CNO abundances and hydrodynamic studies of the Nova outburst. V - 1.00-solar-mass models with small mass envelopes

The paper reports on an investigation into the consequences of thermonuclear runaways in accreted hydrogen envelopes of 100 millionths of a solar mass on 1-solar-mass white dwarfs. These evolutionary sequences predict that from 10 to 50 millionths of a solar mass will be ejected with speeds from 300 to 3800 km/s (kinetic energies of 10 to the 44th-45th power ergs). Absolute visual magnitudes as high as -8.1 are attained, well within the observed range for fast novae. In addition, the shapes of the theoretical light curves are more reminiscent of an observed fast-nova light curve than those in earlier studies. The ejected material is strongly enhanced in the products of incomplete CNO burning; the most abundant of the ejected nuclei is C-13, followed by N-14 and C-12. The differences from previous studies are attributable to the lower peak temperatures reached in these sequences. These models also produce a large overabundance of Li-7, suggesting that novae may represent significant contributors to the galactic enrichment of this nucleus.