On the role of the accretion rate in nova outbursts

Abstract

The role of the accretion rate in determining the outcome of the accretion of hydrogen-rich material onto a 1.25 solar mass C/O white dwarf is investigated. It is found that there is an upper limit to the mass accretion rate that leads to a nova outburst. The upper limit is between 10 to the -8th and 10 to the -9th solar masses/year for a 1.25 solar mass white dwarf. Below this upper limit, the outburst characteristics are very similar for accretion rates down to 10 to the -11th solar masses/year.