Classical Nova Persei 2018 outburst from the dwarf nova V392 Per

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the 2018 classical nova outburst V392 Per, derived from photometry and spectroscopy, revealing its physical properties, classification, and outflow dynamics.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed characterization of V392 Per's outburst, including its light curve, spectral features, and system geometry, using new observational data and models.

Findings

V392 Per reached maximum brightness with MVmax = -9.30.

The nova is classified as a fast super-Eddington nova with a plateau light curve.

The system's inclination angle is approximately 9 degrees, with bipolar outflows observed.

Abstract

On 2018, April 29, a bright classical nova (CN) Per 2018 was discovered. Its progenitor is a well-known dwarf nova V392 Per. In this contribution, we analyze $UBVR_{C}I_{C}$ photometry and optical spectroscopy of the CN V392 Per. From the $V$ light curve (LC) we found the brightness decline times t$_{2,V}$ = 3 d, t$_{3,V}$ = 10 d and calculated absolute magnitude of the nova at maximum $MV_{max}$ = -9.30 ${\pm}$0.57 using the new $MV_{max}$ - t$_{3}$ "universal" decline law and $MV_{15}$ relations, adopting the Gaia data for CNe. We determined the colour excess $E_{B-V}$ = 0.90$\pm$0.09 and distance to the nova $d$ = 3.55$\pm$0.6 kpc. The optical spectrum obtained in brightness maximum resembles that of the F2 supergiant. Its bolometric luminosity computed by fitting the continuum by atmospheric and black-body models is in agreement with the luminosity, that we have found from photometry. We estimated the mass of the ONe white dwarf in V392 Per as $M_{wd}$ = 1.21 M$_{\odot}$. The CN Per 2018 can be classified as a fast super-Eddington nova with an outburst LC of plateau type. Nova displayed He/N spectrum classification, large expansion velocities, and triple-peaked emission-line profiles during the decline, explained by equatorial ring seen nearly face on and a bipolar flow aligned almost with the line of sight. The post maximum spectra of CN Per 2018 and available radio data were used to estimate the inclination angle of the system as $i\sim$ 9$^{\circ}$. The difference in intensity of redward and blueward emission bumps is possible to explain by about 1.5 times higher density of the receding outtflow. The rapid increase of the bipolar outflow radial velocities by $\sim$300 km/s around day 5 after the maximum was caused by the fast bipolar winds from the burning white dwarf after shrinking of its pseudophotosphere.