What happens to the white dwarf star after causing a typical recurrent nova outburst?
Answer
The white dwarf itself survives the blast.
One of the key distinguishing features of a typical nova, especially in systems identified as recurrent novae, is the survival of the central object. While the process involves a massive release of energy resulting from a surface thermonuclear reaction that ejects the accumulated envelope of gas, the white dwarf star remains intact following the event. Because the white dwarf persists, it can resume accreting material from its companion star over time, allowing the entire thermonuclear cycle to repeat, thus qualifying the system as a recurrent nova capable of multiple outbursts throughout cosmic history.
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