A. Evans1 and R. D. Gehrz2
Abstract.
We review infrared observations of classical and recurrent novae, at
wavelengths 3 μ, including both broad-band and spectroscopic
observations. In recent years infrared spectroscopy in particular
has revolutionised our understanding of the nova phenomenon, by
revealing fine-structure and coronal lines, and the mineralogy of
nova dust. Infrared spectroscopic facilities that are, or will be,
becoming available in the next 10--20~years have the potential for a
comprehensive study of nova line emission and dust mineralogy, and
for an unbiased assessment of the extragalactic nova populations.
Keywords: classical novae -- recurrent novae -- infrared observations -- circumstellar matter
1Astrophysics Group, Lennard Jones Laboratory, Keele University,
Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
2Minnesota Institute for
Astrophysics, School of Physics & Astronomy, 116 Church Street SE,
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA