1,464 research outputs found
SOUSA: the Swift Optical/Ultraviolet Supernova Archive
The Ultra-Violet Optical Telescope on the Swift spacecraft has observed
hundreds of supernovae, covering all major types and most subtypes. Here we
introduce the Swift Optical/Ultraviolet Supernova Archive (SOUSA), which will
contain all of the supernova images and photometry. We describe the observation
and reduction procedures and how they impact the final data. We show photometry
from well-observed examples of most supernova classes, whose absolute
magnitudes and colors may be used to infer supernova types in the absence of a
spectrum. A full understanding of the variety within classes and a robust
photometric separation of the groups requires a larger sample, which will be
provided by the final archive. The data from the existing Swift supernovae are
also useful for planning future observations with Swift as well as future UV
observatories.Comment: Accepted for publication in the UV issue of Astrophysics and Space
Science 10 pages, 6 figures SOUSA is an archive in progress with data being
posted to the Swift SN website:
http://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/swift/sne/swift_sn.htm
Swift UVOT Observations of Core-Collapse SNe
We review recent UV observations of core-collapse supernovae (SNe) with the
Swift Ultra-violet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) during its first two years.
Rest-frame UV photometry is useful for differentiating SN types by exploiting
the UV-optical spectral shape and more subtle UV features. This is useful for
the real-time classification of local and high-redshift SNe using only
photometry. Two remarkable SNe Ib/c were observed with UVOT -- SN2006jc was a
UV bright SN Ib. Swift observations of GRB060218/SN2006aj began shortly after
the explosion and show a UV-bright peak followed by a UV-faint SN bump. UV
observations are also useful for constraining the temperature and ionization
structure of SNe IIP. Rest-frame UV observations of all types are important for
understanding the extinction, temperature, and bolometric luminosity of SNe and
to interpret the observations of high redshift SNe observed at optical
wavelengths.Comment: Figures are enlarged and colorized from print versio
Implications of Lorentz covariance for the guidance equation in two-slit quantum interference
It is known that Lorentz covariance fixes uniquely the current and the
associated guidance law in the trajectory interpretation of quantum mechanics
for spin particles. In the non-relativistic domain this implies a guidance law
for the electron which differs by an additional spin-dependent term from that
originally proposed by de Broglie and Bohm. In this paper we explore some of
the implications of the modified guidance law. We bring out a property of
mutual dependence in the particle coordinates that arises in product states,
and show that the quantum potential has scalar and vector components which
implies the particle is subject to a Lorentz-like force. The conditions for the
classical limit and the limit of negligible spin are given, and the empirical
sufficiency of the model is demonstrated. We then present a series of
calculations of the trajectories based on two-dimensional Gaussian wave packets
which illustrate how the additional spin-dependent term plays a significant
role in structuring both the individual trajectories and the ensemble. The
single packet corresponds to quantum inertial motion. The distinct features
encountered when the wavefunction is a product or a superposition are explored,
and the trajectories that model the two-slit experiment are given. The latter
paths exhibit several new characteristics compared with the original de
Broglie-Bohm ones, such as crossing of the axis of symmetry.Comment: 27 pages including 6 pages of figure
Ultraviolet Observations of Super-Chandrasekhar Mass Type Ia Supernova Candidates with Swift UVOT
Among Type Ia supernovae (SNe~Ia) exist a class of overluminous objects whose
ejecta mass is inferred to be larger than the canonical Chandrasekhar mass. We
present and discuss the UV/optical photometric light curves, colors, absolute
magnitudes, and spectra of three candidate Super-Chandrasekhar mass
SNe--2009dc, 2011aa, and 2012dn--observed with the Swift Ultraviolet/Optical
Telescope. The light curves are at the broad end for SNe Ia, with the light
curves of SN~2011aa being amongst the broadest ever observed. We find all three
to have very blue colors which may provide a means of excluding these
overluminous SNe from cosmological analysis, though there is some overlap with
the bluest of "normal" SNe Ia. All three are overluminous in their UV absolute
magnitudes compared to normal and broad SNe Ia, but SNe 2011aa and 2012dn are
not optically overluminous compared to normal SNe Ia. The integrated luminosity
curves of SNe 2011aa and 2012dn in the UVOT range (1600-6000 Angstroms) are
only half as bright as SN~2009dc, implying a smaller 56Ni yield. While not
enough to strongly affect the bolometric flux, the early time mid-UV flux makes
a significant contribution at early times. The strong spectral features in the
mid-UV spectra of SNe 2009dc and 2012dn suggest a higher temperature and lower
opacity to be the cause of the UV excess rather than a hot, smooth blackbody
from shock interaction. Further work is needed to determine the ejecta and 56Ni
masses of SNe 2011aa and 2012dn and fully explain their high UV luminosities.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journal Data available on the Swift supernova website
http://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/swift/sne/swift_sn.htm
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NON-MIGRAINE RELATED PAIN BEHAVIOURS IN A TRANSGENIC "MIGRAINE MOUSE" WITH CIRCADIAN DISRUPTION
Role of social environment and social clustering in spread of opinions in co-evolving networks
Taking a pragmatic approach to the processes involved in the phenomena of
collective opinion formation, we investigate two specific modifications to the
co-evolving network voter model of opinion formation, studied by Holme and
Newman [1]. First, we replace the rewiring probability parameter by a
distribution of probability of accepting or rejecting opinions between
individuals, accounting for the asymmetric influences in relationships among
individuals in a social group. Second, we modify the rewiring step by a
path-length-based preference for rewiring that reinforces local clustering. We
have investigated the influences of these modifications on the outcomes of the
simulations of this model. We found that varying the shape of the distribution
of probability of accepting or rejecting opinions can lead to the emergence of
two qualitatively distinct final states, one having several isolated connected
components each in internal consensus leading to the existence of diverse set
of opinions and the other having one single dominant connected component with
each node within it having the same opinion. Furthermore, and more importantly,
we found that the initial clustering in network can also induce similar
transitions. Our investigation also brings forward that these transitions are
governed by a weak and complex dependence on system size. We found that the
networks in the final states of the model have rich structural properties
including the small world property for some parameter regimes. [1] P. Holme and
M. Newman, Phys. Rev. E 74, 056108 (2006)
Schrodinger dynamics as a two-phase conserved flow: an alternative trajectory construction of quantum propagation
It is shown that the Schrodinger equation can be cast in the form of two
coupled real conservation equations, in Euclidean spacetime in the free case
and in a five-dimensional Eisenhart geometry in the presence of an external
potential. This implies a novel two-phase quantum hydrodynamic model whose
Lagrangian picture provides an exact scheme to calculate the time-dependent
wavefunction from a continuum of deterministic trajectories where two points
are linked by at most two orbits. Properties of the model are examined,
including the appearance of entangled trajectories in separable states.
Wavefunction constructions employing alternative two-phase models are proposed.Comment: To appear in J. Phys.
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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