Nova Eruptions with Infrared Interferometric Observations

TL;DR

Infrared interferometry can effectively analyze nova eruptions by modeling initial thermal emission to determine ejected mass and eruption details, complementing optical methods.

Contribution

This paper proposes using existing infrared interferometric techniques to derive nova eruption parameters, especially ejected mass, during the initial phase.

Findings

Infrared interferometry can reveal ejection details in nova eruptions.

Modeling initial thermal emission helps estimate ejected mass.

Infrared methods complement optical observations.

Abstract

Infrared interferometric observations have a great deal of potential to unravel the nature of the nova eruptions. We suggest that techniques, already in place, to derive the ejection details at optical wavelengths be used with infrared interferometric observations to derive parameters such as the ejected mass in a nova eruption. This is achievable based on modelling the initial phase of the eruption when the infrared light is dominated by the free-free thermal process.