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The origin of bright X-ray emission lines that appear late in a nova eruption remains largely a puzzle. We present two high-resolution X-ray grating spectra of the classical nova YZ Ret, observed 77 and 115 days post-eruption, using XMM-Newton and Chandra , respectively. Both spectra feature resolved emission lines blueshifted by $v = -1500$ km s$^{-1}$ and broadened by $\sigma_v=500$ km s$^{-1}$. The two spectra are well described by a collisionally ionized plasma of $kT\sim 70$ eV that dimmed by a factor of $\sim40$ between the two exposures. The spectra also show narrow radiative recombination continua (RRCs) of C$^{+4}$, C$^{+5}$, and N$^{+5}$, indicating the interaction of the hot ionized plasma with cold electrons of $kT\sim 2$ eV. The high-$n$ Rydberg series of C$^{+4}$ is anomalously bright, allowing us to measure the electron density through continuum lowering, which is in agreement with the He-like N$^{+5}$ density diagnostic of $n_e=(1.7\pm0.4)\times10^{11}$ cm$^{-3}$. The high population of these high-$n$ levels constitutes the best evidence to date of charge exchange (CX) with neutral H in an astrophysical ionized plasma. The remarkable fact that the velocity and plasma temperature are the same after 38 days, despite the high density and decreasing flux is evidence for ongoing heating. We suggest the heating is due to a reverse shock in the nova ejecta, which forms a thin X-ray shell. The narrow RRCs and CX are attributed to direct mixing with cold gas, which overtakes the hot plasma either from the shock front, or through the contact discontinuity., Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures

We outline some of the highlights of the scientific case for the advancement of stellar high energy physics using the Line Emission Mapper X-ray Probe ({\it LEM}). The key to advancements with LEM lie in its large effective area -- up to 100 times that of the {\it Chandra} MEG -- and 1~eV spectral resolution. The large effective area opens up for the first time the ability to study time-dependent phenomena on their natural timescales at high resolution, such as flares and coronal mass ejections, and also opens the sky to much fainter targets than available to {\it Chandra} or {\it XMM-Newton}., Comment: A Line Emission Mapper X-ray Probe White Paper

The Line Emission Mapper's (LEM's) exquisite spectral resolution and effective area will open new research domains in Astrophysics, Planetary Science and Heliophysics. LEM will provide step-change capabilities for the fluorescence, solar wind charge exchange (SWCX) and auroral precipitation processes that dominate X-ray emissions in our Solar System. The observatory will enable novel X-ray measurements of historically inaccessible line species, thermal broadening, characteristic line ratios and Doppler shifts - a universally valuable new astrophysics diagnostic toolkit. These measurements will identify the underlying compositions, conditions and physical processes from km-scale ultra-cold comets to the MK solar wind in the heliopause at 120 AU. Here, we focus on the paradigm-shifts LEM will provide for understanding the nature of the interaction between a star and its planets, especially the fundamental processes that govern the transfer of mass and energy within our Solar System, and the distribution of elements throughout the heliosphere. In this White Paper we show how LEM will enable a treasure trove of new scientific contributions that directly address key questions from the National Academies' 2023-2032 Planetary Science and 2013-2022 Heliophysics Decadal Strategies. The topics we highlight include: 1. The richest global trace element maps of the Lunar Surface ever produced; insights that address Solar System and planetary formation, and provide invaluable context ahead of Artemis and the Lunar Gateway. 2. Global maps of our Heliosphere through Solar Wind Charge Exchange (SWCX) that trace the interstellar neutral distributions in interplanetary space and measure system-wide solar wind ion abundances and velocities; a key new understanding of our local astrosphere and a synergistic complement to NASA IMAP observations of heliospheric interactions..., Comment: White Paper for the Line Emission Mapper Astrophysics APEX X-ray Probe

The Line Emission Mapper (LEM) is an X-ray Probe for the 2030s that will answer the outstanding questions of the Universe's structure formation. It will also provide transformative new observing capabilities for every area of astrophysics, and to heliophysics and planetary physics as well. LEM's main goal is a comprehensive look at the physics of galaxy formation, including stellar and black-hole feedback and flows of baryonic matter into and out of galaxies. These processes are best studied in X-rays, and emission-line mapping is the pressing need in this area. LEM will use a large microcalorimeter array/IFU, covering a 30x30' field with 10" angular resolution, to map the soft X-ray line emission from objects that constitute galactic ecosystems. These include supernova remnants, star-forming regions, superbubbles, galactic outflows (such as the Fermi/eROSITA bubbles in the Milky Way and their analogs in other galaxies), the Circumgalactic Medium in the Milky Way and other galaxies, and the Intergalactic Medium at the outskirts and beyond the confines of galaxies and clusters. LEM's 1-2 eV spectral resolution in the 0.2-2 keV band will make it possible to disentangle the faintest emission lines in those objects from the bright Milky Way foreground, providing groundbreaking measurements of the physics of these plasmas, from temperatures, densities, chemical composition to gas dynamics. While LEM's main focus is on galaxy formation, it will provide transformative capability for all classes of astrophysical objects, from the Earth's magnetosphere, planets and comets to the interstellar medium and X-ray binaries in nearby galaxies, AGN, and cooling gas in galaxy clusters. In addition to pointed observations, LEM will perform a shallow all-sky survey that will dramatically expand the discovery space., Comment: 18 pages. White paper for a mission concept to be submitted for the 2023 NASA Astrophysics Probes opportunity. v2: All-sky survey figure expanded, references fixed. v3: Added energy resolution measurements for prototype detector array. v4: Author list and reference fixes

The 2021 outburst of the symbiotic recurrent nova RS Oph was observed with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Gratings (HETG) on day 18 after optical maximum and with XMM-Newton and its Reflection Grating Spectrographs (RGS) on day 21, before the supersoft X-ray source emerged and when the emission was due to shocked ejecta. The absorbed flux in the HETG 1.3-31 Angstrom range was 2.6 x 10(-10) erg/cm(-2)/s, three orders of magnitude lower than the gamma-ray flux measured on the same date. The spectra are well fitted with two components of thermal plasma in collisional ionization equilibrium, one at a temperature ~0.75 keV, and the other at temperature in the 2.5-3.4 keV range. With the RGS we measured an average flux 1.53 x 10(-10) erg/cm(-2)/s in the 5-35 Angstrom range, but the flux in the continuum and especially in the lines in the 23-35 Angstrom range decreased during the 50 ks RGS exposure by almost 10%, indicating short term variability on hours' time scale. The RGS spectrum can be fitted with three thermal components, respectively at plasma temperature between 70 and 150 eV, 0.64 keV and 2.4 keV. The post-maximum epochs of the exposures fall between those of two grating spectra observed in the 2006 eruption on days 14 and 26: they are consistent with a similar spectral evolution, but in 2021 cooling seems to have been more rapid. Iron is depleted in the ejecta with respect to solar values, while nitrogen is enhanced., Comment: In press in the Astrophysical Journal

Nova Her 2021 (V1674 Her), which erupted on 2021 June 12, reached naked-eye brightness and has been detected from radio to $\gamma$-rays. An extremely fast optical decline of 2 magnitudes in 1.2 days and strong Ne lines imply a high-mass white dwarf. The optical pre-outburst detection of a 501.42s oscillation suggests a magnetic white dwarf. This is the first time that an oscillation of this magnitude has been detected in a classical nova prior to outburst. We report X-ray outburst observations from {\it Swift} and {\it Chandra} which uniquely show: (1) a very strong modulation of super-soft X-rays at a different period from reported optical periods; (2) strong pulse profile variations and the possible presence of period variations of the order of 0.1-0.3s; and (3) rich grating spectra that vary with modulation phase and show P Cygni-type emission lines with two dominant blue-shifted absorption components at $\sim 3000$ and 9000 km s$^{-1}$ indicating expansion velocities up to 11000 km s$^{-1}$. X-ray oscillations most likely arise from inhomogeneous photospheric emission related to the magnetic field. Period differences between reported pre- and post-outburst optical observations, if not due to other period drift mechanisms, suggest a large ejected mass for such a fast nova, in the range $2\times 10^{-5}$-$2\times 10^{-4} M_\odot$. A difference between the period found in the {\it Chandra} data and a reported contemporaneous post-outburst optical period, as well as the presence of period drifts, could be due to weakly non-rigid photospheric rotation., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters

We analyse here four observations of nova KT Eri (Nova Eri 2009) done with the Chandra High Resolution Camera Spectrometer (HRC-S) and the Low Energy Transmission Grating (LETG) in 2010, from day 71 until day 159 after the optical maximum, in the luminous supersoft X-ray phase. The spectrum presents many absorption features with a large range of velocity, from a few hundred km s$^{-1}$ to 3100 km s$^{-1}$ in the same observation, and a few prominent emission features, generally redshifted by more than 2000 km s$^{-1}$. Although the uncertainty on the distance and the WD luminosity from the approximate fit do not let us rule out a larger absolute luminosity than our best estimate of $\simeq 5 \times 10^{37}$ erg s$^{-1}$, it is likely that we observed only up to $\simeq$40% of the surface of the white dwarf, which may have been partially hidden by clumpy ejecta. Our fit with atmospheric models indicate a massive white dwarf in the 1.15-1.25 M$_\odot$ range. A thermal spectrum originating in the ejecta appears to be superimposed on the white dwarf spectrum. It is complex, has more than one component and may be due to a mixture of photoionized and shock ionized outflowing material. We confirm that the $\simeq$35 s oscillation that was reported earlier, was detected in the last observation, done on day 159 of the outburst.

Peaking at 3.7 mag on 2020 July 11, YZ Ret was the second-brightest nova of the decade. The nova's moderate proximity (2.7 kpc from Gaia) provided an opportunity to explore its multi-wavelength properties in great detail. Here we report on YZ Ret as part of a long-term project to identify the physical mechanisms responsible for high-energy emission in classical novae. We use simultaneous Fermi/LAT and NuSTAR observations complemented by XMM-Newton X-ray grating spectroscopy to probe the physical parameters of the shocked ejecta and the nova-hosting white dwarf. The XMM-Newton observations revealed a super-soft X-ray emission which is dominated by emission lines of CV, CVI, NVI, NVII, and OVIII rather than a blackbody-like continuum, suggesting CO-composition of the white dwarf in a high-inclination binary system. Fermi/LAT detected YZ Ret for 15 days with the gamma-ray spectrum best described by a power law with an exponential cut-off at 1.9 +/-0.6 GeV. In stark contrast with theoretical predictions and in keeping with previous NuSTAR observations of Fermi-detected classical novae (V5855 Sgr and V906 Car), the 3.5-78 keV X-ray emission is found to be two orders of magnitude fainter than the GeV emission. The X-ray emission observed by NuSTAR is consistent with a single-temperature thermal plasma. We detect no non-thermal tail of the GeV emission expected to extend down to the NuSTAR band. NuSTAR observations continue to challenge theories of high-energy emission from shocks in novae., Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables; accepted to MNRAS

ESA's INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) was launched on 17 Oct 2002 at 06:41 CEST. Since then, it has been providing long, uninterrupted observations (up to about 47 hr, or 170 ksec, per satellite orbit of 2.7 days) with a large field-of-view (fully coded: 100 deg^2), msec time resolution, keV energy resolution, polarization measurements, as well as additional coverage in the optical. This is realized by two main instruments in the 15 keV to 10 MeV range, the spectrometer SPI (spectral resolution 3 keV at 1.8 MeV) and the imager IBIS (angular resolution 12 arcmin FWHM), complemented by X-ray (JEM-X; 3-35 keV) and optical (OMC; Johnson V-band) monitors. All instruments are co-aligned to simultaneously observe the target region. A particle radiation monitor (IREM) measures charged particle fluxes near the spacecraft. The Anti-coincidence subsystems of the main instruments are also efficient all-sky gamma-ray detectors, which provide omni-directional monitoring above ~75 keV. INTEGRAL can also rapidly (within a couple of hours) re-point and conduct Target of Opportunity observations. INTEGRAL has build an impressive legacy: e.g. discovery of >600 new high-energy sources; first-ever direct detection of 56Ni and 56Co radio-active decay lines from a Type Ia supernova; new insights on positron annihilation in the Galactic bulge and disk; pioneering gamma-ray polarization studies. INTEGRAL is also a successful in multi-messenger astronomy: INTEGRAL found the first prompt electromagnetic radiation in coincidence with a binary neutron star merger. More than 1750 papers based on INTEGRAL data have been published in refereed journals. Here we give a comprehensive update of the satellite status after more than 18 years of operations in a harsh space environment, and an account of the successful Ground Segment., Comment: 29 pages, 20 figures, accepted for publication in special issue of New Astronomy Reviews

We examine four high resolution reflection grating spectrometers (RGS) spectra of the February 2009 outburst of the luminous recurrent nova LMC 2009a. They were very complex and rich in intricate absorption and emission features. The continuum was consistent with a dominant component originating in the atmosphere of a shell burning white dwarf (WD) with peak effective temperature between 810,000 K and a million K, and mass in the 1.2-1.4 M$_\odot$ range. A moderate blue shift of the absorption features of a few hundred km s$^{-1}$ can be explained with a residual nova wind depleting the WD surface at a rate of about 10$^{-8}$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$. The emission spectrum seems to be due to both photoionization and shock ionization in the ejecta. The supersoft X-ray flux was irregularly variable on time scales of hours, with decreasing amplitude of the variability. We find that both the period and the amplitude of another, already known 33.3 s modulation, varied within timescales of hours. We compared N LMC 2009a with other Magellanic Clouds novae, including 4 serendipitously discovered as supersoft X-ray sources (SSS) among 13 observed within 16 years after the eruption. The new detected targets were much less luminous than expected: we suggest that they were partially obscured by the accretion disk. Lack of SSS detections in the Magellanic Clouds novae more than 5.5 years after the eruption constrains the average duration of the nuclear burning phase., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Two long AstroSat Soft X-ray Telescope observations were taken of the third recorded outburst of the Symbiotic Recurrent Nova, V3890 Sgr. The first observing run, 8.1-9.9 days after the outburst, initially showed a stable intensity level with a hard X-ray spectrum that we attribute to shocks between the nova ejecta and the pre-existing stellar companion. On day 8.57, the first, weak, signs appeared of Super Soft Source (SSS) emission powered by residual burning on the surface of the White Dwarf. The SSS emission was observed to be highly variable on time scales of hours. After day 8.9, the SSS component was more stable and brighter. In the second observing run, on days 15.9-19.6 after the outburst, the SSS component was even brighter but still highly variable. The SSS emission was observed to fade significantly during days 16.8-17.8 followed by re-brightening. Meanwhile the shock component was stable leading to increase in hardness ratio during the period of fading. AstroSat and XMM-Newton observations have been used to study the spectral properties of V3890 Sgr to draw quantitative conclusions even if their drawback is model-dependence. We used the xspec to fit spectral models of plasma emission, and the best fits are consistent with the elemental abundances being lower during the second observing run compared to the first for spectra >1 keV. The SSS emission is well fit by non-local thermal equilibrium model atmosphere used for white dwarfs. The resulting spectral parameters, however, are subject to systematic uncertainties such as completeness of atomic data., Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Shocks in gamma-ray emitting classical novae are expected to produce bright thermal and non-thermal X-rays. We test this prediction with simultaneous NuSTAR and Fermi/LAT observations of nova V906 Car, which exhibited the brightest GeV gamma-ray emission to date. The nova is detected in hard X-rays while it is still gamma-ray bright, but contrary to simple theoretical expectations, the detected 3.5-78 keV emission of V906 Car is much weaker than the simultaneously observed >100 MeV emission. No non-thermal X-ray emission is detected, and our deep limits imply that the gamma-rays are likely hadronic. After correcting for substantial absorption (N_H ~ 2 x 10^23 cm^-2), the thermal X-ray luminosity (from a 9 keV optically-thin plasma) is just ~2% of the gamma-ray luminosity. We consider possible explanations for the low thermal X-ray luminosity, including the X-rays being suppressed by corrugated, radiative shock fronts or the X-rays from the gamma-ray producing shock are hidden behind an even larger absorbing column (N_H >10^25 cm^-2). Adding XMM-Newton and Swift/XRT observations to our analysis, we find that the evolution of the intrinsic X-ray absorption requires the nova shell to be expelled 24 days after the outburst onset. The X-ray spectra show that the ejecta are enhanced in nitrogen and oxygen, and the nova occurred on the surface of a CO-type white dwarf. We see no indication of a distinct super-soft phase in the X-ray lightcurve, which, after considering the absorption effects, may point to a low mass of the white dwarf hosting the nova., Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 7 tables; accepted to MNRAS

The recurrent nova (RN) V3890 Sgr was observed during the 7th day after the onset of its most recent outburst, with the Chandra ACIS-S camera and High Energy Transmission Gratings (HETG). A rich emission line spectrum was detected, due to transitions of Fe-L and K-shell ions ranging from neon to iron. The measured absorbed flux is $\approx 10^{-10}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ in the 1.4-15 Angstrom range (0.77-8.86 keV). The line profiles are asymmetric, blue-shifted and skewed towards the blue side, as if the ejecta moving towards us are less absorbed than the receding ones. The full width at half maximum of most emission lines is 1000-1200 km s$^{-1}$, with some extended blue wings. The spectrum is thermal and consistent with a plasma in collisional ionization equilibrium with column density 1.3 $\times 10^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$ and at least two components at temperatures of about 1 keV and 4 keV, possibly a forward and a reverse shock, or regions with differently mixed ejecta and red giant wind. The spectrum is remarkably similar to the symbiotic RNe V745 Sco and RS Oph, but we cannot distinguish whether the shocks occurred at a distance of few AU from the red giant, or near the giant's photosphere, in a high density medium containing only a small mass. The ratios of the flux in lines of aluminum, magnesium and neon relative to the flux in lines of silicon and iron probably indicate a carbon-oxygen white dwarf (CO WD)., Comment: In press on the ApJ

Super Soft X-ray Sources (SSS) are powered by nuclear burning on the surface of an accreting white dwarf, they are seen around 0.1-1 keV (thus in the soft X-ray regime), depending on effective temperature and the amount of intervening interstellar neutral hydrogen N_H. The most realistic model to derive physical parameters from observed SSS spectra would be an atmosphere model that simulates the radiation transport processes. However, observed SSS high-resolution grating spectra reveal highly complex details that cast doubts on the feasibility of achieving unique results from atmosphere modeling. In this article, I discuss two independent atmosphere model analyses of the same data set, leading to different results. I then show some of the details that complicate the analysis and conclude that we need to approach the interpretation of high-resolution SSS spectra differently. We need to focus more on the data than the models and to use more phenomenological approaches as is traditionally done with optical spectra., Comment: Accepted in JASR. 7 pages, 6 figure

The magnetosphere sustained by the rotation of the Earth's liquid iron core traps charged particles, mostly electrons and protons, into structures referred to as the Van Allen belts. These radiation belts, in which the density of charged energetic particles can be very destructive for sensitive instrumentation, have to be crossed on every orbit of satellites traveling in elliptical orbits around the Earth, as is the case for ESA's INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton missions. This paper presents the first working version of the 5DRBM-e model, a global, data-driven model of the radiation belts for trapped electrons. The model is based on in-situ measurements of electrons by the radiation monitors on board the INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton satellites along their long elliptical orbits for respectively 16 and 19 years of operations. This model, in its present form, features the integral flux for trapped electrons within energies ranging from 0.7 to 1.75 MeV. Cross-validation of the 5DRBM-e with the well-known AE8min/max and AE9mean models for a low eccentricity GPS orbit shows excellent agreement, and demonstrates that the new model can be used to provide reliable predictions along widely different orbits around Earth for the purpose of designing, planning, and operating satellites with more accurate instrument safety margins. Future work will include extending the model based on electrons of different energies and proton radiation measurement data., Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 1 table

Ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) are mainly powered by accretion in neutron stars or stellar-mass black holes. Accreting at rates exceeding the Eddington limit by factors of a few up to hundreds, radiation pressure is expected to inflate the accretion disc, and drive fast winds that have in fact been observed at significant fractions of the speed of light. Given the super-Eddington luminosity, the accretion disc will be thicker than in sub-Eddington accretors such as common active galactic nuclei and X-ray binaries, leading to a different spectral energy distribution and, possibly, a different thermal status of the wind. Here we show the first attempt to calculate the photoionization balance of the winds driven by strong radiation pressure in thick discs with a focus on ULXs hosting black holes or non-magnetic neutron stars. We find that the winds are generally in thermally stable equilibrium, but long-term variations in the accretion rate and the inclination due to precession may have significant effects on the wind appearance and stability. Our model trends can explain the observed correlation between the spectral residuals around 1 keV and the ULX spectral state. We also find a possible correlation between the spectral hardness of the ULX, the wind velocity and the ionization parameter in support of the general scenario., Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in MNRAS

The emergence of time-domain multi-messenger (astro)physics requires for new, improved ways of interchanging scheduling information, in order to allow more efficient collaborations between the various teams. Currently space- and ground-based observatories provide target visibilities and schedule information via dedicated web pages in various, (observatory-specific) formats. With this project we aim to: i) standardise the exchange of information about observational schedules and instrument set-ups, and ii) standardise the automation of visibility checking for multiple facilities. To meet these goals, we propose to use VO protocols (ObsTAP-like) to write the services necessary to expose these data to potential client applications and to develop visibility servers across the different facilities., Comment: to appear in ADASS XXVII, ASP Conf. Ser., eds. P. Teuben, M. Pound, B. Thomas & E. Warner

Models of nova outbursts suggest that an X-ray flash should occur just after hydrogen ignition. However, this X-ray flash has never been observationally confirmed. We present four theoretical light curves of the X-ray flash for two very massive white dwarfs (WDs) of 1.380 and 1.385 M_sun and for two recurrence periods of 0.5 and 1 years. The duration of the X-ray flash is shorter for a more massive WD and for a longer recurrence period. The shortest duration of 14 hours (0.6 days) among the four cases is obtained for the 1.385 M_sun WD with one year recurrence period. In general, a nova explosion is relatively weak for a very short recurrence period, which results in a rather slow evolution toward the optical peak. This slow timescale and the predictability of very short recurrence period novae give us a chance to observe X-ray flashes of recurrent novae. In this context, we report the first attempt, using the Swift observatory, to detect an X-ray flash of the recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a (0.5 or 1 year recurrence period), which resulted in the non-detection of X-ray emission during the period of 8 days before the optical detection. We discuss the impact of these observations on nova outburst theory. The X-ray flash is one of the last frontiers of nova studies and its detection is essentially important to understand the pre-optical-maximum phase. We encourage further observations., Comment: 12 pages, including 9 figures and 3 tables. To appear in the Astrophysical Journal

Recent Swift X-ray monitoring campaigns of novae have revealed extreme levels of variability during the early super-soft-source (SSS) phase. The first time this was observed was during the 2006 outburst of the recurrent nova RS Oph which was also extensively covered by grating observations with XMM-Newton and Chandra. I focus here on an XMM-Newton observation taken on day 26.1, just before Swift confirmed the start of the SSS phase, and a Chandra observation taken on day 39.7. The first observation probes the evolution of the shock emission produced by the collision of the nova ejecta with the stellar wind of the companion. The second observation contains bright SSS emission longwards of 15A while at short wavelengths, the shock component can be seen to have hardly changed. On top of the SSS continuum, additional emission lines are clearly seen, and I show that they are much stronger than those seen on day 26.1, indicating line pumping caused by the SSS emission. The lightcurve on day 39.7 is highly variable on short time scales while the long-term Swift light curve was still variable. In 2007, we have shown that brightness variations are followed by hardness variations, lagging behind 1000 seconds. I show now that the hardness variations are owed to variations in the depth of the neutral hydrogen column density of order 25%, particularly affecting the oxygen K-shell ionization edge at 0.5 keV., Comment: Accepted for Acta Polytechnica. 4 pages, 4 figures, conference proceedings PALERMO WORKSHOP 2013

We present the results of an intensive multiwavelength campaign on nova LMC 2012. This nova evolved very rapidly in all observed wavelengths. The time to fall two magnitudes in the V band was only 2 days. In X-rays the super soft phase began 13$\pm$5 days after discovery and ended around day 50 after discovery. During the super soft phase, the \Swift/XRT and \Chandra\ spectra were consistent with the underlying white dwarf being very hot, $\sim$ 1 MK, and luminous, $\sim$ 10$^{38}$ erg s$^{-1}$. The UV, optical, and near-IR photometry showed a periodic variation after the initial and rapid fading had ended. Timing analysis revealed a consistent 19.24$\pm$0.03 hr period in all UV, optical, and near-IR bands with amplitudes of $\sim$ 0.3 magnitudes which we associate with the orbital period of the central binary. No periods were detected in the corresponding X-ray data sets. A moderately high inclination system, $i$ = 60$\pm$10$^{\arcdeg}$, was inferred from the early optical emission lines. The {\it HST}/STIS UV spectra were highly unusual with only the \ion{N}{5} (1240\AA) line present and superposed on a blue continuum. The lack of emission lines and the observed UV and optical continua from four epochs can be fit with a low mass ejection event, $\sim$ 10$^{-6}$ M$_{\odot}$, from a hot and massive white dwarf near the Chandrasekhar limit. The white dwarf, in turn, significantly illuminated its subgiant companion which provided the bulk of the observed UV/optical continuum emission at the later dates. The inferred extreme white dwarf characteristics and low mass ejection event favor nova LMC 2012 being a recurrent nova of the U Sco subclass., Comment: 18 figures, 6 tables (one online only containing all the photometry)

The 21st century X-ray observatories XMM-Newton, Chandra, and Swift gave us completely new insights into the X-ray behaviour of nova outbursts. These new-generation X-ray observatories provide particularly high spectral resolution and high density in monitoring campaigns, simultaneously in X-rays and UV/optical. The entire evolution of several nova outbursts has been observed with the Swift XRT and UVOT instruments, allowing studies of the gradual shift of the peak of the SED from UV to X-rays, time scales to the onset and duration of the X-ray brightest supersoft source (SSS) phase, and pre- and post-SSS X-ray emission. In addition, XMM-Newton and Chandra observations can efficiently be scheduled, allowing deeper studies of strategically chosen evolutionary stages. Before Swift joined in 2005, Chandra and XMM-Newton blind shots in search of SSS emission unavoidably led to some underexposed observations taken before and/or after the SSS phase. More systematic Swift studies reduced this number while increasing the number of novae. Pre- and post-SSS spectra at low and high spectral resolution were successfully modelled with collisional plasma models. Pre-SSS emission arises in shocks and post-SSS emission in radiatively cooling thin ejecta. In contrast, the grating spectra taken during the SSS phase are a lot more complex than expected and have not yet been successfully modeled. Available hot WD radiation transport models give only approximate reproduction of the observations, and make some critical assumptions that are only valid in isolated WDs. More grating spectra which would be important to search for systematic trends between SSS spectra and system parameters., Comment: 25 pages

The X-ray flux of Nova V2491 Cyg reached a maximum some forty days after optical maximum. The X-ray spectrum at that time, obtained with the RGS of XMM-Newton, shows deep, blue-shifted absorption by ions of a wide range of ionization. We show that the deep absorption lines of the X-ray spectrum at maximum, and nine days later, are well described by the following phenomenological model with emission from a central blackbody and from a collisionally ionized plasma (CIE). The blackbody spectrum (BB) is absorbed by three main highly-ionized expanding shells; the CIE and BB are absorbed by cold circumstellar and interstellar matter that includes dust. The outflow density does not decrease monotonically with distance. The abundances of the shells indicate that they were ejected from an O-Ne white dwarf. We show that the variations on time scales of hours in the X-ray spectrum are caused by a combination of variation in the central source and in the column density of the ionized shells. Our phenomenological model gives the best description so far of the supersoft X-ray spectrum of nova V2491 Cyg, but underpredicts, by a large factor, the optical and ultraviolet flux. The X-ray part of the spectrum must originate from a very different layer in the expanding envelope, presumably much closer to the white dwarf than the layers responsible for the optical/ultraviolet spectrum. This is confirmed by absence of any correlation between the X-ray and UV/optical observed fluxes., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures

The Swift GRB satellite is an excellent facility for studying novae. Its rapid response time and sensitive X-ray detector provides an unparalleled opportunity to investigate the previously poorly sampled evolution of novae in the X-ray regime. This paper presents Swift observations of 52 Galactic/Magellanic Cloud novae. We included the XRT (0.3-10 keV) X-ray instrument count rates and the UVOT (1700-8000 Angstroms) filter photometry. Also included in the analysis are the publicly available pointed observations of 10 additional novae the X-ray archives. This is the largest X-ray sample of Galactic/Magellanic Cloud novae yet assembled and consists of 26 novae with super soft X-ray emission, 19 from Swift observations. The data set shows that the faster novae have an early hard X-ray phase that is usually missing in slower novae. The Super Soft X-ray phase occurs earlier and does not last as long in fast novae compared to slower novae. All the Swift novae with sufficient observations show that novae are highly variable with rapid variability and different periodicities. In the majority of cases, nuclear burning ceases less than 3 years after the outburst begins. Previous relationships, such as the nuclear burning duration vs. t_2 or the expansion velocity of the eject and nuclear burning duration vs. the orbital period, are shown to be poorly correlated with the full sample indicating that additional factors beyond the white dwarf mass and binary separation play important roles in the evolution of a nova outburst. Finally, we confirm two optical phenomena that are correlated with strong, soft X-ray emission which can be used to further increase the efficiency of X-ray campaigns., Comment: Accepted to ApJ Supplements. Full data for Table 2 and Figure 17 available in the electronic edition. New version of the previously posted paper since the earlier version was all set in landscape mode

We present timing analyses of eight X-ray light curves and one optical/UV light curve of the nova V4743 Sgr (2002) taken by CHANDRA and XMM on days after outburst: 50 (early hard emission phase), 180, 196, 302, 371, 526 (super soft source, SSS, phase), and 742 and 1286 (quiescent emission phase). We have studied the multifrequency nature and time evolution of the dominant peak at ~0.75 mHz using the standard Lomb-Scargle method and a 2-D sine fitting method. We found a double structure of the peak and its overtone for days 180 and 196. The two frequencies were closer together on day 196, suggesting that the difference between the two peaks is gradually decreasing. For the later observations, only a single frequency can be detected, which is likely due to the exposure times being shorter than the beat period between the two peaks, especially if they are moving closer together. The observations on days 742 and 1286 are long enough to detect two frequencies with the difference found for day 196, but we confidently find only a single frequency. We found significant changes in the oscillation frequency and amplitude. We have derived blackbody temperatures from the SSS spectra, and the evolution of changes in frequency and blackbody temperature suggests that the 0.75-mHz peak was modulated by pulsations. Later, after nuclear burning had ceased, the signal stabilised at a single frequency, although the X-ray frequency differs from the optical/UV frequency obtained consistently from the OM onboard XMM and from ground-based observations. We believe that the late frequency is the white dwarf rotation and that the ratio of spin/orbit period strongly supports that the system is an intermediate polar., Comment: 17 pages, 22 figures, 7 tables, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We conducted a target of opportunity X-ray observation of the classical nova V458 Vulpeculae 88 days after the explosion using the Suzaku satellite. With a 20 ks exposure, the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer detected X-ray emission significantly harder than typical super-soft source emission. The X-ray spectrum shows K lines from N, Ne, Mg, Si, and S, and L-series emission from Fe in highly ionized states. The spectrum can be described by a single temperature (0.64 keV) thin thermal plasma model in collisional equilibrium with a hydrogen-equivalent extinction column density of ~3e21/cm2, a flux of ~1e-12 erg/s/cm2, and a luminosity of ~6e34 erg/s in the 0.3-3.0 keV band at an assumed distance of 13 kpc. We found a hint of an enhancement of N and deficiencies of O and Fe relative to other metals. The observed X-ray properties can be interpreted as the emission arising from shocks of ejecta from an ONe-type nova., Comment: Accepted for publication in PASJ (9 pages, 4 Postscript figures)

We present infrared spectroscopy of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi, obtained 11.81, 20.75 and 55.71 days following its 2006 eruption. The spectra are dominated by hydrogen recombination lines, together with HeI, OI and OII lines; the electron temperature of ~10^4 K implied by the recombination spectrum suggests that we are seeing primarily the wind of the red giant, ionized by the ultraviolet flash when RS Oph erupted. However, strong coronal emission lines (i.e. emission from fine structure transitions in ions having high ionization potential) are present in the last spectrum. These imply a temperature of 930000K for the coronal gas; this is in line with x-ray observations of the 2006 eruption. The emission line widths decrease with time in a way that is consistent with the shock model for the x-ray emission., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

The cTTS TW Hya has been observed with high-resolution X-ray spectrometers. Previously found high densities inferred from He-like f/i triplets strongly suggested the detected X-ray emission to be dominated by an accretion shock. Because of their radiation field dependence He-like f/i ratios do not provide unambiguous density diagnostics. Here we present additional evidence for high densities from ratios of Fe XVII lines. Key Fe XVII line ratios in TW Hya deviate from theoretical expectations at low densities as well as from the same measurements in a large sample of stellar coronae. However, a quantitative assessment of densities is difficult because of atomic physics uncertainties. In addition, estimates of low optical depth in line ratios sensitive to resonance scattering effects also support a high-density emission scenario in the X-ray emitting regions of cTTS., Comment: accepted for A&A Letters

We report XMM-Newton observations of the intermediate polar (IP) GK Per on the rise to the 2002 outburst and compare them to Chandra observations during quiescence. We find an asymmetric spin light curve implying an asymmetric shape of a semi-transparent accretion curtain. A low Fe xvii (15.01/15.26 A) line flux ratio confirms the need for an asymmetric geometry and significant effects of resonant line scattering. Medium resolution spectra in outburst and quiescence are both fitted with a leaky absorber model for the post shock hard X-ray emission, a black body (outburst) for the thermalized X-ray emission from the white dwarf and an optically thin spectrum. The difference between high and low spin as well as QPO/flares states can be explained by a variation in the absorbing column density. The Fe fluorescence at 6.4 keV (equivalent width of 447 eV) is not significantly variable during spin cycle or on QPO periods. High-resolution RGS spectra reveal a number of emission lines from H-like and He-like elements. The lines are broader than the instrumental response with a roughly constant velocity dispersion for different lines, indicating identical origin. He-like emission lines are used to give values for the electron densities of log n_e ~ 12. We do not detect any variation in the emission lines during the spin cycle, implying that the lines are not noticeably obscured or absorbed. We conclude that they originate in the accretion curtains and propose a model for their shape., Comment: 14 pages, 22 figures, accepted by A&A; text re quiescent data changed slightly, references added

The grating instruments on board Chandra and XMM-Newton now allow measurements of electron densities. These rely on the ratios of fluxes in emission lines, where one line depends on both collisional and radiative decay rates. The electron density is required to constrain the physical extent of the emitting region, and large samples of measurements are of interest in the context of trends in coronal activity. Here we discuss the important He {\sc i}-like ions and the differences in densities that result when different current data bases are used., Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, proceedings ITAMP Workshop: X-ray Diagnostics for Astrophysical Plasmas: Theory, Experiment and Observation. 2004 November 15-17 Cambridge, USA

We use the PHOENIX code package to model the X-ray spectrum of Nova V4743 Sagittarii observed with the LETGS onboard the Chandra satellite on 19 March 2003. To analyze nova atmospheres and related systems with an underlying nuclear burning envelope at X-ray wavelengths, it was necessary to update the code with new microphysics. We demonstrate that the X-ray emission is dominated by thermal bremsstrahlung and that the hard X-rays are dominated by Fe and N absorption. Preliminary models are calculated assuming solar abundances. It is shown that the models can be used to determine element abundances in the nova ejecta by increasing the absorption in the shell., Comment: The proceedings for XDAP 2004, to be published in AIP in May 2005

We use the PHOENIX code package to model the X-ray spectrum of Nova V4743 Sagittarii observed with the LETGS onboard the Chandra satellite on March 2003. Our atmosphere models are 1D spherical, expanding, line blanketed, and in full NLTE. To analyze nova atmospheres and related systems with an underlying nuclear burning envelope at X-ray wavelengths, it was necessary to update the code with new microphysics, as discussed in this paper. We demonstrate that the X-ray emission is dominated by thermal bremsstrahlung and that the hard X-rays are dominated by Fe and N absorption. The best fit to the observation is provided at a temperature of T_eff = 5.8 x 10^5 K, with L_bol = 50 000 L_sun. The models are calculated for solar abundances. It is shown that the models can be used to determine abundances in the nova ejecta., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

We present an XMM-Newton analysis of the cataclysmic variable T Leo. The X-ray light curve shows sinusoidal variation on a period P_x equal to 0.89^{+0.14}_{-0.10} times the previously spectroscopically determined orbital period. Furthermore, we find a signal in the power spectrum at 414 sec that could be attributed to the spin period of the white dwarf. If true, T Leo would be the first confirmed superoutbursting intermediate polar IP). The spin profile is double-peaked with a peak separation of about 1/3 spin phases. This appears to be a typical feature for IPs with a small magnetic field and fast white dwarf rotation. An alternative explanation is that the 414 sec signal is a Quasi-periodic Oscillation (QPO) that is caused by mass transfer variation from the secondary, a bright region (``blob'') rotating in the disc at a radius of approximately ~9 Rwd or - more likely - a travelling wave close to the inner disc edge of a dwarf nova with a low field white dwarf. The XMM-Newton RGS spectra reveal double peaked emission for the O VIII Ly alpha line. Scenarios in the IP and dwarf nova model are discussed (an emitting ring in the disc, bright X-ray spot on disc edge, or emitting accretion funnels), but the intermediate polar model is favoured. Supported is this idea by the finding that only the red peak appears to be shifted and the `blue' peak is compatible with the rest wavelength. The red peak thus is caused by emission from the northern accretion spot when it faces the observer. Instead, the peak at the rest wavelength is caused when the southern accretion funnel is visible just on the lower edge of the white dwarf - with the velocity of the accreting material being perpendicular to the line of sight., Comment: 11 pages, 15 figures, accepted by A&A

High resolution X-ray spectroscopy with the diffraction gratings of Chandra and XMM-Newton offers new chances to study a large variety of stellar coronal phenomena. A popular X-ray calibration target is Capella, which has been observed with all gratings with significant exposure times. We gathered together all available data of the HETGS (155ks), LETGS (219ks), and RGS (53ks) for comparative analysis focusing on the NeIX triplet at around 13.5A, a region that is severely blended by strong iron lines. We identify 18 emission lines in this region of the HEG spectrum, including many from FeXIX, and find good agreement with predictions from a theoretical model constructed using the Astrophysical Plasma Emission Code (APEC). The model uses an emission measure distribution derived from FeXV to FeXXIV lines. While these 18 emission lines cannot be isolated in the LETGS or RGS spectra, their wavelengths and fluxes as measured with HEG are consistent with the lower resolution spectra. In the Capella model for HEG, the weak intercombination line of NeIX is significantly blended by iron lines, which contribute about half the flux. After accounting for blending in the He-like diagnostic lines, we find the density to be consistent with the low density limit (n_e<2 10^10 cm^-3); however, the electron temperature indicated by the NeIX G-ratio is surprisingly low (~2MK) compared with the peak of the emission measure distribution (~6MK). Models show that the NeIX triplet is less blended in cooler plasmas and in plasmas with an enhanced neon-to-iron abundance ratio., Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures, accepted by APJ

We present an analysis of X-ray observations of the trans-Jovian planets Saturn, Uranus and Neptune with the ROSAT PSPC in comparison with X-ray observations of Jupiter. For the first time a marginal X-ray detection of Saturn was found and 95% confidence upper limits for Uranus and Neptune were obtained. These upper limits show that Jupiter-like X-ray luminosities can be excluded for all three planets, while they are consistent assuming intrinsic Saturn-like X-ray luminosities. Similar X-ray production mechanisms on all trans-Jovian planets can therefore not be ruled out, and spectral shape and total luminosity observed from Saturn are consistent with thick-target bremsstrahlung caused by electron precipitation as occurring in auroral emission from the Earth., Comment: Accepted to Astronomy and Astrophysics, January 2000. 4 pages, no figures