The soft X-ray properties of the polar EK UMa

We present the first extensive soft X-ray observation of the polar EK UMa (1E1048.5+5241)(1E1048.5+5241). The complete orbital light curve obtained from this ROSAT observation shows a single bright phase of width Δϕ=0.63.Δϕ=0.63. EK UMa is not detected outside this phase interval. During the bright phase a number of deep dips in the flux are seen. These dips can be caused by an additional absorption of 8×10[Superscript: 18]<ΔNH<3×10[Superscript: 20]atomcm[Superscript: −2]. The soft X-ray spectrum has an unusually high temperature of 5

Record circular polarization discovered in the shortest period magnetic cataclysmic variable, RE 1307 + 535

We report the discovery of very strong, variable ( + 50 to –20 per cent) circular polarization in the ROSAT EUV source RE 1307 + 535 in the red (R band) spectral region. The amplitude and the peak value of the broad-band circular polarization are the largest observed so far in any astronomical object

THE 7.1 HR X-RAY-ULTRAVIOLET-NEAR-INFRARED PERIOD OF THE gamma-RAY CLASSICAL NOVA MONOCEROTIS 2012

Nova Monocerotis 2012 is the third γ-ray transient identified with a thermonuclear runaway on a white dwarf, that is, a nova event. Swift monitoring has revealed the distinct evolution of the harder and super-soft X-ray spectral components, while Swift-UV and V- and I-band photometry show a gradual decline with subtle changes of slope. During the super-soft emission phase, a coherent 7.1 hr modulation was found in the soft X-ray, UV, optical, and near-IR data, varying in phase across all wavebands. Assuming this period to be orbital, the system has a near-main-sequence secondary, with little appreciable stellar wind. This distinguishes it from the first GeV nova, V407 Cyg, where the γ-rays were proposed to form through shock-accelerated particles as the ejecta interacted with the red giant wind. We favor a model in which the γ-rays arise from the shock of the ejecta with material close to the white dwarf in the orbital plane. This suggests that classical novae may commonly be GeV sources. We ascribe the orbital modulation to a raised section of an accretion disk passing through the line of sight, periodically blocking and reflecting much of the emission. The disk must therefore have reformed by day 150 after outburst

The discovery of RE 1307 + 535: the shortest period AM Her system

We report on a ROSAT Wide Field Camera EUV survey observation of RE 1307 + 535 which, together with optical spectroscopic and photometric observations, shows that this object is an AM Her system. These observations reveal that RE 1307 + 535 has an orbital period of 79.69 min, the shortest orbital period known for such a system. RE 1307 + 535 was observed by us in both high (V = 17–18) and low (V = 20–21) states, with evidence of cyclotron emission being seen in both cases. We use the high-state spectroscopy to show that the optical emission comes from a region with a magnetic field, B ≈ 30–40 MG. We derive EUV temperature and luminosity limits. IRCAM infrared photometry is used to put a lower limit on the distance to RE 1307 + 535 of d > 705 pc. RE 1307 + 535 is thus one of the most distant AM Her systems known, and is the first that is at a measured distance of z > 630 pc above the Galactic plane

Cherenkov Telescope Array is well suited to follow up gravitational-wave transients

The first gravitational-wave (GW) observations will greatly benefit from the detection of coincident electromagnetic counterparts. Electromagnetic follow-ups will nevertheless be challenging for GWs with poorly reconstructed directions. GW source localization can be inefficient (i) if only two GW observatories are in operation; (ii) if the detectors’ sensitivities are highly non-uniform; (iii) for events near the detectors’ horizon distance. For these events, follow-up observations will need to cover 100–1000 deg−2 of the sky over a limited period of time, reducing the list of suitable telescopes. We demonstrate that the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be capable of following up GW event candidates over the required large sky area with sufficient sensitivity to detect short gamma-ray bursts, which are thought to originate from compact binary mergers, out to the horizon distance of advanced LIGO/Virgo. CTA can therefore be invaluable starting with the first multimessenger detections, even with poorly reconstructed GW source directions. This scenario also provides a further scientific incentive for GW observatories to further decrease the delay of their event reconstruction

THE 2010 ERUPTION OF THE RECURRENT NOVA U SCORPII: THE MULTI-WAVELENGTH LIGHT CURVE

The recurrent nova U Scorpii most recently erupted in 2010. Our collaboration observed the eruption in bands ranging from the Swift XRT and UVOT w2 (193 nm) to K-band (2200 nm), with a few serendipitous observations stretching down to WISE W2 (4600 nm). Considering the time and wavelength coverage, this is the most comprehensively observed nova eruption to date. We present here the resulting multi-wavelength light curve covering the two months of the eruption as well as a few months into quiescence. For the first time, a U Sco eruption has been followed all the way back to quiescence, leading to the discovery of new features in the light curve, including a second, as-yet-unexplained, plateau in the optical and near-infrared. Using this light curve we show that U Sco nearly fits the broken power law decline predicted by Hachisu & Kato, with decline indices of −1.71 ± 0.02 and −3.36 ± 0.14. With our unprecedented multi-wavelength coverage, we construct daily spectral energy distributions and then calculate the total radiated energy of the eruption, ${E}_{\mathrm{rad}}={6.99}_{-0.57}^{+0.83}\times {10}^{44}\;\mathrm{erg}$. From that, we estimate the total amount of mass ejected by the eruption to be ${m}_{\mathrm{ej}}={2.10}_{-0.17}^{+0.24}\times {10}^{-6}{M}_{\odot }$. We compare this to the total amount of mass accreted by U Sco before the eruption, to determine whether the white dwarf undergoes a net mass loss or gain, but find that the values for the amount of mass accreted are not precise enough to make a useful comparison

CC Sculptoris: a superhumping intermediate polar

We present high-speed optical, spectroscopic and Swift X-ray observations made during the dwarf nova superoutburst of CC Scl in 2011 November. An orbital period of 1.383 h and superhump period of 1.443 h were measured, but the principal new finding is that CC Scl is a previously unrecognized intermediate polar, with a white dwarf spin period of 389.49 s which is seen in both optical and Swift X-ray light curves only during the outburst. In this it closely resembles the old nova GK Per, but unlike the latter has one of the shortest orbital periods among intermediate polars

PAN-CHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS OF THE RECURRENT NOVA LMC 2009a (LMC 1971b)

Nova LMC 2009a is confirmed as a recurrent nova (RN) from positional coincidence with nova LMC 1971b. The observational data set is one of the most comprehensive for any Galactic or extragalactic RN: optical and near-IR photometry from outburst until over 6 years later; optical spectra for the first 6 months, and Swift satellite ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray observations from 9 days to almost 1 year post-outburst. We find MV = −8.4 ± 0.8r ± 0.7s and expansion velocities between 1000 and 4000 km s−1. Coronal line emission before day 9 indicates shocks in the ejecta. Strengthening of He iiλ4686 preceded the emergence of the super-soft source (SSS) in X-rays at ~63–70 days, which was initially very variable. Periodic modulations, P = 1.2 days, most probably orbital in nature, were evident in the UV and optical from day 43. Subsequently, the SSS shows an oscillation with the same period but with a delay of 0.28P. The progenitor system has been identified; the secondary is most likely a sub-giant feeding a luminous accretion disk. Properties of the SSS infer a white dwarf (WD) mass 1.1 M⊙ lesssim MWD lesssim 1.3 M⊙. If the accretion occurs at a constant rate, ${\dot{M}}_{{\rm{acc}}}\simeq {3.6}_{-2.5}^{+4.7}\times {10}^{-7}\;{M}_{\odot }$ yr−1 is needed, consistent with nova models for an inter-eruption interval of 38 years, low outburst amplitude, progenitor position in the color–magnitude diagram, and spectral energy distribution at quiescence. We note striking similarities between LMC 2009a and the Galactic nova KT Eri, suggesting that KT Eri is a candidate RN

Accessing the population of high-redshift Gamma Ray Bursts

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are a powerful probe of the high-redshift Universe. We present a tool to estimate the detection rate of high-z GRBs by a generic detector with defined energy band and sensitivity. We base this on a population model that reproduces the observed properties of GRBs detected by Swift, Fermi and CGRO in the hard X-ray and γ-ray bands. We provide the expected cumulative distributions of the flux and fluence of simulated GRBs in different energy bands. We show that scintillator detectors, operating at relatively high energies (e.g. tens of keV to the MeV), can detect only the most luminous GRBs at high redshifts due to the link between the peak spectral energy and the luminosity (Epeak–Liso) of GRBs. We show that the best strategy for catching the largest number of high-z bursts is to go softer (e.g. in the soft X-ray band) but with a very high sensitivity. For instance, an imaging soft X-ray detector operating in the 0.2–5 keV energy band reaching a sensitivity, corresponding to a fluence, of ∼10−8 erg cm−2 is expected to detect ≈40 GRBs yr−1 sr−1 at z ≥ 5 (≈3 GRBs yr−1 sr−1 at z ≥ 10). Once high-z GRBs are detected the principal issue is to secure their redshift. To this aim we estimate their NIR afterglow flux at relatively early times and evaluate the effectiveness of following them up and construct usable samples of events with any forthcoming GRB mission dedicated to explore the high-z Universe

The prompt-afterglow connection in gamma-ray bursts: a comprehensive statistical analysis of Swift X-ray light curves

We present a comprehensive statistical analysis of Swift X-ray light curves of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) collecting data from more than 650 GRBs discovered by Swift and other facilities. The unprecedented sample size allows us to constrain the rest-frame X-ray properties of GRBs from a statistical perspective, with particular reference to intrinsic time-scales and the energetics of the different light-curve phases in a common rest-frame 0.3–30 keV energy band. Temporal variability episodes are also studied and their properties constrained. Two fundamental questions drive this effort: (i) Does the X-ray emission retain any kind of ‘memory’ of the prompt γ-ray phase? (ii) Where is the dividing line between long and short GRB X-ray properties? We show that short GRBs decay faster, are less luminous and less energetic than long GRBs in the X-rays, but are interestingly characterized by similar intrinsic absorption. We furthermore reveal the existence of a number of statistically significant relations that link the X-ray to prompt γ-ray parameters in long GRBs; short GRBs are outliers of the majority of these two-parameter relations. However and more importantly, we report on the existence of a universal three-parameter scaling that links the X-ray and the γ-ray energy to the prompt spectral peak energy of both long and short GRBs: EX, iso∝E[Superscript: 1.00 ± 0.06]γ, iso/E[Superscript: 0.60 ± 0.10]pk