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C.R. Shrader (NASA/GSFC & USRA), L. Titarchuk (GMU & NRL)
We describe recent work in which we revisit the database of historical X-Ray nova (XRN) light curves compiled by Chen, Shrader & Livio (1997, ApJ 491, 312), augmented by subsequent events recorded by RXTE, in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the outburst phenomenon. In this presentation, we demonstrate that, given the occurrence of an instability in the mass transfer rate from the secondary, a model based on viscous diffusion of matter through the disk (Wood et al, 2001, astro-ph/0108189) can reproduce a large number of fast-rise exponential decay (FRED) type XRN light curves. Deviations from the FRED form, such as plateaus and power-law decay forms are also considered within this framework. More complex structures are, in a number of instances, successfully modeled as a superposition of mass-injection, diffusive propagation events. Limitations to this approach are considered. For example, recent concerns regarding the ability of viscous diffusion scenarios to reproduce the typical XRN rise and time scales (e.g. Cannizzo, ApJ, astro-ph/0110117) are discussed, as are possible time-dependent viscosity effects.