2,448 research outputs found
Spectrum Analysis of the Type Ib Supernova 1999dn: Probable Identifications of C II and H-alpha
Low resolution spectra of SN 1999dn at early times are presented and compared
with synthetic spectra generated with the parameterized supernova
synthetic-spectrum code SYNOW. We find that the spectra of SN 1999dn strongly
resemble those of SN 1997X and SN 1984L, and hence we classify it as a Type Ib
event. Line-identifications are established through spectrum synthesis. Strong
evidence of both H-alpha and C II 6580 is found. We infer that H-alpha appears
first, before the time of maximum brightness, and then is blended with and
finally overwhelmed by the C II line after maximum; this favors a thin
high-velocity hydrogen skin in this Type Ib supernova.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
An asymmetric explosion as the origin of spectral evolution diversity in type Ia supernovae
Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) form an observationally uniform class of stellar
explosions, in that more luminous objects have smaller decline-rates. This
one-parameter behavior allows SNe Ia to be calibrated as cosmological `standard
candles', and led to the discovery of an accelerating Universe. Recent
investigations, however, have revealed that the true nature of SNe Ia is more
complicated. Theoretically, it has been suggested that the initial
thermonuclear sparks are ignited at an offset from the centre of the
white-dwarf (WD) progenitor, possibly as a result of convection before the
explosion. Observationally, the diversity seen in the spectral evolution of SNe
Ia beyond the luminosity decline-rate relation is an unresolved issue. Here we
report that the spectral diversity is a consequence of random directions from
which an asymmetric explosion is viewed. Our findings suggest that the spectral
evolution diversity is no longer a concern in using SNe Ia as cosmological
standard candles. Furthermore, this indicates that ignition at an offset from
the centre of is a generic feature of SNe Ia.Comment: To appear in Nature, 1st July 2010 issue. 36 pages including
supplementary materials. 4 figures, 3 supplementary figures, 1 supplementary
tabl
The use of a robotic tibial rotation device and an electromagnetic tracking system to accurately reproduce the clinical dial test
SNLS Spectroscopy: Testing for Evolution in Type Ia Supernovae
Aims: We present a quantitative study of a new data set of high redshift Type
Ia supernovae spectra, observed at the Gemini telescopes during the first 34
months of the Supernova Legacy Survey. During this time 123 supernovae
candidates were observed, of which 87 have been identified as SNe Ia at a
median redshift of z=0.720. Spectra from the entire second year of the survey
and part of the third year (59 total SNe candidates with 46 confirmed SNe Ia)
are published here for the first time. The spectroscopic measurements made on
this data set are used determine if these distant SNe comprise a population
similar to those observed locally. Methods: Rest-frame equivalent width and
ejection velocity measurements are made on four spectroscopic features.
Corresponding measurements are presented for a set of 167 spectra from 24 low-z
SNe Ia from the literature. Results: We show that there exists a sample at high
redshift with properties similar to nearby SNe. No significant difference was
found between the distributions of measurements at low and high redsift for
three of the features. The fourth feature displays a possible difference that
should be investigated further. Correlations between Type Ia SNe properties and
host galaxy morphology were also found to be similar at low and high z, and
within each host galaxy class we see no evidence for redshift-evolution in SN
properties. A new correlation between SNe Ia peak magnitude and the equivalent
width of SiII absorption is presented. We demonstrate that this correlation
reduces the scatter in SNe Ia luminosity distances in a manner consistent with
the lightcurve shape-luminosity corrections that are used for Type Ia SNe
cosmology. Conclusions: We show that this new sample of SNLS SNe Ia has
spectroscopic properties similar to nearby objects. (Abridged)Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Study of Envelope Velocity Evolution of Type Ib-c Core-Collapse Supernovae from Observations of XRF 080109 / SN 2008D and GRB 060218 / SN 2006aj with BTA
Results of modeling the spectra of two supernovae SN 2008D and SN 2006aj
related to the X-ray flash XRF 080109 and gamma-ray burst GRB / XRF 060218,
respectively, are studied. The spectra were obtained with the 6-meter BTA
telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of
Sciences in 6.48 and 27.61 days after the explosion of SN 2008D, and in 2.55
and 3.55 days after the explosion of SN 2006aj. The spectra were interpreted in
the Sobolev approximation with the SYNOW code. An assumption about the presence
of envelopes around the progenitor stars is confirmed by an agreement between
the velocities of lines interpreted as hydrogen and helium, and the empiric
power-law velocity drop with time for the envelopes of classic core-collapse
supernovae. Detection of a P Cyg profile of the H-beta line in the spectra of
optical afterglows of GRBs can be a determinative argument in favor of this
hypothesis.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical
Bulletin
Absolute-Magnitude Distributions and Light Curves of Stripped-Envelope Supernovae
The absolute visual magnitudes of three Type IIb, 11 Type Ib and 13 Type Ic
supernovae (collectively known as stripped-envelope supernovae) are studied by
collecting data on the apparent magnitude, distance, and interstellar
extinction of each event. Weighted and unweighted mean absolute magnitudes of
the combined sample as well as various subsets of the sample are reported. The
limited sample size and the considerable uncertainties, especially those
associated with extinction in the host galaxies, prevent firm conclusions
regarding differences between the absolute magnitudes of supernovae of Type Ib
and Ic, and regarding the existence of separate groups of overluminous and
normal-luminosity stripped-envelope supernovae. The spectroscopic
characteristics of the events of the sample are considered. Three of the four
overluminous events are known to have had unusual spectra. Most but not all of
the normal luminosity events had typical spectra. Light curves of
stripped-envelope supernovae are collected and compared. Because SN 1994I in
M51 was very well observed it often is regarded as the prototypical Type Ic
supernova, but it has the fastest light curve in the sample. Light curves are
modeled by means of a simple analytical technique that, combined with a
constraint on E/M from spectroscopy, yields internally consistent values of
ejected mass, kinetic energy, and nickel mass.Comment: 39 pages, 14 figures, 7 tables; Accepted to A
Superconducting gap of overdoped Tl2Ba2CuO6+d observed by Raman scattering
We report Raman scattering spectra for single crystals of overdoped
Tl2Ba2CuO6+d (Tl-2201) at low temperatures. It was observed that the
pair-breaking peaks in A1g and B1g spectra radically shift to lower energy with
carrier doping. We interpret it as s-wave component mixing into d-wave,
although the crystal structure is tetragonal. Since similar phenomena were
observed also in YBa2Cu3Oy and Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oz, we conclude that s-wave mixing is
a common property for overdoped high-Tc superconductors.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, proceedings of SNS200
Spectral Modeling of SNe Ia Near Maximum Light: Probing the Characteristics of Hydro Models
We have performed detailed NLTE spectral synthesis modeling of 2 types of 1-D
hydro models: the very highly parameterized deflagration model W7, and two
delayed detonation models. We find that overall both models do about equally
well at fitting well observed SNe Ia near to maximum light. However, the Si II
6150 feature of W7 is systematically too fast, whereas for the delayed
detonation models it is also somewhat too fast, but significantly better than
that of W7. We find that a parameterized mixed model does the best job of
reproducing the Si II 6150 line near maximum light and we study the differences
in the models that lead to better fits to normal SNe Ia. We discuss what is
required of a hydro model to fit the spectra of observed SNe Ia near maximum
light.Comment: 29 pages, 14 figures, ApJ, in pres
The Nature of SN 1961V
The nature of SN 1961V has been uncertain. Its peculiar optical light curve
and slow expansion velocity are similar to those of super-outbursts of luminous
blue variables (LBVs), but its nonthermal radio spectral index and declining
radio luminosity are consistent with decades-old supernovae (SNe). We have
obtained Hubble Space Telescope STIS images and spectra of the stars in the
vicinity of SN 1961V, and find Object 7 identified by Filippenko et al. to be
the closest to the optical and radio positions of SN 1961V. Object 7 is the
only point source detected in our STIS spectra and only its H-alpha emission is
detected; it cannot be the SN or its remnant because of the absence of
forbidden lines. While the H-alpha line profile of Object 7 is remarkably
similar to that of eta Car, the blue color (similar to an A2Ib supergiant) and
lack of appreciable variability are unlike known post-outburst LBVs. We have
also obtained Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of SN 1961V at 18
cm. The non-detection of SN 1961V places a lower limit on the size of the
radio-emitting region, 7.6 mas or 0.34 pc, which implies an average expansion
velocity in excess of 4,400 km/s, much higher than the optical expansion
velocity measured in 1961. We conclude the following: (1) A SN occurred in the
vicinity of SN 1961V a few decades ago. (2) If the SN 1961V light maximum
originates from a giant eruption of a massive star, Object 7 is the most
probable candidate for the survivor, but its blue color and lack of significant
variability are different from a post-outburst eta Car. (3) The radio SN and
Object 7 could be physically associated with each other through a binary
system. (4) Object 7 needs to be monitored to determine its nature and
relationship to SN 1961V.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, accepted by the Astronomical Journal for the
2004 May issu
Extinction and the Radial Distribution of Supernova Properties in Their Parent Galaxies
We use a Monte Carlo technique and assumed spatial distributions of dust and
supernova (SN) progenitors in a simple model of a characteristic SN--producing
disk galaxy to explore the effects of extinction on the radial distributions of
SN properties in their parent galaxies. The model extinction distributions and
projected radial number distributions are presented for various SN types. Even
though the model has no core-collapse SNe within three kpc of the center, a
considerable fraction of the core-collapse SNe are projected into the inner
regions of inclined parent galaxies owing to their small vertical scale height.
The model predicts that because of extinction, SNe projected into the central
regions should on average appear dimmer and have a much larger magnitude
scatter than those in the outer regions. In particular, the model predicts a
strong deficit of bright core-collapse events inside a projected radius of a
few kpc. Such a deficit is found to be present in the observations. It is a
natural consequence of the characteristic spatial distributions of dust and
core-collapse SNe in galaxies, and it leads us to offer an alternative to the
conventional interpretation of the Shaw effect.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
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