SSS in young stellar populations and the "prompt" component of Type Ia supernovae

TL;DR

This paper investigates supersoft X-ray sources in young stellar regions of M31 and explores their potential connection to the 'prompt' component of Type Ia supernovae, providing insights into their origins and evolution.

Contribution

It presents a detailed search for UV and optical counterparts of SSS in M31 and discusses their possible link to Type Ia supernovae's 'prompt' component, highlighting new associations and physical insights.

Findings

16 of 56 SSS are in star-forming regions

One source shows nova-like long-term X-ray evolution

Potential link between SSS and 'prompt' Type Ia supernovae

Abstract

We present the results of a search for UV and optical counterparts of the SSS population in M31. We find that out of the 56 sources we included in our search, 16 are associated with regions of ongoing or recent star formation. We discuss two particularly interesting sources that are identified optically as early type stars, one of which displayed long term X-ray evolution similar to that observed in classical novae. We discuss the physical origin of supersoft X-rays in these and the other SSS in young regions, and their possible link to the so-called "prompt" component of the Type Ia supernova population.