The Very Short Supersoft X-ray State of the Classical Nova M31N 2007-11a

Abstract

Context. Short supersoft X-ray source (SSS) states (durations ≤100 days) of classical novae (CNe) indicate massive white dwarfs that are candidate progenitors of supernovae type Ia. Aims. We carry out a dedicated optical and X-ray monitoring program of CNe in the bulge of M 31. Methods. We discovered M31N 2007-11a and determined its optical and X-ray light curve. We used the robotic Super-LOTIS tele-scope to obtain the optical data and XMM-Newton and Chandra observations to discover an X-ray counterpart to that nova. Results. Nova M31N 2007-11a is a very fast CN, exhibiting a very short SSS state with an appearance time of 6–16 days after outburst and a turn-offtime of 45–58 days after outburst. Conclusions. The optical and X-ray light curves of M31N 2007-11a suggest a binary containing a white dwarf with MWD >1.0 M.