The nova rate in the elliptical component of NGC 5128

Robin Ciardullo; Holland C. Ford; R. E. Williams; Peter Tamblyn; George H. Jacoby

doi:10.1086/115397

The nova rate in the elliptical component of NGC 5128

Robin Ciardullo, Holland C. Ford, R. E. Williams, Peter Tamblyn, George H. Jacoby

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Abstract

We present the results of a five year nova survey of NGC 5128 performed with an Hα filter at the prime focus of the CTIO 4 m telescope. In all, 16 novae were detected, of which 12 are members of a statistically complete and homogeneous sample unaffected by the absorption lane of the galaxy. When normalized to B luminosity, the nova rate in the elliptical component of NGC 5128 is 2.7 ± 1.0 times less than that observed in the bulge of M31. However, when normalized in the infrared K bandpass, the two nova rates are identical, and comparable to that measured in the Large Magellanic Cloud. These data suggest that (1) the percentage of binary stars is approximately constant over a large range of star-forming environments, (2) the nova rate in our own galaxy is between 11 and 46 yr^-1, and (3) nova rates are not strongly affected by tidal captures in bright globular clusters.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1079-1087
Number of pages	9
Journal	Astronomical Journal
Volume	99
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/115397
State	Published - Apr 1990

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/115397

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title = "The nova rate in the elliptical component of NGC 5128",

abstract = "We present the results of a five year nova survey of NGC 5128 performed with an Hα filter at the prime focus of the CTIO 4 m telescope. In all, 16 novae were detected, of which 12 are members of a statistically complete and homogeneous sample unaffected by the absorption lane of the galaxy. When normalized to B luminosity, the nova rate in the elliptical component of NGC 5128 is 2.7 ± 1.0 times less than that observed in the bulge of M31. However, when normalized in the infrared K bandpass, the two nova rates are identical, and comparable to that measured in the Large Magellanic Cloud. These data suggest that (1) the percentage of binary stars is approximately constant over a large range of star-forming environments, (2) the nova rate in our own galaxy is between 11 and 46 yr-1, and (3) nova rates are not strongly affected by tidal captures in bright globular clusters.",

author = "Robin Ciardullo and Ford, {Holland C.} and Williams, {R. E.} and Peter Tamblyn and Jacoby, {George H.}",

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T1 - The nova rate in the elliptical component of NGC 5128

AU - Ciardullo, Robin

AU - Ford, Holland C.

AU - Williams, R. E.

AU - Tamblyn, Peter

AU - Jacoby, George H.

PY - 1990/4

Y1 - 1990/4

N2 - We present the results of a five year nova survey of NGC 5128 performed with an Hα filter at the prime focus of the CTIO 4 m telescope. In all, 16 novae were detected, of which 12 are members of a statistically complete and homogeneous sample unaffected by the absorption lane of the galaxy. When normalized to B luminosity, the nova rate in the elliptical component of NGC 5128 is 2.7 ± 1.0 times less than that observed in the bulge of M31. However, when normalized in the infrared K bandpass, the two nova rates are identical, and comparable to that measured in the Large Magellanic Cloud. These data suggest that (1) the percentage of binary stars is approximately constant over a large range of star-forming environments, (2) the nova rate in our own galaxy is between 11 and 46 yr-1, and (3) nova rates are not strongly affected by tidal captures in bright globular clusters.

AB - We present the results of a five year nova survey of NGC 5128 performed with an Hα filter at the prime focus of the CTIO 4 m telescope. In all, 16 novae were detected, of which 12 are members of a statistically complete and homogeneous sample unaffected by the absorption lane of the galaxy. When normalized to B luminosity, the nova rate in the elliptical component of NGC 5128 is 2.7 ± 1.0 times less than that observed in the bulge of M31. However, when normalized in the infrared K bandpass, the two nova rates are identical, and comparable to that measured in the Large Magellanic Cloud. These data suggest that (1) the percentage of binary stars is approximately constant over a large range of star-forming environments, (2) the nova rate in our own galaxy is between 11 and 46 yr-1, and (3) nova rates are not strongly affected by tidal captures in bright globular clusters.

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The nova rate in the elliptical component of NGC 5128

Abstract

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