The recurrent nova T Pyx is an intriguing accreting binary because of itsprolific outburst behaviour, large quiescent luminosity, short orbital periodand rapid orbital period evolution. An unusually high mass-accretion rate isimplied and it has even been proposed continuous nuclear burning may occur onthe accreting white dwarf. Systems with a massive white dwarf accreting at highrates are potential Type Ia progenitors. Our proposed XMM observations willestablish if a wind-driven supersoft source scenario is indeed at play in T Pyx,or whether its X-ray luminosity demands an alternative evolutionaryinterpretation. These observations will thus have important implications fornovae, super-soft sources and cataclysmic variable evolution.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2006-11-09T19:00:01Z/2006-11-10T09:10:09Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Daniel Steeghs, 2007, 'The short-period recurrent nova T Pyx; a wind-driven supersoft sourcequestionMark', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-9sugtdl
