SPHEREx as a frontier for infrared transients: Classification of new Galactic FU Ori outbursts and classical novae

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how the SPHEREx space mission, combined with NEOWISE data, can classify and discover infrared transients like FU Ori outbursts and novae, revealing new objects and showcasing the potential for systematic infrared sky studies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using SPHEREx spectra to classify IR transients discovered by NEOWISE, including the identification of new FU Ori outbursts and novae.

Findings

SPHEREx spectra confirmed signatures of known FU Ori outbursts.

Strong emission lines identified in classical novae.

Two new FU Ori outbursts and one missed nova discovered.

Abstract

We demonstrate proof-of-concept of a new strategy for studying infrared (IR) transients enabled by the newly launched SPHEREx space mission, by leveraging its synergy with the NEOWISE space mission. With its fifteen year baseline and all-sky mid-IR coverage, NEOWISE provides an excellent avenue to discover thousands of slowly evolving infrared outbursts. With its all-sky spectro-photometric coverage and mid-IR sensitivity matching NEOWISE, SPHEREx is uniquely positioned to provide low-resolution IR spectra for the vast majority of these outbursts, several of which are too obscured for ground-based spectroscopic classification. As a demonstration of this approach, we present SPHEREx spectra for eight Galactic transients identified in NEOWISE. This sample includes two previously known FU Orionis-type (FUOr) outbursts whose SPHEREx spectra exhibit clear signatures of cool molecular absorption and three known classical novae showing strong emission lines in SPHEREx. Using these sources as templates, we identify two new FUOrs and one previously missed Galactic nova. Our results highlight the potential of SPHEREx for systematic explorations of the relatively underexplored dynamic infrared sky.