On the Rebrightenings of Classical Novae during the Early Phase

We report on the spectral evolution of 6 classical novae, V1186 Sco, V2540 Oph, V4745 Sgr, V5113 Sgr, V458 Vul, and V378 Ser, based on the low-resolution spectra obtained at the Fujii-Bisei Observatory and the Bisei Astronomical Observatory, Japan. In the light curves, these 6 novae show several rebrightenings during the early phase lasting ~10 days after the first maximum in fast novae, and ~100 days in slow novae. The early spectra of all of these novae had emission lines with a P-Cygni profile at the maximum brightness. The absorption component of the P-Cygni profiles then disappeared after the maximum, and reappeared when the novae brightened to the next maximum. We suggest that the re-appearance of the absorption component at the rebrightening is attributable to re-expansion of the photosphere after it once shifts sufficiently inside. From the light curves, we found that the time intervals of the rebrightenings of these 6 novae show a similar systematic trend, which is applicable to all types of novae: fast and slow, and Fe II type and hybrid type. Moreover, we note the difference between the spectra at the rebrightenings during the early phase and at the rebrightening in V2362 Cyg, and at the oscillation during the transition phase in V1494 Aql, which means difference of the physical mechanism of the rebrightening during the early phase and the later oscillations.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in PAS

Spectral Evolution of the Unusual Slow Nova V5558 Sgr

We report on the spectral evolution of the enigmatic, very slow nova V5558 Sgr, based on the low-resolution spectra obtained at the Fujii-Bisei Observatory and the Bisei Astronomical Observatory, Japan during a period of 2007 April 6 to 2008 May 3. V5558 Sgr shows a pre-maximum halt and then several flare-like rebrightenings, which is similar to another very slow nova V723 Cas. In our observations, the spectral type of V5558 Sgr evolved from the He/N type toward the Fe II type during the pre-maximum halt, and then toward the He/N type again. This course of spectral transition was observed for the first time in the long history of the nova research. In the rebrightening stage after the initial brightness maximum, we could identify many emission lines accompanied by a stronger absorption component of the P-Cygni profile at the brightness maxima. We found that the velocity of the P-Cygni absorption component measured from the emission peak decreased at the brightness maxima. Furthermore, we compared the spectra of V5558 Sgr with V723 Cas, and other novae which exhibited several rebrightenings during the early phase.Comment: 8 pages, 7figures, accepted for publication in PAS

Spiral Structure in WZ Sagittae around the 2001 Outburst Maximum

Intermediate resolution phase-resolved spectra of WZ Sge were obtained on five consecutive nights (July 23 -- 27) covering the initial stage of the 2001 superoutburst. Double-peaked emission lines of He\textsc{II} at 4686 \AA, which were absent on July 23, emerged on July 24 together with emission lines of C\textsc{III} / N\textsc{III} Bowen blend. Analyses of the He\textsc{II} emission lines using the Doppler tomography revealed an asymmetric spiral structure on the accretion disk. This finding demonstrates that spiral shocks with a very short orbital period can arise during the initial stage of an outburst and may be present in all SU UMa stars.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in PAS

The Type Ic Hypernova SN 2002ap

Photometric and spectroscopic data of the energetic Type Ic supernova (SN) 2002ap are presented, and the properties of the SN are investigated through models of its spectral evolution and its light curve. The SN is spectroscopically similar to the "hypernova" SN 1997ef. However, its kinetic energy [$\sim (4-10) \times 10^{51}$ erg] and the mass ejected (2.5-5 $M_{\odot}$) are smaller, resulting in a faster-evolving light curve. The SN synthesized $\sim 0.07 M_{\odot}$ of $^{56}$Ni, and its peak luminosity was similar to that of normal SNe. Brightness alone should not be used to define a hypernova, whose defining character, namely very broad spectral features, is the result of a high kinetic energy. The likely main-sequence mass of the progenitor star was 20-25 $M_{\odot}$, which is also lower than that of both hypernovae SNe 1997ef and 1998bw. SN 2002ap appears to lie at the low-energy and low-mass end of the hypernova sequence as it is known so far. Observations of the nebular spectrum, which is expected to dominate by summer 2002, are necessary to confirm these values.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJL, 30 April 2002 (minor changes to match the accepted version, with figures being colored

Superhump Evolution in the Ultrashort Period Dwarf Nova 1RXS J232953.9+062814

Abstract We report on the evolution of superhumps and late superhumps in an ultrashort period dwarf nova, 1RXS J232953.9$+$062814, during the superoutburst in 2001 November. Ordinary superhumps were observed throughout a plateau phase, a rapid fading phase, and a rebrightening phase. During the plateau phase, the superhump period increased with time at a large rate of $P_\mathrm{dot} = 1.19 \pm 0.24 \times 10^{-4}$. In conjunction with the rebrightening phenomenon, these characteristics indicate that an accretion disk expanded further outward from the $3:1$ resonance radius, which caused a large amount of left over matter at the outer disk, even after the superoutburst. In the post-outburst phase, we detected late superhumps superimposed on dominant double-peak modulations. Late superhumps were observed at least for 10 d without a significant period change. We detected the first normal outburst of this object on 2001 December 26. The interval between the superoutburst and this normal one is 53 d. This short recurrence time supports a high mass-transfer rate in this system. Concerning the evolutionary status of 1RXS J232953.9$+$062814, we propose that it is a progenitor of AM CVn stars on the evolutionary course of the cataclysmic variable channel in which systems have a secondary star with a hydrogen-exhausted core

The Eruption of the Candidate Young Star ASASSN-15qi

Outbursts on young stars are usually interpreted as accretion bursts caused by instabilities in the disk or the star-disk connection. However, some protostellar outbursts may not fit into this framework. In this paper, we analyze optical and near-infrared spectra and photometry to characterize the 2015 outburst of the probable young star ASASSN-15qi. The $\sim 3.5$ mag brightening in the $V$ band was sudden, with an unresolved rise time of less than one day. The outburst decayed exponentially by 1 mag for 6 days and then gradually back to the pre-outburst level after 200 days. The outburst is dominated by emission from $\sim10,000$ K gas. An explosive release of energy accelerated matter from the star in all directions, seen in a spectacular cool, spherical wind with a maximum velocity of 1000 km/s. The wind and hot gas both disappeared as the outburst faded and the source the source returned to its quiescent F-star spectrum. Nebulosity near the star brightened with a delay of 10-20 days. Fluorescent excitation of H$_2$ is detected in emission from vibrational levels as high as $v=11$, also with a possible time delay in flux increase. The mid-infrared spectral energy distribution does not indicate the presence of warm dust emission, although the optical photospheric absorption and CO overtone emission could be related to a gaseous disk. Archival photometry reveals a prior outburst in 1976. Although we speculate about possible causes for this outburst, none of the explanations are compelling