Infrared emission from novae

A. Evans1 and R. D. Gehrz2
1Astrophysics Group, Lennard Jones Laboratory, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
2Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, School of Physics & Astronomy, 116 Church Street SE, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

Abstract. We review infrared observations of classical and recurrent novae, at wavelengths 3 μ, including both broad-band and spectroscopic observations. In recent years infrared spectroscopy in particular has revolutionised our understanding of the nova phenomenon, by revealing fine-structure and coronal lines, and the mineralogy of nova dust. Infrared spectroscopic facilities that are, or will be, becoming available in the next 10--20~years have the potential for a comprehensive study of nova line emission and dust mineralogy, and for an unbiased assessment of the extragalactic nova populations.

Keywords: classical novae -- recurrent novae -- infrared observations -- circumstellar matter

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