CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF DUST GRAINS IN NOVAE

We have investigated the chemical composition of dust grains in novae by computing the model spectra for the novae that showed temporary infrared developments shortly after their optical explosions. We find that a simple spherical dust shell models with hot blackbody central sources fit observations fairly well. Optical properties of dust grains deduced from modeling of AGB stars have been used for present calculations. We find that amorphous carbon grains appear to be the major infrared re-emission sources for the carbon-rich nova shells, and the silicate grains for the oxygen-rich nova shells.