754 research outputs found
Abundance stratification in Type Ia Supernovae - II: The rapidly declining, spectroscopically normal SN 2004eo
The variation of properties of Type Ia supernovae, the thermonuclear
explosions of Chandrasekhar-mass carbon-oxygen white dwarfs, is caused by
different nucleosynthetic outcomes of these explosions, which can be traced
from the distribution of abundances in the ejecta. The composition
stratification of the spectroscopically normal but rapidly declining SN2004eo
is studied performing spectrum synthesis of a time-series of spectra obtained
before and after maximum, and of one nebular spectrum obtained about eight
months later. Early-time spectra indicate that the outer ejecta are dominated
by oxygen and silicon, and contain other intermediate-mass elements (IME),
implying that the outer part of the star was subject only to partial burning.
In the inner part, nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE) material dominates,
but the production of 56Ni was limited to ~0.43 \pm 0.05 Msun. An innermost
zone containing ~0.25 Msun of stable Fe-group material is also present. The
relatively small amount of NSE material synthesised by SN2004eo explains both
the dimness and the rapidly evolving light curve of this SN.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Conditioned pilots for ISI channels
One of the proposals to increase the spectral efficiency of the DVB-S2 standard is based on time-frequency packing. This technique causes intersymbol and interchannel interferences to arise, requiring a significant growth of the number of pilots used to carry out frequency and phase synchronization. Therefore, a new pilot design will be introduced and suited optimal and suboptimal reduced-complexity algorithms derived. We will show that the proposed pilot strategy may outperform the classical one in terms of bit error rate and spectral efficiency
Can differences in the nickel abundance in Chandrasekhar mass models explain the relation between brightness and decline rate of normal Type Ia Supernovae?
The use of Type Ia supernovae as distance indicators relies on the
determination of their brightness. This is not constant, but it can be
calibrated using an observed relation between the brightness and the properties
of the optical light curve (decline rate, width, shape), which indicates that
brighter SNe have broader, slower light curves. However, the physical basis for
this relation is not yet fully understood. Among possible causes are different
masses of the progenitor white dwarfs or different opacities in
Chandrasekhar-mass explosions. We parametrise the Chandrasekhar-mass models
presented by Iwamoto et al (1999), which synthesize different amounts of Ni,
and compute bolometric light curves and spectra at various epochs. Since
opacity in SNe Ia is due mostly to spectral lines, it should depend on the mass
of Fe-peak elements synthesized in the explosion, and on the temperature in the
ejecta. Bolometric light curves computed using these prescriptions for the
optical opacity reproduce the relation between brightness and decline rate.
Furthermore, when spectra are calculated, the change in colour between maximum
and two weeks later allows the observed relation between M_B(Max) and
Dm_{15}(B) to be reproduced quite nicely. Spectra computed at various epochs
compare well with corresponding spectra of spectroscopically normal SNeIa
selected to cover a similar range of Dm_{15}(B) values.Comment: 25 pages, including 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
The diversity of Type Ia Supernovae: evidence for systematics?
The photometric and spectroscopic properties of 26 well observed Type Ia
Supernovae (SNeIa) were analyzed with the aim to explore SNIa diversity. The
sample includes (Branch-)normal SNe as well as extreme events like SNe 1991T
and 1991bg, while the truly peculiar SNIa, SN2000cx and SN2002cx are not
included in our sample . A statistical treatment reveals the existence of three
different groups. The first group (FAINT) consists of faint SNeIa similar to
SN1991bg, with low expansion velocities and rapid evolution of SiII velocity. A
second group consists of ``normal'' SNeIa, also with high temporal velocity
gradient (HVG), but with brighter mean absolute magnitude =-19.3 and
higher expansion velocities than the FAINT SNe. The third group includes both
``normal'' and SN1991T-like SNeIa: these SNe populate a narrow strip in the
SiII velocity evolution plot, with a small velocity gradient (SVG), but have
absolute magnitudes similar to HVGs. While the FAINT and HVG SNeIa together
seem to define a relation between RSi(II) and Dm15(B), the SVG ones either do
not conform with that relation or define a new, looser one. The RSi(II)
pre-maximum evolution of HVGs is strikingly different from that of SVGs. The
impact of this evidence on the understanding of SNIa diversity, in terms of
explosion mechanisms, degree of ejecta mixing, and ejecta-CSM interaction, is
discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication to ApJ; few referee's
comments adde
Models for the Type Ic Hypernova SN 2003lw associated with GRB 031203
The Gamma-Ray Burst 031203 at a redshift z=0.1055 revealed a highly reddened
Type Ic Supernova, SN 2003lw, in its afterglow light. This is the third well
established case of a link between a long-duration GRB and a type Ic SN. The SN
light curve is obtained subtracting the galaxy contribution and is modelled
together with two spectra at near-maximum epochs. A red VLT grism 150I spectrum
of the SN near peak is used to extend the spectral coverage, and in particular
to constrain the uncertain reddening, the most likely value for which is
E_{G+H}(B-V) about 1.07 +/- 0.05. Accounting for reddening, SN 2003lw is about
0.3 mag brighter than the prototypical GRB-SN 1998bw. Light curve models yield
a 56Ni mass of about 0.55 solar mass. The optimal explosion model is somewhat
more massive (ejecta mass about 13 solar mass) and energetic (kinetic energy
about 6 times 10^52 erg) than the model for SN 1998bw, implying a massive
progenitor (40 - 50 solar mass). The mass at high velocity is not very large
(1.4 solar mass above 30000 km/s, but only 0.1 solar mass above 60000 km/s),
but is sufficient to cause the observed broad lines. The similarity of SNe
2003lw and 1998bw and the weakness of their related GRBs, GRB031203 and
GRB980425, suggest that both GRBs may be normal events viewed slightly off-axis
or a weaker but possibly more frequent type of GRB.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
The early spectral evolution of SN 2004dt
Aims. We study the optical spectroscopic properties of Type Ia Supernova (SN
Ia) 2004dt, focusing our attention on the early epochs.
Methods. Observation triggered soon after the SN 2004dt discovery allowed us
to obtain a spectrophotometric coverage from day -10 to almost one year (~353
days) after the B band maximum. Observations carried out on an almost daily
basis allowed us a good sampling of the fast spectroscopic evolution of SN
2004dt in the early stages. To obtain this result, low-resolution, long-slit
spectroscopy was obtained using a number of facilities.
Results. This supernova, which in some absorption lines of its early spectra
showed the highest degree of polarization ever measured in any SN Ia, has a
complex velocity structure in the outer layers of its ejecta. Unburnt oxygen is
present, moving at velocities as high as ~16,700 km/s, with some
intermediate-mass elements (Mg, Si, Ca) moving equally fast. Modeling of the
spectra based on standard density profiles of the ejecta fails to reproduce the
observed features, whereas enhancing the density of outer layers significantly
improves the fit. Our analysis indicates the presence of clumps of
high-velocity, intermediate-mass elements in the outermost layers, which is
also suggested by the spectropolarimetric data.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, accepted for pubblication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
Optical studies of SN 2009jf: A type Ib supernova with an extremely slow decline and aspherical signature
Optical photometry and medium resolution spectroscopy of the type Ib
supernova SN 2009jf, during the period to +250days with respect to
the maximum are reported. The light curves are broad, with an extremely
slow decline. The early post-maximum decline rate in the band is similar to
SN 2008D, however, the late phase decline rate is slower than other studied
type Ib supernovae. With an absolute magnitude of
magnitude at peak, SN 2009jf is a normally bright supernova. The peak
bolometric luminosity and the energy deposition rate via Ni
Co chain indicate that
M of Ni was ejected during the explosion. He\,I 5876 \AA\ line
is clearly identified in the first spectrum of day , at a velocity of
km sec. The [O\,I] 6300-6364 \AA\ line seen in the nebular
spectrum has a multi-peaked and asymmetric emission profile, with the blue peak
being stronger. The estimated flux in this line implies \ga 1.34 M
oxygen was ejected. The slow evolution of the light curves of SN 2009jf
indicates the presence of a massive ejecta. The high expansion velocity in the
early phase and broader emission lines during the nebular phase suggest it to
be an explosion with a large kinetic energy. A simple qualitative estimate
leads to the ejecta mass of M M, and kinetic energy
E erg. The ejected mass estimate is indicative
of an initial main-sequence mass of \ga 20- 25 M.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures; accepted for publication in MNRA
High-Velocity Features: a ubiquitous property of Type Ia SNe
Evidence of high-velocity features such as those seen in the near-maximum
spectra of some Type Ia Supernovae (eg SN 2000cx) has been searched for in the
available SNIa spectra observed earlier than one week before B maximum. Recent
observational efforts have doubled the number of SNeIa with very early spectra.
Remarkably, all SNeIa with early data (7 in our RTN sample and 10 from other
programmes) show signs of such features, to a greater or lesser degree, in CaII
IR, and some also in SiII 6255A line. High-velocity features may be interpreted
as abundance or density enhancements. Abundance enhancements would imply an
outer region dominated by Si and Ca. Density enhancements may result from the
sweeping up of circumstellar material by the highest velocity SN ejecta. In
this scenario, the high incidence of HVFs suggests that a thick disc and/or a
high-density companion wind surrounds the exploding white dwarf, as may be the
case in Single Degenerate systems. Large-scale angular fluctuations in the
radial density and abundance distribution may also be responsible: this could
originate in the explosion, and would suggest a deflagration as the more likely
explosion mechanism. CSM-interaction and surface fluctuations may coexist,
possibly leaving different signatures on the spectrum. In some SNe the HVFs are
narrowly confined in velocity, suggesting the ejection of blobs of burned
material.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, ApJ Letters in pres
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