Operation of the jet feedback mechanism (JFM) in intermediate luminosity optical transients (ILOTs)

TL;DR

This paper explores how jet feedback mechanisms (JFM) regulate the luminosity and duration of intermediate luminosity optical transients (ILOTs) by expelling accreting material, potentially shutting off the transient activity.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that JFM plays a crucial role in limiting ILOT luminosity and duration through jet-driven mass expulsion, a novel perspective on ILOT regulation.

Findings

Jets can expel gas, reducing accretion and luminosity.

JFM can shut off ILOT activity by halting mass inflow.

ILOTs are part of a broader class of objects influenced by JFM.

Abstract

We follow the premise that most intermediate luminosity optical transients (ILOTs) are powered by rapid mass accretion onto a main sequence star, and study the effects of jets launched by an accretion disk. The disk is formed due to large specific angular momentum of the accreted mass. The two opposite jets might expel some of the mass from the reservoir of gas that feeds the disk, and therefore reduces and shortens the mass accretion process. We argue that by this process ILOTs limit their luminosity and might even shut themselves off in this negative jet feedback mechanism (JFM). The group of ILOTs is a new member of a large family of astrophysical objects whose activity is regulated by the operation of the JFM.