59 research outputs found
Interacting supernovae and supernova impostors. SN 2007sv: the major eruption of a massive star in UGC 5979
We report the results of the photometric and spectroscopic monitoring
campaign of the transient SN 2007sv. The observables are similar to those of
type IIn supernovae, a well-known class of objects whose ejecta interact with
pre-existing circum-stellar material. The spectra show a blue continuum at
early phases and prominent Balmer lines in emission, however, the absolute
magnitude at the discovery of SN 2007sv (M_R = - 14.25 +/- 0.38) indicate it to
be most likely a supernova impostor. This classification is also supported by
the lack of evidence in the spectra of very high velocity material as expected
in supernova ejecta. In addition we find no unequivocal evidence of broad lines
of alpha - and/or Fe-peak elements. The comparison with the absolute light
curves of other interacting objects (including type IIn supernovae) highlights
the overall similarity with the prototypical impostor SN 1997bs. This supports
our claim that SN 2007sv was not a genuine supernova, and was instead a
supernova impostor, most likely similar to the major eruption of a luminous
blue variable.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 15 pages, 11 figures, 5 table
SN 2009E: a faint clone of SN 1987A
In this paper we investigate the properties of SN 2009E, which exploded in a
relatively nearby spiral galaxy (NGC 4141) and that is probably the faintest
1987A-like supernova discovered so far. Spectroscopic observations which
started about 2 months after the supernova explosion, highlight significant
differences between SN 2009E and the prototypical SN 1987A. Modelling the data
of SN 2009E allows us to constrain the explosion parameters and the properties
of the progenitor star, and compare the inferred estimates with those available
for the similar SNe 1987A and 1998A. The light curve of SN 2009E is less
luminous than that of SN 1987A and the other members of this class, and the
maximum light curve peak is reached at a slightly later epoch than in SN 1987A.
Late-time photometric observations suggest that SN 2009E ejected about 0.04
solar masses of 56Ni, which is the smallest 56Ni mass in our sample of
1987A-like events. Modelling the observations with a radiation hydrodynamics
code, we infer for SN 2009E a kinetic plus thermal energy of about 0.6 foe, an
initial radius of ~7 x 10^12 cm and an ejected mass of ~19 solar masses. The
photospheric spectra show a number of narrow (v~1800 km/s) metal lines, with
unusually strong Ba II lines. The nebular spectrum displays narrow emission
lines of H, Na I, [Ca II] and [O I], with the [O I] feature being relatively
strong compared to the [Ca II] doublet. The overall spectroscopic evolution is
reminiscent of that of the faint 56Ni-poor type II-plateau supernovae. This
suggests that SN 2009E belongs to the low-luminosity, low 56Ni mass, low-energy
tail in the distribution of the 1987A-like objects in the same manner as SN
1997D and similar events represent the faint tail in the distribution of
physical properties for normal type II-plateau supernovae.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures (+7 in appendix); accepted for publication in A&A
on 3 November 201
SN 2005cs in M51 I. The first month of evolution of a subluminous SN II plateau
Early time optical observations of supernova (SN) 2005cs in the Whirlpool
Galaxy (M51), are reported. Photometric data suggest that SN 2005cs is a
moderately under-luminous Type II plateau supernova (SN IIP). The SN was
unusually blue at early epochs (U-B ~ -0.9 about three days after explosion)
which indicates very high continuum temperatures. The spectra show relatively
narrow P-Cygni features, suggesting ejecta velocities lower than observed in
more typical SNe IIP. The earliest spectra show weak absorption features in the
blue wing of the He I 5876A absorption component and, less clearly, of H
and H. Based on spectral modelling, two different interpretations can
be proposed: these features may either be due to high-velocity H and He I
components, or (more likely) be produced by different ions (N II, Si II).
Analogies with the low-luminosity, Ni-poor, low-velocity SNe IIP are
also discussed.
While a more extended spectral coverage is necessary in order to determine
accurately the properties of the progenitor star, published estimates of the
progenitor mass seem not to be consistent with stellar evolution models.Comment: 12 pages, 11 Figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Scaling study of the pion electroproduction cross sections and the pion form factor
The H()n cross section was measured for a range of
four-momentum transfer up to =3.91 GeV at values of the invariant
mass, , above the resonance region. The -dependence of the longitudinal
component is consistent with the -scaling prediction for hard exclusive
processes. This suggests that perturbative QCD concepts are applicable at
rather low values of . Pion form factor results, while consistent with the
-scaling prediction, are inconsistent in magnitude with perturbative QCD
calculations. The extraction of Generalized Parton Distributions from hard
exclusive processes assumes the dominance of the longitudinal term. However,
transverse contributions to the cross section are still significant at
=3.91 GeV.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Nuclear transparency and effective kaon-nucleon cross section from the A(e, e'K+) reaction
We have determined the transparency of the nuclear medium to kaons from
measurements on C, Cu, and Au targets.
The measurements were performed at the Jefferson Laboratory and span a range in
four-momentum-transfer squared Q=1.1 -- 3.0 GeV. The nuclear
transparency was defined as the ratio of measured kaon electroproduction cross
sections with respect to deuterium, (). We further
extracted the atomic number () dependence of the transparency as
parametrized by and, within a simple model assumption,
the in-medium effective kaon-nucleon cross sections. The effective cross
sections extracted from the electroproduction data are found to be smaller than
the free cross sections determined from kaon-nucleon scattering experiments,
and the parameter was found to be significantly larger than those
obtained from kaon-nucleus scattering. We have included similar comparisons
between pion- and proton-nucleon effective cross sections as determined from
electron scattering experiments, and pion-nucleus and proton-nucleus scattering
data.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Study of the A(e,e') Reaction on H, H, C, Al, Cu and Au
Cross sections for the p()n process on H, H, C,
Al, Cu and Au targets were measured at the Thomas
Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) in order to extract the
nuclear transparencies. Data were taken for four-momentum transfers ranging
from =1.1 to 4.8 GeV for a fixed center of mass energy of =2.14
GeV. The ratio of and was extracted from the measured
cross sections for H, H, C and Cu targets at = 2.15
and 4.0 GeV allowing for additional studies of the reaction mechanism. The
experimental setup and the analysis of the data are described in detail
including systematic studies needed to obtain the results. The results for the
nuclear transparency and the differential cross sections as a function of the
pion momentum at the different values of are presented. Global features
of the data are discussed and the data are compared with the results of model
calculations for the p()n reaction from nuclear targets.Comment: 28 pages, 19 figures, submited to PR
Measurement of Nuclear Transparency for the A(e,e' pi^+) Reaction
We have measured the nuclear transparency of the A(e,e' pi^+) process in
^{2}H,^{12}C, ^{27}Al, ^{63}Cu and ^{197}Au targets. These measurements were
performed at the Jefferson Laboratory over a four momentum transfer squared
range Q^2 = 1.1 - 4.7 (GeV/c)^2. The nuclear transparency was extracted as the
super-ratio of from data to a model of
pion-electroproduction from nuclei without pi-N final state interactions. The
Q^2 and atomic number dependence of the nuclear transparency both show
deviations from traditional nuclear physics expectations, and are consistent
with calculations that include the quantum chromodynamical phenomenon of color
transparency.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figs Changes to figure 2 and 3 (error band updated and
theory curves updated
Transverse momentum dependence of semi-inclusive pion production
Cross sections for semi-inclusive electroproduction of charged pions
() from both proton and deuteron targets were measured for
, GeV, , and GeV. For
GeV, we find the azimuthal dependence to be small, as expected
theoretically. For both and , the dependence from the
deuteron is found to be slightly weaker than from the proton. In the context of
a simple model, this implies that the initial transverse momenta width of
quarks is larger than for quarks and, contrary to expectations, the
transverse momentum width of the favored fragmentation function is larger than
the unfavored one.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Fit form changed to include Cahn effect Minor
revisions. Added one new figur
The Onset of Quark-Hadron Duality in Pion Electroproduction
A large data set of charged-pion electroproduction from both hydrogen and
deuterium targets has been obtained spanning the low-energy residual-mass
region. These data conclusively show the onset of the quark-hadron duality
phenomenon, as predicted for high-energy hadron electroproduction. We construct
several ratios from these data to exhibit the relation of this phenomenon to
the high-energy factorization ansatz of electron-quark scattering and
subsequent quark-to- pion production mechanisms.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. Lett. Tables adde
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