HR4049: signature of nova nucleosynthesis? Original Research Article

The post-Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) star HR4049 is in an eccentric binary system with a relatively short period probably surrounded by a dusty circumbinary disk. Extremely anomalous oxygen isotopic ratios, 16O/17O ≃ 16O/18O ≃ 7, have been measured from CO2 molecules likely residing in the disk. Such a composition cannot be explained in the framework of AGB and post-AGB evolution while it can be qualitatively associated with the nucleosynthesis occurring during nova outbursts. We discuss nova models, the presence of a white dwarf companion to HR4049 and possible scenarios for the dynamical evolution of this binary system. Circumbinary disks in which mixing occurs between redgiant and nova material may also be invoked as the site of formation of some rare types of meteoritic presolar grains.