On the Synthesis of [TSUP]7[/TSUP]Li and [TSUP]7[/TSUP]Be in Novae

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Abstract
The production of 7Li and 7Be during the explosive hydrogen burning that occurs in nova explosions is computed by means of a hydrodynamic code able to treat both the accretion and the explosion stages. Large overproduction factors with respect to solar abundances are obtained, the exact value depending mainly on the chemical composition of the envelope. Although the final ejected masses are small, these results indicate that novae can contribute to the 7Li enrichment of the interstellar medium. Furthermore, since 7Be decays by emitting a gamma ray (478 keV), with a half-life of 53.3 days, the synthesis of 7Li could be tested during the INTEGRAL mission.