Date Time
Small Amount of Lithium Production in Classical Nova
A classical nova explosion occurs in a close binary system consisting of a white dwarf and companion star. Gas from the companion star accumulates onto the white dwarf, triggering a thermonuclear runaway that blows newly formed elements out into space. (Credit: Kyoto Sangyo University)
A new study of lithium production in a classical nova found a production rate of only a couple of percent that seen in other examples. This shows that there is a large diversity within classical novae and implies that nova explosions alone cannot explain the amount of lithium seen in the current Universe. This is an important result for understanding both the explosion mechanism of classical novae and the overall chemical evolution of the Universe.