What happens to the red dwarf during a classical nova?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of a classical nova on a red dwarf star that is donating material to a white dwarf. Participants explore the implications of this interaction, particularly regarding nucleosynthesis, observational perspectives, and the nature of the stars involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the red dwarf experiences increased nucleosynthesis due to its proximity to the white dwarf during a nova event, and how this might affect later novas.
  • Another participant suggests that red dwarfs do not typically lose mass in a multistar system, indicating they are often too small to be affected by more massive companions.
  • A different viewpoint posits that if the discussion is about a red giant instead, then essentially nothing happens to the red giant during the nova event, although it might obscure early nova emissions from certain perspectives.
  • There is a suggestion that mass transfer from the red giant to the white dwarf could be interrupted during the nova, potentially introducing feedback effects on the process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding whether the star in question is a red dwarf or a red giant, leading to differing views on the implications of a nova event. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views on the nature of the stars and their interactions during a nova.

Contextual Notes

There are uncertainties regarding the definitions of red dwarf and red giant in this context, as well as the specific effects of a nova on these types of stars. The discussion also highlights the potential observational differences based on positioning relative to the stars involved.

Tish62
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As a red dwarf star is donating material to a white dwarf until there is a nova.

What happens to the red dwarf during the nova? Is there an increase in nucleosynthesis within the red dwarf due to its close proximity? If so, how would that change the periodicity and type of later novas?

If you were positioned on the other side of the red dwarf would there be a significantly different perspective on the nova event or would the magnetic field of the red dwarf skew that?
 
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Do you mean red giant star?
 
AFAIK red dwarfs are not known to suffer mass loss in a multistar system. They are small enough to be captured in orbits beyond the reach of leeching by more massive compansions.
 
I believe she means red giant, and I think the answer is that essentially nothing happens to the red giant during the nova event. The giant might eclipse the early stages of the nova emission if you are situated behind it, though the nova soon expands to a large size and would be seen around the red giant at some later stage. The mass transfer might be interrupted during the nova, and that might introduce feedback effects on the process.
 

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