36 research outputs found
Chandra Observations of Type Ia Supernovae: Upper Limits to the X-ray Flux of SN 2002bo, SN 2002ic, SN 2005gj, and SN 2005ke
We set sensitive upper limits to the X-ray emission of four Type Ia
supernovae (SNe Ia) using the Chandra X-ray Observatory. SN 2002bo, a normal,
although reddened, nearby SN Ia, was observed 9.3 days after explosion. For an
absorbed, high temperature bremsstrahlung model the flux limits are 3.2E-16
ergs/cm^2/s (0.5-2 keV band) and 4.1E-15 ergs/cm^2/s (2-10 keV band). Using
conservative model assumptions and a 10 km/s wind speed, we derive a mass loss
rate of \dot{M} ~ 2E-5 M_\odot/yr, which is comparable to limits set by the
non-detection of Halpha lines from other SNe Ia. Two other objects, SN 2002ic
and SN 2005gj, observed 260 and 80 days after explosion, respectively, are the
only SNe Ia showing evidence for circumstellar interaction. The SN 2002ic X-ray
flux upper limits are ~4 times below predictions of the interaction model
currently favored to explain the bright optical emission. To resolve this
discrepancy we invoke the mixing of cool dense ejecta fragments into the
forward shock region, which produces increased X-ray absorption. A modest
amount of mixing allows us to accommodate the Chandra upper limit. SN 2005gj is
less well studied at this time. Assuming the same circumstellar environment as
for SN 2002i, the X-ray flux upper limits for SN 2005gj are ~4 times below the
predictions, suggesting that mixing of cool ejecta into the forward shock has
also occurred here. Our reanalysis of Swift and Chandra data on SN 2005ke does
not confirm a previously reported X-ray detection. The host galaxies NGC 3190
(SN 2002bo) and NGC 1371 (SN 2005ke) each harbor a low luminosity (L_X ~ 3-4E40
ergs/s) active nucleus in addition to wide-spread diffuse soft X-ray emission.Comment: 16 pages, to appear in ApJ (20 Nov 2007
Discovery and Early Evolution of ASASSN-19bt, the First TDE Detected by TESS
We present the discovery and early evolution of ASASSN-19bt, a tidal
disruption event (TDE) discovered by the All-Sky Automated Survey for
Supernovae (ASAS-SN) at a distance of Mpc and the first TDE to be
detected by TESS. As the TDE is located in the TESS Continuous Viewing Zone,
our dataset includes 30-minute cadence observations starting on 2018 July 25,
and we precisely measure that the TDE begins to brighten days before
its discovery. Our dataset also includes 18 epochs of Swift UVOT and XRT
observations, 2 epochs of XMM-Newton observations, 13 spectroscopic
observations, and ground data from the Las Cumbres Observatory telescope
network, spanning from 32 days before peak through 37 days after peak.
ASASSN-19bt thus has the most detailed pre-peak dataset for any TDE. The TESS
light curve indicates that the transient began to brighten on 2019 January 21.6
and that for the first 15 days its rise was consistent with a flux power-law model. The optical/UV emission is well-fit by a blackbody SED,
and ASASSN-19bt exhibits an early spike in its luminosity and temperature
roughly 32 rest-frame days before peak and spanning up to 14 days that has not
been seen in other TDEs, possibly because UV observations were not triggered
early enough to detect it. It peaked on 2019 March 04.9 at a luminosity of
ergs s and radiated
ergs during the 41-day rise to peak. X-ray observations after peak indicate a
softening of the hard X-ray emission prior to peak, reminiscent of the
hard/soft states in X-ray binaries.Comment: 23 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables. A machine-readable table containing
the host-subtracted photometry presented in this manuscript is included as an
ancillary fil
The optical counterparts of Accreting Millisecond X-Ray Pulsars during quiescence
Eight Accreting Millisecond X-ray Pulsars (AMXPs) are known to date. Optical
and NIR observations carried out during quiescence give a unique opportunity to
constrain the nature of the donor star and to investigate the origin of the
observed quiescent luminosity at long wavelengths. Using data obtained with the
ESO-Very Large Telescope, we performed a deep optical and NIR photometric study
of the fields of XTE J1814-338 and of the ultracompact systems XTE J0929-314
and XTE J1807-294 during quiescence in order to look for the presence of a
variable counterpart. If suitable candidates were found, we also carried out
optical spectroscopy. We present here the first multi-band (VR) detection of
the optical counterpart of XTE J1814-338 in quiescence together with its
optical spectrum. The optical light curve shows variability in both bands
consistent with a sinusoidal modulation at the known 4.3 hr orbital period and
presents a puzzling decrease of the V-band flux around superior conjunction
that may be interpreted as a partial eclipse. The marginal detection of the
very faint counterpart of XTE J0929-314 and deep upper limits for the
optical/NIR counterpart of XTE J1807-294 are also reported. We also briefly
discuss the results reported in the literature for the optical/NIR counterpart
of XTE J1751-305. Our findings are consistent with AMXPs being systems
containing an old, weakly magnetized neutron star, reactivated as a millisecond
radio pulsar during quiescence which irradiates the low-mass companion star.
The absence of type I X-ray bursts and of hydrogen and helium lines in outburst
spectra of ultracompact (P_orb < 1 hr) AMXPs suggests that the companion stars
are likely evolved dwarf stars.Comment: Accepted for publication by A&A; 12 pages, 12 figure
The apparent eta Carinae's long-term evolution and the critical role played by the strengthening of P Cygni absorption lines
Over the entire 20th century, Eta Carinae (\ec) has displayed a unique
spectrum, which recently has been evolving towards that of a typical LBV. The
two competing scenarios to explain such evolution are: (1) a dissipating
occulter in front of a stable star or (2) a decreasing mass loss rate of the
star. The first mechanism simultaneously explains why the central star appears
to be secularly increasing its apparent brightness while its luminosity does
not change; why the Homunculus' apparent brightness remains almost constant;
and why the spectrum seen in direct light is becoming more similar to that
reflected from the Homunculus (and which resembles a typical LBV). The second
scenario does not account for these facts and predicts an increase in the
terminal speed of the wind, contrary to observations. In this work, we present
new data showing that the P Cygni absorption lines are secularly strengthening,
which is not the expected behaviour for a decreasing wind-density scenario.
CMFGEN modelling of the primary's wind with a small occulter in front agrees
with observations. One could argue that invoking a dissipating coronagraphic
occulter makes this object even more peculiar than it already appears to be.
However, on the contrary, it solves the apparent contradictions between many
observations. Moreover, by assigning the long-term behaviour to circumstellar
causes and the periodic variations due to binarity, a star more stable after
the 1900s than previously thought is revealed, contrary to the earlier paradigm
of an unpredictable object.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures, submitted to MNRA
ASASSN-14ko is a Periodic Nuclear Transient in ESO 253-G003
We present the discovery that ASASSN-14ko is a periodically flaring AGN at
the center of the galaxy ESO 253-G003. At the time of its discovery by the
All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN), it was classified as a
supernova close to the nucleus. The subsequent six years of V- and g-band
ASAS-SN observations reveal that ASASSN-14ko has nuclear flares occurring at
regular intervals. The seventeen observed outbursts show evidence of a
decreasing period over time, with a mean period of days
and a period derivative of . The most recent
outburst in May 2020, which took place as predicted, exhibited spectroscopic
changes during the rise and a had a UV bright, blackbody spectral energy
distribution similar to tidal disruption events (TDEs). The X-ray flux
decreased by a factor of 4 at the beginning of the outburst and then returned
to its quiescent flux after ~8 days. TESS observed an outburst during Sectors
4-6, revealing a rise time of days in the optical and a decline
that is best fit with an exponential model. We discuss several possible
scenarios to explain ASASSN-14ko's periodic outbursts, but currently favor a
repeated partial TDE. The next outbursts should peak in the optical on UT
2020-09-7.41.1 and UT 2020-12-26.51.4.Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures, 7 tables. Will be submitted to ApJ. The latest
flare is currently ongoing, as we predicte
The ASAS-SN bright supernova catalogue - III. 2016
This catalogue summarizes information for all supernovae discovered by the All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN) and all other bright (mpeak ≤ 17), spectroscopically confirmed supernovae discovered in 2016. We then gather the near-infrared through ultraviolet magnitudes of all host galaxies and the offsets of the supernovae from the centres of their hosts from public data bases. We illustrate the results using a sample that now totals 668 supernovae discovered since 2014 May 1, including the supernovae from our previous catalogues, with type distributions closely matching those of the ideal magnitude limited sample from Li et al. This is the third of a series of yearly papers on bright supernovae and their hosts from the ASAS-SN team
The ASAS-SN bright supernova catalogue - III. 2016
This catalogue summarizes information for all supernovae discovered by the All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN) and all other bright (mpeak ≤ 17), spectroscopically confirmed supernovae discovered in 2016. We then gather the near-infrared through ultraviolet magnitudes of all host galaxies and the offsets of the supernovae from the centres of their hosts from public data bases. We illustrate the results using a sample that now totals 668 supernovae discovered since 2014 May 1, including the supernovae from our previous catalogues, with type distributions closely matching those of the ideal magnitude limited sample from Li et al. This is the third of a series of yearly papers on bright supernovae and their hosts from the ASAS-SN team
Supernova 2002bo: inadequacy of the single parameter description
We present optical/near-infrared photometry and spectra of the type Ia SN
2002bo spanning epochs from -13 days before maximum B-band light to +102 days
after. The pre-maximum optical coverage is particularly complete. In some
respects, SN 2002bo behaves as a typical "Branch normal" type Ia supernova (SN
Ia) at optical and IR wavelengths. We find a B-band risetime of 17.9+-0.5 days,
a Dm_{15}(B) of 1.13+-0.05, and a M_B=-19.41+-0.42. However, comparison with
other type Ia supernovae having similar Delta m_{15}(B) values indicates that
in other respects SN 2002bo is unusual. While the optical spectra of SN 2002bo
are very similar to those of SN 1984A, lower velocities and a generally more
structured appearance are found in SNe 1990N, 1994D and 1998bu. For supernovae
having Dm_(15)(B) > 1.2, we confirm the variation of R(SiII) (Nugent et al.
1995) with Dm_(15)(B). However, for supernovae such as SN2002bo, with lower
values of Dm_(15)(B) the relation breaks down. Moreover, the evolution of
R(SiII) for SN 2002bo is strikingly different from that shown by other type Ia
supernovae. The velocities of SN 2002bo and 1984A derived from SII 5640A, SiII
6355A and CaII H&K lines are either much higher and/or evolve differently from
those seen in other normal SNe Ia events. We suggest that the unusually low
temperature, the presence of high-velocity intermediate-mass elements and the
low abundance of carbon at early times indicates that burning to Si penetrated
to much higher layers than in more normal type Ia supernovae. This may be
indicative of a delayed-detonation explosion.Comment: Accepted to MNRAS. Some near-IR photometry has been added. The paper
can be retrieved also at
http://web.pd.astro.it/supern/ps/sn02bo_v17_mn2.ps.g
The Size, Shape, Albedo, Density, and Atmospheric Limit of Transneptunian Object (50000) Quaoar from Multi-chord Stellar Occultations
We present results derived from the first multi-chord stellar occultations by the transneptunian object (50000) Quaoar, observed on 2011 May 4 and 2012 February 17, and from a single-chord occultation observed on 2012 October 15. If the timing of the five chords obtained in 2011 were correct, then Quaoar would possess topographic features (crater or mountain) that would be too large for a body of this mass. An alternative model consists in applying time shifts to some chords to account for possible timing errors. Satisfactory elliptical fits to the chords are then possible, yielding an equivalent radius R [SUB]equiv[/SUB] = 555 ± 2.5 km and geometric visual albedo p[SUB]V[/SUB] = 0.109 ± 0.007. Assuming that Quaoar is a Maclaurin spheroid with an indeterminate polar aspect angle, we derive a true oblateness of \epsilon = 0.087^{+0.0268}_{-0.0175}, an equatorial radius of 569^{+24}_{-17} km, and a density of 1.99 ± 0.46 g cm[SUP]–3[/SUP]. The orientation of our preferred solution in the plane of the sky implies that Quaoar's satellite Weywot cannot have an equatorial orbit. Finally, we detect no global atmosphere around Quaoar, considering a pressure upper limit of about 20 nbar for a pure methane atmosphere.Peer reviewe