Discovery of a nova super-remnant cavity surrounding RS Ophiuchi

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a nova super-remnant cavity around RS Ophiuchi, supporting simulations that predict such structures should exist around all novae, and provides observational evidence of these large shells.

Contribution

It presents the first observational evidence of a nova super-remnant cavity around RS Ophiuchi, confirming simulation predictions and expanding understanding of nova environments.

Findings

Discovery of a cavity around RS Ophiuchi in IRAS images

Confirmation of NSR structures around recurrent novae

Support for simulations predicting NSRs around all novae

Abstract

The prototypical nova super-remnant (NSR) was uncovered around the most rapidly recurring nova (RN), M31N 2008-12a. Simulations of the growth of NSRs revealed that these large structures should exist around all novae, whether classical or recurrent. NSRs consist of large shell-like structures surrounding excavated cavities. Predictions, informed by these simulations, led to the discovery of an extended cavity coincident with the Galactic RN, RS Ophiuchi, in far-infrared archival IRAS images. We propose that this cavity is associated with RS Oph and is therefore evidence of another NSR to be uncovered.