Rosario Gonzalez

ESA XMM-Newton

I work in the XMM project, within the User Support Group and the
RGS Instrument Dedicated Team. Previously, I have worked in IUE and
at LAEFF, in the Astronomical Archives project.

My main research topic is Cataclysmic Variables, and three types
in particular: Classical Novae (CNe), Recurrent Novae (RNe) and
Symbiotic Stars (SS). These three types share some characteristics:
they are binary systems and they have a WD as primary, and they
experience thermonuclear outbursts. They differ in the timescale
and the intensity of the outbursts.

One of the (many) reasons that makes these systems interesting is
that they could be the progenitors of type I SNe. Thermonuclear
outbursts occur when the mass lost by the secondary is accreted on
the surface of the WD. When some critical conditions are reached, a
TNR outburst occurs and the accreted envelope is ejected. But it 
is thought that a fraction of it still remains on top of the WD, 
so that its mass can be slowly increasing during successive 
outbursts until reaching the Chandrasekhar limit. The two key 
parameters to know are therefore the mass of the WD and the mass 
of the ejected envelope.

My current work can be summarized in these three points:

- The evolution of the UV spectra of CNe: Study of the kinematics
of the envelope, and characterization of the different types.

- The "Super-Soft" phase in CNe and RNe: In particular, the study
of the recent outburst of the RN RS Oph (the first one in the last
20 years!).

- Outburst in SS: The recent outbursts of the SS AG Dra (the
brightest Super Soft Source).