84 research outputs found
Optical polarization observations with the MASTER robotic net
We present results of optical polarization observations performed with the
MASTER robotic net for three types of objects: gamma-ray bursts, supernovae,
and blazars. For the Swift gamma-ray bursts GRB100906A, GRB110422A, GRB121011A,
polarization observations were obtained during very early stages of optical
emission. For GRB100906A it was the first prompt optical polarization
observation in the world. Photometry in polarizers is presented for Type Ia
Supernova 2012bh during 20 days, starting on March 27, 2012. We find that the
linear polarization of SN 2012bh at the early stage of the envelope expansion
was less than 3%. Polarization measurements for the blazars OC 457, 3C 454.3,
QSO B1215+303, 87GB 165943.2+395846 at single nights are presented. We infer
the degree of the linear polarization and polarization angle. The blazars OC
457 and 3C 454.3 were observed during their periods of activity. The results
show that MASTER is able to measure substantially polarized light; at the same
time it is not suitable for determining weak polarization (less than 5%) of dim
objects (fainter than 16). Polarimetric observations of the optical
emission from gamma-ray bursts and supernovae are necessary to investigate the
nature of these transient objects.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables; Exposure times in Table 2 have been
correcte
Massive stars exploding in a He-rich circumstellar medium. IV. Transitional Type Ibn Supernovae
We present ultraviolet, optical and near-infrared data of the Type Ibn
supernovae (SNe) 2010al and 2011hw. SN 2010al reaches an absolute magnitude at
peak of M(R) = -18.86 +- 0.21. Its early light curve shows similarities with
normal SNe Ib, with a rise to maximum slower than most SNe Ibn. The spectra are
dominated by a blue continuum at early stages, with narrow P-Cygni He I lines
indicating the presence of a slow-moving, He-rich circumstellar medium. At
later epochs the spectra well match those of the prototypical SN Ibn 2006jc,
although the broader lines suggest that a significant amount of He was still
present in the stellar envelope at the time of the explosion. SN 2011hw is
somewhat different. It was discovered after the first maximum, but the light
curve shows a double-peak. The absolute magnitude at discovery is similar to
that of the second peak (M(R) = -18.59 +- 0.25), and slightly fainter than the
average of SNe Ibn. Though the spectra of SN 2011hw are similar to those of SN
2006jc, coronal lines and narrow Balmer lines are cleary detected. This
indicates substantial interaction of the SN ejecta with He-rich, but not
H-free, circumstellar material. The spectra of SN 2011hw suggest that it is a
transitional SN Ibn/IIn event similar to SN 2005la. While for SN 2010al the
spectro-photometric evolution favours a H-deprived Wolf-Rayet progenitor (of
WN-type), we agree with the conclusion of Smith et al. (2012) that the
precursor of SN 2011hw was likely in transition from a luminous blue variable
to an early Wolf-Rayet (Ofpe/WN9) stage.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figures, 6 tables. Accepted by MNRA
`Pure' Supernovae and Accelerated Expansion of the Universe
A special class of type Ia supernovae that is not subject to ordinary and
additional intragalactic gray absorption and chemical evolution has been
identified. Analysis of the Hubble diagrams constructed for these supernovae
confirms the accelerated expansion of the Universe irrespective of the chemical
evolution and possible gray absorption in galaxies.Comment: 2 figures, 1 tabl
Photometric observations of the supernova 2009nr
We present the results of our UBVRI CCD photometry for the second brightest
supernova of 2009, SN 2009nr, discovered during a sky survey with the
telescopes of the MASTER robotic network. Its light and color curves and
bolometric light curves have been constructed. The light-curve parameters and
the maximum luminosity have been determined. SN 2009nr is shown to be similar
in light-curve shape and maximum luminosity to SN 1991T, which is the prototype
of the class of supernovae Ia with an enhanced luminosity. SN 2009nr exploded
far from the center of the spiral galaxy UGC 8255 and most likely belongs to
its old halo population. We hypothesize that this explosion is a consequence of
the merger of white dwarfs
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