We investigated the optical light curve of T Pyx during its 2011 outburst through compiling a database of SMEI and AAVSO observations .
The SMEI light curve , providing unprecedented detail with high cadence data during t =1.5-49 days post-discovery , was divided into four phases based on the idealised nova optical light curve ; the initial rise , the pre-maximum halt ( or the ‘ plateau ’ ) , the final rise , and the early decline .
Variation in the SMEI light curve reveals a strongly detected period of 1.44 \pm 0.04 days before the visual maximum .
The spectra from the LT and SMARTS telescopes were investigated during t =0.8-80.7 and 155.1-249.9 days .
The nova was observed very early in its rise and a distinct high velocity ejection phase was evident .
A marked drop and then gradual increase in derived ejection velocities were present .
Here we propose two different stages of mass loss , a short-lived phase occurring immediately after outburst followed by a more steadily evolving and higher mass loss phase .
The overall spectral development follows that typical of a Classical Nova and comparison to the photometric behaviour reveals consistencies with the simple evolving pseudo-photosphere model of the nova outburst .
The optical spectra are also compared to X-ray and radio light curves .
Weak [ Fe X ] 6375 \AA emission was marginally detected before the rise in X-ray emission .
The middle of the plateau in the X-ray light curve is coincident with the appearance of high ionization species detected in optical spectra and the peak of the high frequency radio flux .