203 research outputs found
Detecting z > 2 Type IIn Supernovae
Type IIn supernovae (SNe IIn) dominate the brightest supernova events in
observed FUV flux (~1200-2000A). We show that multi-band, multi-epoch optical
surveys complete to m_r = 27 can detect the FUV emission of ~25 z > 2 SNe IIn
deg^-2 yr^-1 rest-frame (~10 SNe IIn deg^-2 yr^-1 observed-frame) to 4 sigma
using a technique monitoring color-selected galaxies. Moreover, the strength
and evolution of the bright emission lines observed in low redshift SNe IIn
imply that the Ly-a emission features in ~70% of z > 2 SNe IIn are above
8m-class telescope spectroscopic thresholds for ~2 yr rest-frame. As a result,
existing facilities have the capability to both photometrically detect and
spectroscopically confirm z > 2 SNe IIn and pave the way for efficient searches
by future 8m-class survey and 30m-class telescopes. The method presented here
uses the sensitivities and wide-field capabilities of current optical
instruments and exploits (1) the efficiency of z > 2 galaxy color-selection
techniques, (2) the intrinsic brightness distribution ( = -19.0 +/-0.9)
and blue profile of SNe IIn continua, (3) the presence of extremely bright,
long-lived emission features, and (4) the potential to detect blueshifted SNe
Ly-a emission shortward of host galaxy Ly-a features.Comment: 26 pages (pre-print), 6 figures, accepted Ap
Nucleosynthesis in Core-Collapse Supernovae and GRB--Metal-Poor Star Connection
We review the nucleosynthesis yields of core-collapse supernovae (SNe) for
various stellar masses, explosion energies, and metallicities. Comparison with
the abundance patterns of metal-poor stars provides excellent opportunities to
test the explosion models and their nucleosynthesis. We show that the abundance
patterns of extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars, e.g., the excess of C, Co, Zn
relative to Fe, are in better agreement with the yields of hyper-energetic
explosions (Hypernovae, HNe) rather than normal supernovae.
We note that the variation of the abundance patterns of EMP stars are related
to the diversity of the Supernova-GRB connection. We summarize the diverse
properties of (1) GRB-SNe, (2) Non-GRB HNe/SNe, (3) XRF-SN, and (4) Non-SN GRB.
In particular, the Non-SN GRBs (dark hypernovae) have been predicted in order
to explain the origin of C-rich EMP stars. We show that these variations and
the connection can be modeled in a unified manner with the explosions induced
by relativistic jets. Finally, we examine whether the most luminous supernova
2006gy can be consistently explained with the pair-instability supernova model.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures. To appear in "Supernova 1987A: 20 Years After:
Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursters", eds. S. Immler, K. Weiler, & R. McCray
(American Institute of Physics) (2007
Chandra X-Ray Point Sources, including Supernova 1979C, in the Spiral Galaxy M100
Six x-ray point sources, with luminosities of in the 0.4--7 keV band, were detected in Chandra
observations of the spiral galaxy M100. One source is identified with supernova
SN 1979C and appears to have roughly constant x-ray flux for the period 16--20
years after the outburst. The x-ray spectrum is soft, as would be expected if
the x-ray emission is due to the interaction of supernova ejecta with
circumstellar matter. Most of the other sources are variable either within the
Chandra observation or when compared to archival data. None are coincident with
the peak of the radio emission at the nucleus. These sources have harder
spectra than the supernova and are likely x-ray binaries. M100 has more bright
x-ray sources than typical for spiral galaxies of its size. This is likely
related to active star formation occurring in the galaxy.Comment: accepted by the Astrophysical Journal, 7 page
UVOT Measurements of Dust and Star Formation in the SMC and M33
When measuring star formation rates using ultraviolet light, correcting for
dust extinction is a critical step. However, with the variety of dust
extinction curves to choose from, the extinction correction is quite uncertain.
Here, we use Swift/UVOT to measure the extinction curve for star-forming
regions in the SMC and M33. We find that both the slope of the curve and the
strength of the 2175 Angstrom bump vary across both galaxies. In addition, as
part of our modeling, we derive a detailed recent star formation history for
each galaxy.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, conference proceedings from Swift: 10 years of
Discovery, held in Rome (2-5 Dec. 2014
A Catalog of Candidate Intermediate-luminosity X-ray Objects
ROSAT, and now Chandra, X-ray images allow studies of extranuclear X-ray
point sources in galaxies other than our own. X-ray observations of normal
galaxies with ROSAT and Chandra have revealed that off-nuclear, compact,
Intermediate-luminosity (Lx[2-10 keV] >= 1e39 erg/s) X-ray Objects (IXOs,
a.k.a. ULXs [Ultraluminous X-ray sources]) are quite common. Here we present a
catalog and finding charts for 87 IXOs in 54 galaxies, derived from all of the
ROSAT HRI imaging data for galaxies with cz <= 5000 km/s from the Third
Reference Catalog of Bright Galaxies (RC3). We have defined the cutoff Lx for
IXOs so that it is well above the Eddington luminosity of a 1.4 Msun black hole
(10^38.3 erg/s), so as not to confuse IXOs with ``normal'' black hole X-ray
binaries. This catalog is intended to provide a baseline for follow-up work
with Chandra and XMM, and with space- and ground-based survey work at
wavelengths other than X-ray. We demonstrate that elliptical galaxies with IXOs
have a larger number of IXOs per galaxy than non-elliptical galaxies with IXOs,
and note that they are not likely to be merely high-mass X-ray binaries with
beamed X-ray emission, as may be the case for IXOs in starburst galaxies.
Approximately half of the IXOs with multiple observations show X-ray
variability, and many (19) of the IXOs have faint optical counterparts in DSS
optical B-band images. Follow-up observations of these objects should be
helpful in identifying their nature.Comment: 29 pages, ApJS, accepted (catalog v2.0) (full resolution version of
paper and future releases of catalog at http://www.xassist.org/ixocat_hri
Low frequency radio and X-ray properties of core-collapse supernovae
Radio and X-ray studies of young supernovae probe the interaction between the
supernova shock waves and the surrounding medium and give clues to the nature
and past of the progenitor star. Here we discuss the early emission from type
Ic SN 2002ap and argue that repeated Compton boosting of optical photons by hot
electrons presents the most natural explanation of the prompt X-ray emission.
We describe the radio spectrum of another type Ic SN 2003dh (GRB030329)
obtained with combined GMRT and VLA data. We report on the low frequency radio
monitoring of SN 1995N and our objectives of distinguishing between competing
models of X-ray emission from this SN and the nature of its progenitor by X-ray
spectroscopy. Radio studies on SN 2001gd, SN 2001ig and SN 2002hh are
mentioned.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Uses svmult.cls. To appear in proceedings of IAU
Colloquium 192 "Supernovae (10 years of SN 1993J)", April 2003, Valencia,
Spain, eds. J. M. Marcaide and K. W. Weile
X-ray, Optical, and Radio Observations of the Type II Supernovae 1999em and 1998S
Observations of the Type II-P (plateau) Supernova (SN) 1999em and Type IIn
(narrow emission line) SN 1998S have enabled estimation of the profile of the
SN ejecta, the structure of the circumstellar medium (CSM) established by the
pre-SN stellar wind, and the nature of the shock interaction. SN 1999em is the
first Type II-P detected at both X-ray and radio wavelengths. The Chandra X-ray
data indicate non-radiative interaction of SN ejecta with a power-law density
profile (rho \propto r^{-n} with n ~ 7) with a pre-SN wind with a low mass-loss
rate of ~2 \times 10^{-6} M_sun/yr for a wind velocity of 10 km/sec, in
agreement with radio mass-loss rate estimates. The Chandra data show an
unexpected, temporary rise in the 0.4--2.0 keV X-ray flux at ~100 days after
explosion. SN 1998S, at an age of >3 years, is still bright in X-rays and is
increasing in flux density at cm radio wavelengths. Spectral fits to the
Chandra data show that many heavy elements (Ne, Al, Si, S, Ar, and Fe) are
overabundant with respect to solar values. We compare the observed elemental
abundances and abundance ratios to theoretical calculations and find that our
data are consistent with a progenitor mass of approximately 15-20 M_sun if the
heavy element ejecta are radially mixed out to a high velocity. If the X-ray
emission is from the reverse shock wave region, the supernova density profile
must be moderately flat at a velocity ~10^4 km/sec, the shock front is
non-radiative at the time of the observations, and the mass-loss rate is 1-2
\times 10^{-4} M_sun/yr for a pre-supernova wind velocity of 10 km/sec. This
result is also supported by modeling of the radio emission which implies that
SN 1998S is surrounded by a clumpy or filamentary CSM established by a high
mass-loss rate, ~2 \times 10^{-4} M_sun/yr, from the pre-supernova star.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, accepted by ApJ, includes new data (one new
obs. each of SN 1999em and SN 1998S), expanded discussion of spectral fit
Star Formation and X-ray Emission in Distant Star Forming Galaxies
About 45% of the point sources detected in the 2 Ms Chandra exposure of the
HDF-N can be matched with moderately bright galaxies with z<1.4 that have been
studied by the Caltech Faint Galaxy Redshift Survey. Although the optical
spectra of these galaxies appear normal, based on their X-ray properties ~20%
of them appear to contain weak AGNs. More than 90% of the X-ray photons
detected by Chandra from galaxies within the redshift regime 0.4 < z < 1.1 are
powered by accretion onto massive black holes. For the sample of galaxies in
common, we use their emitted luminosity in the 3727 A line of [OII] to estimate
their star formation rate (SFR). The X-ray emitting galaxies are not those with
the highest rest frame equivalent width in this emission line, but rather are
among those with the highest SFR. With SFR corrected for inclination effects,
the distant galaxies show a L(X) -- SFR relationship that is comparable to that
of local galaxies. The HDF sample has a significantly higher median SFR and
median SFR/galaxy stellar mass than does a sample of local star forming
galaxies. We demonstrate that the observed SFR for most of the galaxies at z~1
in the HDF sample, if maintained as constant over their ages, suffices to
produce the stellar mass observed in these galaxies. A rise in SFR at still
earlier times is not required. We provide further evidence to support the
conclusion that, once AGNs are eliminated, X-ray emission in these distantstar
forming galaxies is related to the SFR through the same physical mechanisms
that prevail locally.Comment: Accepted for the Astrophysical Journa
Spectra and Light Curves of Failed Supernovae
Astronomers have proposed a number of mechanisms to produce supernova
explosions. Although many of these mechanisms are now not considered primary
engines behind supernovae, they do produce transients that will be observed by
upcoming ground-based surveys and NASA satellites. Here we present the first
radiation-hydrodynamics calculations of the spectra and light curves from three
of these "failed" supernovae: supernovae with considerable fallback, accretion
induced collapse of white dwarfs, and energetic helium flashes (also known as
type .Ia supernovae).Comment: 33 pages, 14 figure
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