On the Progenitor System of Nova V2491 Cygni

TL;DR

This paper investigates the progenitor system of Nova V2491 Cyg, using observational data to argue it is a recurrent nova with a sub-giant secondary, and clarifies the nature of its 0.1-day periodicity.

Contribution

It provides evidence that V2491 Cyg is a recurrent nova of the U Sco-class with a sub-giant secondary, challenging previous assumptions about its orbital period and magnetic nature.

Findings

V2491 Cyg is likely a recurrent nova with a sub-giant secondary.

The 0.1-day periodicity is probably caused by flickering, not the binary orbit.

A larger distance (~10.5-14 kpc) is supported, consistent with a recurrent nova scenario.

Abstract

Nova V2491 Cyg is one of just two detected pre-outburst in X-rays. The light curve of this nova exhibited a rare "re-brightening" which has been attributed by some as the system being a polar, whilst others claim that a magnetic WD is unlikely. By virtue of the nature of X-ray and spectroscopic observations the system has been proposed as a recurrent nova, however the adoption of a 0.1 day orbital period is generally seen as incompatible with such a system. In this research note we address the nature of the progenitor system and the source of the 0.1 day periodicity. Through the combination of Liverpool Telescope observations with published data and archival 2MASS data we show that V2491 Cyg, at a distance of 10.5 - 14 kpc, is likely to be a recurrent nova of the U Sco-class; containing a sub-giant secondary and an accretion disk, rather than accretion directly onto the poles. We show that there is little evidence, at quiescence, supporting a ~ 0.1 day periodicity, the variation seen at this stage is likely caused by flickering of a re-established accretion disk. We propose that the periodicity seen shortly after outburst is more likely related to the outburst rather than the - then obscured - binary system. Finally we address the distance to the system, and show that a significantly lower distance (~ 2 kpc) would result in a severely under-luminous outburst, and as such favour the larger distance and the recurrent nova scenario.