A Light-Curve Model of the Symbiotic Nova PU Vul (1979) -- A Very Quiet Explosion with Long-Lasted Flat Peak

TL;DR

This paper models the light curve of the symbiotic nova PU Vul, explaining its long flat peak without wind mass-loss and estimating key parameters like white dwarf mass and distance.

Contribution

It introduces a static solution-based light curve model that accurately reproduces PU Vul's optical and UV light curves, providing new estimates of reddening and distance.

Findings

White dwarf mass estimated at ~0.6 solar masses

Reddening E(B-V) determined as 0.43 +/- 0.05

Distance to PU Vul estimated at 3.8 +/- 0.7 kpc

Abstract

We present a light curve model of the symbiotic nova PU Vul (Nova Vulpeculae 1979) that shows a long-lasted flat peak with no spectral indication of wind mass-loss before decline. Our quasi-evolution models consisting of a series of static solutions explain both the optical flat peak and ultraviolet (UV) light curve simultaneously. The white dwarf mass is estimated to be ~0.6 Mo. We also provide a new determination of the reddening, E(B-V) = 0.43 +/- 0.05, from UV spectral analysis. Theoretical light curve fitting of UV 1455 A provides the distance of d=3.8 +/- 0.7 kpc.