Giant Intrinsic Carrier Mobilities in Graphene and Its Bilayer

We have studied temperature dependences of electron transport in graphene and its bilayer and found extremely low electron-phonon scattering rates that set the fundamental limit on possible charge carrier mobilities at room temperature. Our measurements have shown that mobilities significantly higher than 200,000 cm2/Vs are achievable, if extrinsic disorder is eliminated. A sharp (threshold-like) increase in resistivity observed above approximately 200K is unexpected but can qualitatively be understood within a model of a rippled graphene sheet in which scattering occurs on intra-ripple flexural phonons

Moderately Luminous type II Supernovae

Core-collapse Supernovae (CC-SNe) descend from progenitors more massive than about 8 Msun. Because of the young age of the progenitors, the ejecta may eventually interact with the circumstellar medium (CSM) via highly energetic processes detectable in the radio, X-ray, ultraviolet (UV) and, sometimes, in the optical domains. In this paper we present ultraviolet, optical and near infrared observations of five type II SNe, namely SNe 2009dd, 2007pk, 2010aj, 1995ad, and 1996W. Together with few other SNe they form a group of moderately luminous type II events. We collected photometry and spectroscopy with several telescopes in order to construct well-sampled light curves and spectral evolutions from the photospheric to the nebular phases. Both photometry and spectroscopy indicate a degree of heterogeneity in this sample. The light curves have luminous peak magnitudes ($-16.95<M_{B}<-18.70$). The ejected masses of ^56\ni for three SNe span a wide range of values ($2.8\times10^{-2}$Msun$<$M(\ni)$<1.4\times10^{-1}$Msun), while for a fourth (SN2010aj) we could determine a stringent upper limit ($7\times10^{-3}$Msun). Clues of interaction, such as the presence of high velocity (HV) features of the Balmer lines, are visible in the photospheric spectra of SNe 2009dd and 1996W. For SN2007pk we observe a spectral transition from a type IIn to a standard type II SN. Modelling the observations of SNe 2009dd, 2010aj and 1995ad with radiation hydrodynamics codes, we infer kinetic plus thermal energies of about 0.2-0.5 foe, initial radii of 2-5$\times10^{13}$ cm and ejected masses of $\sim$5.0-9.5 Msun. These values suggest moderate-mass, super-asymptotic giant branch (SAGB) or red super-giants (RSG) stars as SN precursors, in analogy with other luminous type IIP SNe 2007od and 2009bw.Comment: 28 pages, 27 fig, accepted by A&A, 3 pages of online material, abstract abridged. revised significantly with respect to the previous versio

Explosion of a massive, He-rich star at z=0.16

We present spectroscopic and photometric data of the peculiar SN 2001gh, discovered by the 'Southern inTermediate Redshift ESO Supernova Search' (STRESS) at a redshift z=0.16. SN 2001gh has relatively high luminosity at maximum (M_B = -18.55 mag), while the light curve shows a broad peak. An early-time spectrum shows an almost featureless, blue continuum with a few weak and shallow P-Cygni lines that we attribute to HeI. HeI lines remain the only spectral features visible in a subsequent spectrum, obtained one month later. A remarkable property of SN 2001gh is the lack of significant spectral evolution over the temporal window of nearly one month separating the two spectra. In order to explain the properties of SN 2001gh, three powering mechanism are explored, including radioactive decays of a moderately large amount of 56Ni, magnetar spin-down, and interaction of SN ejecta with circumstellar medium. We favour the latter scenario, with a SN Ib wrapped in a dense, circumstellar shell. The fact that no models provide an excellent fit with observations, confirms the troublesome interpretation of the nature of SN 2001gh. A rate estimate for SN 2001gh-like event is also provided, confirming the intrinsic rarity of these objects.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. Accepted by MNRA

Energy distribution in a BTZ black hole spacetime

We evaluate the energy distribution associated with the (2+1)-dimensional rotating BTZ black hole. The energy-momentum complexes of Landau-Lifshitz and Weinberg are employed for this computation. Both prescriptions give exactly the same form of energy distribution. Therefore, these results provide evidence in support of the claim that, for a given gravitational background, different energy-momentum complexes can give identical results in three dimensions, as it is the case in four dimensions.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX; v2: comments, clarifications and references added, version to appear in Int.J.Mod.Phys.

SN 2013df, a double-peaked IIb supernova from a compact progenitor and an extended H envelope

Optical observations of the type IIb SN 2013df from a few days to about 250 days after explosion are presented. These observations are complemented with UV photometry taken by \textit{SWIFT} up to 60 days post-explosion. The double-peak optical light curve is similar to those of SNe 1993J and 2011fu although with different decline and rise rates. From the modelling of the bolometric light curve, we have estimated that the total mass of synthesised $^{56}$Ni in the explosion is $\sim0.1$ M$_{\odot}$, while the ejecta mass is $0.8-1.4$ M$_{\odot}$ and the explosion energy $0.4-1.2 \times 10^{51}$erg. In addition, we have estimated a lower limit to the progenitor radius ranging from $64-169$ $R_{\odot}$. The spectral evolution indicates that SN 2013df had a hydrogen envelope similar to SN 1993J ($\sim 0.2$ M$_{\odot}$). The line profiles in nebular spectra suggest that the explosion was asymmetric with the presence of clumps in the ejecta, while the [O\,{\sc i}] $\lambda$$\lambda$$6300$, $6364$ luminosities, may indicate that the progenitor of SN 2013df was a relatively low mass star ( $\sim 12-13$ M$_{\odot}$).Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, 9 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

Probing the Electronic Structure of Bilayer Graphene by Raman Scattering

The electronic structure of bilayer graphene is investigated from a resonant Raman study using different laser excitation energies. The values of the parameters of the Slonczewski-Weiss-McClure model for graphite are measured experimentally and some of them differ significantly from those reported previously for graphite, specially that associated with the difference of the effective mass of electrons and holes. The splitting of the two TO phonon branches in bilayer graphene is also obtained from the experimental data. Our results have implications for bilayer graphene electronic devices.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Energy and Momentum Distributions of a (2+1)-dimensional black hole background

Using Einstein, Landau-Lifshitz, Papapetrou and Weinberg energy-momentum complexes we explicitly evaluate the energy and momentum distributions associated with a non-static and circularly symmetric three-dimensional spacetime. The gravitational background under study is an exact solution of the Einstein's equations in the presence of a cosmological constant and a null fluid. It can be regarded as the three-dimensional analogue of the Vaidya metric and represents a non-static spinless (2+1)-dimensional black hole with an outflux of null radiation. All four above-mentioned prescriptions give exactly the same energy and momentum distributions for the specific black hole background. Therefore, the results obtained here provide evidence in support of the claim that for a given gravitational background, different energy-momentum complexes can give identical results in three dimensions. Furthermore, in the limit of zero cosmological constant the results presented here reproduce the results obtained by Virbhadra who utilized the Landau-Lifshitz energy-momentum complex for the same (2+1)-dimensional black hole background in the absence of a cosmological constant.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX, v3: references added, to appear in Int.J.Mod.Phys.

The Type IIP SN 2007od in UGC 12846: from a bright maximum to dust formation in the nebular phase

Ultraviolet (UV), optical and near infrared (NIR) observations of the type IIP supernova (SN) 2007od are presented, covering from the maximum light to the late phase, allowing to investigate in detail different physical phenomena in the expanding ejecta. These data turn this object into one of the most peculiar IIP ever studied. The early light curve of SN 2007od is similar to that of a bright IIPs with a short plateau, a bright peak (MV = -18 mag), but a very faint optical light curve at late time. However, with the inclusion of mid infrared (MIR) observations during the radioactive decay we have estimate a M(56Ni) ~ 2\times10^-2 M\odot. Modeling the bolometric light curve, ejecta expansion velocities and black-body temperature, we estimate a total ejected mass was 5 - 7.5 M\odot with a kinetic energy of at least 0.5 \times 10^51 erg. The early spectra reveal a boxy H{\alpha} profile and high velocities features of the Balmer series that suggest interaction between the ejecta and a close circum-stellar matter (CSM). SN 2007od may be, therefore, an intermediate case between a Type IIn SN and a typical Type IIP SN. Also late spectra show a clear evidence of CSM and the presence of dust formed inside the ejecta. The episodes of mass loss short before explosion, the bright plateau, along with the relatively small amount of 56Ni and the faint [O I] observed in the nebular spectra are consistent with a super-asympthotic giant branch (super-AGB) progenitor (M~9.7 - 11 M\odot).Comment: V2, some test added and three figures changed from the first version. 21 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS on May 24, 201