26 research outputs found
Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam Survey for An Optical Counterpart of GW170817
We perform a -band survey for an optical counterpart of a binary neutron
star coalescence GW170817 with Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam. Our untargeted
transient search covers deg corresponding to the credible
region of GW170817 and reaches the completeness magnitude of mag
on average. As a result, we find 60 candidates of extragalactic transients,
including J-GEM17btc (a.k.a. SSS17a/DLT17ck). While J-GEM17btc is associated
with NGC 4993 that is firmly located inside the 3D skymap of GW170817, the
other 59 candidates do not have distance information in the GLADE v2 catalog or
NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED). Among 59 candidates, 58 are located at
the center of extended objects in the Pan-STARRS1 catalog, while one candidate
has an offset. We present location, -band apparent magnitude, and time
variability of the candidates and evaluate the probabilities that they are
located inside of the 3D skymap of GW170817. The probability for J-GEM17btc is
being much higher than those for the other 59 candidates
(). Furthermore, the possibility, that at
least one of the other 59 candidates is located within the 3D skymap, is only
. Therefore, we conclude that J-GEM17btc is the most-likely and
distinguished candidate as the optical counterpart of GW170817.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in PASJ (Publications
of the Astronomical Society of Japan
Gravitational Wave Physics and Astronomy in the nascent era
The detections of gravitational waves (GW) by the LIGO/Virgo collaborations provide various possibilities for both physics and astronomy. We are quite sure that GW observations will develop a lot, both in precision and in number, thanks to the continuous work on the improvement of detectors, including the expected new detector, KAGRA, and the planned detector, LIGO-India. On this occasion, we review the fundamental outcomes and prospects of gravitational wave physics and astronomy. We survey the development, focusing on representative sources of gravitational waves: binary black holes, binary neutron stars, and supernovae. We also summarize the role of gravitational wave observations as a probe of new physics
The Fast, Luminous Ultraviolet Transient AT2018cow: Extreme Supernova, or Disruption of a Star by an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole?
Wide-field optical surveys have begun to uncover large samples of fast
(t_rise < 5d), luminous (M_peak < -18), blue transients. While commonly
attributed to the breakout of a supernova shock into a dense wind, the great
distances to the transients of this class found so far have hampered detailed
investigation of their properties. We present photometry and spectroscopy from
a comprehensive worldwide campaign to observe AT2018cow (ATLAS18qqn), the first
fast-luminous optical transient to be found in real time at low redshift. Our
first spectra (<2 days after discovery) are entirely featureless. A very broad
absorption feature suggestive of near-relativistic velocities develops between
3-8 days, then disappears. Broad emission features of H and He develop after
>10 days. The spectrum remains extremely hot throughout its evolution, and the
photospheric radius contracts with time (receding below R<10^14 cm after 1
month). This behaviour does not match that of any known supernova, although a
relativistic jet within a fallback supernova could explain some of the observed
features. Alternatively, the transient could originate from the disruption of a
star by an intermediate-mass black hole, although this would require
long-lasting emission of highly super-Eddington thermal radiation. In either
case, AT2018cow suggests that the population of fast luminous transients
represents a new class of astrophysical event. Intensive follow-up of this
event in its late phases, and of any future events found at comparable
distance, will be essential to better constrain their origins.Comment: Corrected Figure 8 / Table 4 to use final fits. Includes
machine-readable photometry table (hopefully for real this time