Concerning the Verity of the MMRD Relation for Novae

TL;DR

This paper examines the validity of the MMRD relation in novae, suggesting that observed correlations may result from observational biases and standard models rather than an intrinsic physical law.

Contribution

The study provides new lightcurve data for M31 recurrent novae and argues that the MMRD relation is likely influenced by selection effects and model expectations.

Findings

Observed MMRD relation can be explained by selection effects

Lightcurve parameters support the role of observational biases

Standard nova models align with the observed data

Abstract

It has long been claimed that novae reaching the highest luminosity at the peak of their eruptions appear to fade the fastest from maximum light. The relationship between peak brightness and fade rate is known as the Maximum-Magnitude, Rate-of-Decline (MMRD) relation. Lightcurve parameters for the most recent sample of M31 recurrent novae are presented and used to buttress the case that the observed MMRD relation can be explained as a consequence of observational selection effects coupled with expectations from standard nova models.