The proposal team will use x-RAY and UV data collected by NASA facilities over the last 15 years (with a special focus on swift), in combination with ground-based optical and infrared data, to measure…

Michigan State University received a $437,305 research grant from a civilian federal agency, with a completion date of January 11, 2027. The award supports an astrophysics research initiative focused on measuring nova spectral energy distributions (SEDs) across multiple wavelengths as they evolve during eruption. The research team will leverage 15 years of archival ultraviolet and X-ray data collected by NASA facilities, particularly the Swift satellite, combined with ground-based optical and infrared observations. The study encompasses a large sample of novae across the Milky Way, the Large Magellanic Cloud, and the Small Magellanic Cloud, spanning a diverse range of nova properties including optical decline times, peak brightnesses, and expansion velocities.

The research aims to generate bolometric light curves by integrating the SED data, providing the most comprehensive test to date of whether novae maintain constant luminosity throughout their eruptions. When integrated with distance measurements from Gaia, these measurements will determine how frequently novae reach super-Eddington luminosities. Additionally, the study will assess the role of shocks in nova explosions by analyzing multi-wavelength shock signatures including hard X-rays, GeV gamma-rays, and radio synchrotron emission, correlating shock activity with excess luminosity in the bolometric light curves. The grant contains no set-aside designation and is classified as a child contract under Michigan State University's parent entity.

The proposal team will use x-RAY and UV data collected by NASA facilities over the last 15 years (with a special focus on swift), in combination with ground-based optical and infrared data, to measure the nova SED as IT evolves throughout eruption. Archival UV/xray data exist for a large sample of novae in the milky way, the LMC, and SMC, spanning the full range of observed nova properties, including a diversity of optical decline times, peak brightnesses, and expansion velocities. By integrating under the SED, the team will measure bolometric flux as a function of time for each nova in the sample. These bolometric light curves will provide the best-ever test of whether novae really show constant luminosity throughout eruption. When combined with distance measurements from, e.g., gaia, the bolometric luminosity as a function of time will be measured, testing how often novae reach super-eddington luminosities. Finally, the role of shocks will be assessed by collecting multi-wavelength shock signatures (e.g., hard x-rays, GEV gamma-rays, radio synchrotron emission), and testing if shock activity is correlated with excess luminosity in the bolometric light curve.