Galaxy Collisions - Dawn of a New Era

The study of colliding galaxies has progressed rapidly in the last few years, driven by observations with powerful new ground and space-based instruments. These instruments have used for detailed studies of specific nearby systems, statistical studies of large samples of relatively nearby systems, and increasingly large samples of high redshift systems. Following a brief summary of the historical context, this review attempts to integrate these studies to address the following key issues. What role do collisions play in galaxy evolution, and how can recently discovered processes like downsizing resolve some apparently contradictory results of high redshift studies? What is the role of environment in galaxy collisions? How is star formation and nuclear activity orchestrated by the large scale dynamics, before and during merger? Are novel modes of star formation involved? What are we to make of the association of ultraluminous X-ray sources with colliding galaxies? To what do degree do mergers and feedback trigger long-term secular effects? How far can we push the archaeology of individual systems to determine the nature of precursor systems and the precise effect of the interaction? Tentative answers to many of these questions have been suggested, and the prospects for answering most of them in the next few decades are good.Comment: 44 pages, 9 figures, review article in press for Astrophysics Update Vol.

Low luminosity Type II supernovae - IV. SN 2020cxd and SN 2021aai, at the edges of the sub-luminous supernovae class

Photometric and spectroscopic data for two Low Luminosity Type IIP Supernovae (LL SNe IIP) 2020cxd and 2021aai are presented. SN 2020cxd was discovered 2 d after explosion at an absolute magnitude of M-r = -14.02 +/- 0.21 mag, subsequently settling on a plateau which lasts for similar to 120 d. Through the luminosity of the late light curve tail, we infer a synthesized Ni-56 mass of (1.8 +/- 0.5) x 10(-3) M-circle dot. During the early evolutionary phases, optical spectra show a blue continuum (T > 8000 K) with broad Balmer lines displaying a P Cygni profile, while at later phases, Ca II, Fe II, Sc II, and Ba II lines dominate the spectra. Hydrodynamical modelling of the observables yields R similar or equal to 575 R-circle dot for the progenitor star, with M-ej = 7.5 M-circle dot and E similar or equal to 0.097 foe emitted during the explosion. This low-energy event originating from a low-mass progenitor star is compatible with both the explosion of a red supergiant (RSG) star and with an Electron Capture Supernova arising from a super asymptotic giant branch star. SN 2021aai reaches a maximum luminosity of M-r = -16.57 +/- 0.23 mag (correcting for A(V) = 1.92 mag), at the end of its remarkably long plateau (similar to 140 d). The estimated Ni-56 mass is (1.4 +/- 0.5) x 10(-2) M-circle dot. The expansion velocities are compatible with those of other LL SNe IIP (few 10(3) km s(-1)). The physical parameters obtained through hydrodynamical modelling are R similar or equal to 575 R-circle dot, M-ej = 15.5 M-circle dot, and E = 0.4 foe. SN 2021aai is therefore interpreted as the explosion of an RSG, with properties that bridge the class of LL SNe IIP with standard SN IIP events.</p

Low luminosity Type II supernovae - IV. SN 2020cxd and SN 2021aai, at the edges of the sub-luminous supernovae class

Photometric and spectroscopic data for two Low Luminosity Type IIP Supernovae (LL SNe IIP) 2020cxd and 2021aai are presented. SN 2020cxd was discovered 2 d after explosion at an absolute magnitude of Mr = -14.02 ± 0.21 mag, subsequently settling on a plateau which lasts for ∼120 d. Through the luminosity of the late light curve tail, we infer a synthesized 56Ni mass of (1.8 ± 0.5) × 10-3 M⊙. During the early evolutionary phases, optical spectra show a blue continuum (T >8000 K) with broad Balmer lines displaying a P Cygni profile, while at later phases, Ca ii, Fe ii, Sc ii, and Ba ii lines dominate the spectra. Hydrodynamical modelling of the observables yields R ~ 575 R⊙ for the progenitor star, with Mej = 7.5 M⊙ and E ~ 0.097 foe emitted during the explosion. This low-energy event originating from a low-mass progenitor star is compatible with both the explosion of a red supergiant (RSG) star and with an Electron Capture Supernova arising from a super asymptotic giant branch star. SN 2021aai reaches a maximum luminosity of Mr = -16.57 ± 0.23 mag (correcting for AV = 1.92 mag), at the end of its remarkably long plateau (∼140 d). The estimated 56Ni mass is (1.4 ± 0.5) × 10-2 M⊙. The expansion velocities are compatible with those of other LL SNe IIP (few 103 km s-1). The physical parameters obtained through hydrodynamical modelling are R ~575 R⊙, Mej = 15.5 M⊙, and E = 0.4 foe. SN 2021aai is therefore interpreted as the explosion of an RSG, with properties that bridge the class of LL SNe IIP with standard SN IIP events