Nitrogen recombination lines and abundance in nova shells

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 369; no. 1; pp. 213 - 218
• Main Authors: ESCALANTE, V, DALGARNO, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL University of Chicago Press 01.03.1991
• Subjects: 640102 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar, Radio & X-Ray Sources; ABUNDANCE; Astronomy; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; Earth, ocean, space; ELEMENT ABUNDANCE; ELEMENTS; ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS; ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS; Exact sciences and technology; EXCITATION; HYDROGEN; NITROGEN; NONMETALS; NOVAE; Novae, dwarf novae, recurrent novae, and other cataclysmic (eruptive) variables; NUCLEOSYNTHESIS; RECOMBINATION; STARS; SYNTHESIS; Variable and peculiar stars (including novae); VARIABLE STARS; Atomic process; Intensity; Stellar abundance; Nova; Abundance ratio; Recombination line; Emission line; Nitrogen Positive ion; Circumstellar shell
• DOI: 10.1086/169752
• ISSN: 0004-637X

The observed intensities of N II lines in the DQ Her, CP Pup, and T Aur nova shells are compared with theoretical predictions. It is concluded that the relative intensities can be explained with excitation by recombination. The nitrogen abundances obtained from the line intensities relative to hydrogen have values about 400 to 700 times the solar abundance. 27 refs.