H-alpha variability of the recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis

Abstract

We analyze H-alpha observations of the recurrent nova T CrB obtained during the last decade. For the first time the H-alpha emission profile is analyzed after subtraction of the red giant contribution. Based on our new radial velocity measurements of the H-alpha emission line we estimate the component masses of T CrB. It is found that the hot component is most likely a massive white dwarf. We estimate the inclination and the component masses to be i~67 deg, Mwd = 1.37 +/-0.13 Msun and Msec=1.12 +/-0.23 Msun, respectively. The radial velocity of the central dip in the H-alpha profile changes nearly in phase with that of the red giant's absorption lines. This suggests that the dip is most likely produced by absorption in the giant's wind. Our observations cover an interval when the H-alpha and the U-band flux vary by a factor of ~6, while the variability in B and V is much smaller. Based on our observations, and archival ultraviolet and optical data we show that the optical, ultraviolet and H-alpha fluxes strongly correlate. We argue that the presence of an accretion disc can account for most of the observed properties of T CrB.

8 pages, 6 EPS figures, to appear in A&A

References in corpus (4)

• Recurrent novae as a progenitor system of Type Ia supernovae. I. RS Ophiuchi subclass --- Systems with a red giant companion
• New binary parameters for the symbiotic recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis
• Magnetic Activity of the Cool Companion in Symbiotic Systems
• The massive white dwarf in the recurrent nova T CrB

Cited by in corpus (27)

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• Chemical abundance analysis of symbiotic giants. Metallicity and CNO abundance patterns in 14 northern S-type systems
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• The effect of aspherical stellar wind of giant stars on the symbiotic channel of type Ia supernovae
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