0 Assigned ID: 1775 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Fri Mar 01 21:18:11 GMT 2013) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 1775 (APT_nova.apt) successfully submitted. ----- Attempting Submission 2 (Fri Mar 01 22:32:01 GMT 2013) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 1775 (APT_nova.apt) successfully submitted. ----- Attempting Submission 3 (Fri Mar 01 22:41:18 GMT 2013) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 1775 (APT_nova.apt) successfully submitted. ----- Attempting Submission 4 (Sat Mar 02 00:22:42 GMT 2013) ----- We propose a deep, multiwavelength, archival study of recurrent novae (RNe) in the bulge of M31. RNe, which are candidate progenitors of Type Ia SNe, are believed to be powered by massive white dwarfs with high accretion rates. They often have evolved secondaries, including red giant branch stars. We will study RNe in quiescence by analyzing the UV, optical, and IR counterparts of X-ray identified supersoft sources in the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury survey and other archival data sets. This study will more than double the sample of confirmed RNe known to date. We will use this data set to investigate whether the unexpectedly high luminosity-specific nova rate in the older stellar populations of bulges and ellipticals can be explained by an excess of RNe that have so far not been recognized in the overall nova sample. In addition, we will investigate the variability of the quiescent counterparts of RNe at all available timescales and wavelengths. We will also study the link between the quiescent and outburst properties of RNe and its implications for the formation and evolution of novae. Finally, we will investigate whether RNe are preferentially found in metal rich populations, and its implications on models of binary formation and evolution. Low mass X-ray binaries, which are accreting neutron star systems, reveal a strong metallicity effect. Some theoretical models predict that such a metallicity effect should be apparent in other classes of compact binaries, such as RNe. HOT STARS Default Small false false false false false SUPPORTED