Gamma-rays from classical nova explosions: theory and observations Original Research Article

Line emission at 478 and 1275 keV is expected from the radioactive isotopes 7Be and 22Na, produced during the explosion of classical novae. There is also continuum and 511 keV line emission from electron-positron annihilation with positrons coming from 13N and 18F β+decays. Up to now, gamma-rays from novae have not been detected in spite of the systematic observation of novae with the COMPTEL instrument onboard the CGRO. INTEGRAL/SPI offers new possibilities to detect novae, but the current inflight measured sensitivities make this task very hard. However, new instruments planned for the next decade, like the gamma-ray lens (MAX), the Advanced Compton Telescope (ACT) and the Energetic X-ray Imaging Survey Telescope (EXIST) are very promising. Theoretical expectations of gamma-ray emission are presented with mention of the important impact of nuclear reaction rates uncertainties on them.