, Paul Groot, Elena Mason, Gloria Sala, Martín Guerrero, Thomas Kupfer, Anna Francesca Pala, Simone Scaringi, Noel Castro Segura

TL;DR

This white paper outlines the open scientific questions governing nova research into the 2040s, centered on ejecta mass, composition, geometry, and dynamics, the influence of the binary system, and the link between nuclear burning and multi-wavelength emission. It argues that transformative progress requires rapid-response, high-cadence, multi-wavelength observations anchored by systematic high-resolution optical and near-infrared spectroscopy throughout the eruption–quiescence cycle. The authors highlight the need for advanced facilities and data-handling capabilities, including high-resolution spectroscopy, spectropolarimetry, integral field spectroscopy, and interferometric imaging, to characterize ejecta structure, binary interactions, and evolution. The proposed approach aims to unlock detailed physical insights into nova explosions and their broader implications for binary evolution and explosive nucleosynthesis, with significant observational and theoretical impact across time-domain astronomy.

Abstract

Novae are thermonuclear explosions on the surface of accreting white dwarfs and are key laboratories for studying explosive nucleosynthesis, particle acceleration, shock physics, and binary evolution. Despite major progress driven by wide-field time-domain surveys and multi-wavelength facilities, our understanding of nova explosions remains limited by incomplete temporal coverage, heterogeneous spectroscopic follow-up, and poorly constrained ejecta properties. In this white paper we outline the open scientific questions that will define nova research in the 2040s, focusing on the mass, composition, geometry, and dynamics of the ejecta, the role of the underlying binary system, and the connection between nuclear burning, shocks, and emission across the electromagnetic spectrum. We argue that decisive progress requires rapid-response, high-cadence, multi-wavelength observations, anchored by systematic high-resolution optical and near-infrared spectroscopy from eruption to quiescence. Finally, we identify key technological requirements needed to enable transformative advances in the physics of nova explosions over the coming decades.

Nova Explosions in 2040

TL;DR

This white paper outlines the open scientific questions governing nova research into the 2040s, centered on ejecta mass, composition, geometry, and dynamics, the influence of the binary system, and the link between nuclear burning and multi-wavelength emission. It argues that transformative progress requires rapid-response, high-cadence, multi-wavelength observations anchored by systematic high-resolution optical and near-infrared spectroscopy throughout the eruption–quiescence cycle. The authors highlight the need for advanced facilities and data-handling capabilities, including high-resolution spectroscopy, spectropolarimetry, integral field spectroscopy, and interferometric imaging, to characterize ejecta structure, binary interactions, and evolution. The proposed approach aims to unlock detailed physical insights into nova explosions and their broader implications for binary evolution and explosive nucleosynthesis, with significant observational and theoretical impact across time-domain astronomy.

Abstract

Novae are thermonuclear explosions on the surface of accreting white dwarfs and are key laboratories for studying explosive nucleosynthesis, particle acceleration, shock physics, and binary evolution. Despite major progress driven by wide-field time-domain surveys and multi-wavelength facilities, our understanding of nova explosions remains limited by incomplete temporal coverage, heterogeneous spectroscopic follow-up, and poorly constrained ejecta properties. In this white paper we outline the open scientific questions that will define nova research in the 2040s, focusing on the mass, composition, geometry, and dynamics of the ejecta, the role of the underlying binary system, and the connection between nuclear burning, shocks, and emission across the electromagnetic spectrum. We argue that decisive progress requires rapid-response, high-cadence, multi-wavelength observations, anchored by systematic high-resolution optical and near-infrared spectroscopy from eruption to quiescence. Finally, we identify key technological requirements needed to enable transformative advances in the physics of nova explosions over the coming decades.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 7 sections, 1 figure.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction and Background
  2. The Opportunities for the Near Future
  3. Open Science Questions in the 2040s
  4. Mass and Composition of the Ejecta
  5. The Dynamics of the Ejecta
  6. The Role of the Underlying Binary
  7. Technology and Data Handling Requirements

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Upper Left: Histogram of the magnitude at maximum of novae. In red, the histogram of the magnitude at maximum of novae discovered after 2010. For the purpose of this plot, the difference between photometric bands is neglected. Upper Right: Location of Galactic novae (in blue) and galaxies which have spectroscopically confirmed novae (in red). Lower Left: AAVSO light curve of V5114 Sgr. The vertical lines mark the spectroscopic observations obtained within the first 40 days. Lower Right: High resolution (R$\sim$48,000) spectroscopy of the nova centred on the H$\alpha$ region.