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The Formation of Optical CNO Emission Lines in Cataclysmic Variables

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Robert E. Williams
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona
Donald H. Ferguson
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona

Abstract

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Spectroscopic observations of CNO emission lines are presented for old nova systems, and possible excitation processes for the lines are considered. The Bowen fluorescence mechanism cannot generally be responsible for the strength of N III λ4640 because of the weakness of 0 III λ3429. Other CNO lines are observed which indicate that all of the lines are excited by resonance fluorescence of UV continuum radiation. Several nonfluorescent excited lines of carbon are also present in old novae, probably formed by recombination processes. The available data for the optical CNO lines suggest that non-solar CNO enhancements exist in quiescent novae, indicating that some of the binary systems may be evolved.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1983

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