248 research outputs found
The Outburst of the Blazar AO 0235+164 in 2006 December: Shock-in-Jet Interpretation
We present the results of polarimetric ( band) and multicolor photometric
() observations of the blazar AO 0235+16 during an outburst in 2006
December. The data reveal a short timescale of variability (several hours),
which increases from optical to near-IR wavelengths; even shorter variations
are detected in polarization. The flux density correlates with the degree of
polarization, and at maximum degree of polarization the electric vector tends
to align with the parsec-scale jet direction. We find that a variable component
with a steady power-law spectral energy distribution and very high optical
polarization (30-50%) is responsible for the variability. We interpret these
properties of the blazar withina model of a transverse shock propagating down
the jet. In this case a small change in the viewing angle of the jet, by
, and a decrease in the shocked plasma compression by a factor of
1.5 are sufficient to account for the variability.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, accepted for Ap
Color Variability of the Blazar AO 0235+16
Multicolor (UBVRIJHK) observations of the blazar AO 0235+16 are analyzed. The
light curves were compiled at the Turin Observatory from literature data and
the results of observations obtained in the framework of the WEBT program
(http://www.to.astro/blazars/webt/). The color variability of the blazar was
studied in eight time intervals with a sufficient number of multicolor optical
observations; JHK data are available for only one of these. The spectral energy
distribution (SED) of the variable component remained constant within each
interval, but varied strongly from one interval to another. After correction
for dust absorption, the SED can be represented by a power law in all cases,
providing evidence for a synchrotron nature of the variable component. We show
that the variability at both optical and IR wavelengths is associated with the
same variable source.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy
Report
Dust Formation and He II 4686 emission in the Dense Shell of the Peculiar Type Ib Supernova 2006jc
We present evidence for the formation of dust grains in an unusual Type Ib SN
based on late-time spectra of SN 2006jc. The progenitor suffered an LBV-like
outburst just 2 yr earlier, and we propose that the dust formation is a
consequence of the SN blast wave overtaking that LBV-like shell. The key
evidence for dust formation is (a) the appearance of a red/near-IR continuum
source fit by 1600 K graphite grains, and (b) fading of the redshifted sides of
He I emission lines, yielding progressively more asymmetric blueshifted lines
as dust obscures receding material. This provides the strongest case yet for
dust formation in any SN Ib/c. Both developments occurred between 51 and 75 d
after peak, while other SNe observed to form dust did so after a few hundred
days. Geometric considerations indicate that dust formed in the dense swept-up
shell between the forward and reverse shocks, and not in the freely expanding
SN ejecta. Rapid cooling leading to dust formation may have been aided by
extremely high shell densities, as indicated by He I line ratios. The brief
epoch of dust formation is accompanied by He II 4686 emission and enhanced
X-ray emission. These clues suggest that the unusual dust formation in this
object was not due to properties of the SN itself, but instead -- like most
peculiarities of SN 2006jc -- was a consequence of the dense environment
created by an LBV-like eruption 2 yr before the SN.Comment: ApJ, accepted. added some discussion and 2 figures, better title,
conclusions same as previous version. 12 pages, 4 color fig
Optical and infrared observations of the supernova SN 1999el
Optical and near-infrared light curves of the Type IIn supernova 1999el in
NGC 6951 are presented. A period of 220 days (416 days in the near-infrared) is
covered from the first observation obtained a few days before maximum light.
Spectroscopic observations are also discussed. Using as a distance calibrator
the Type Ia SN 2000E, which occurred some months later in the same galaxy, and
fitting a blackbody law to the photometric data we obtain a maximum bolometric
luminosity for SN 1999el of erg s. In general, the
photometric properties of SN 1999el are very similar to those of SN 1998S, a
bright and well studied Type IIn SN, showing a fast decline in all observed
bands similar to those of Type II-L SNe. The differences with SN 1998S are
analyzed and ascribed to the differences in a pre-existing circumstellar
envelope in which dust was already present at the moment of the SN outburst. We
infer that light echoes may play a possibly significant role in affecting the
observed properties of the light curves, although improved theoretical models
are needed to account for the data. We conclude that mass loss in the
progenitor RG stars is episodic and occurs in an asymmetric way. This implies
that collapsing massive stars appear as normal Type II SN if this occurs far
from major mass loss episodes, whereas they appear as Type IIn SNe if a large
mass loss episode is in progress.Comment: 30 pages, 8 figures, figure 1 available as jpeg file, ApJ in pres
A third red supergiant rich cluster in the Scutum-Crux arm
Aims. We aim to characterise the properties of a third massive, red supergiant dominated galactic cluster.
Methods. To accomplish this we utilised a combination of near/mid-IR photometry and spectroscopy to identify and classify the properties of cluster members, and statistical arguments to determine the mass of the cluster.
Results. We found a total of 16 strong candidates for cluster membership, for which formal classification of a subset yields spectral types from K3-M4 Ia and luminosities between log(L/L-circle dot) similar to 4.5-4.8 for an adopted distance of 6 +/- 1 kpc. For an age in the range of 16-20 Myr, the implied mass is 2-4 x 10(4) M-circle dot, making it one of the most massive young clusters in the Galaxy. This discovery supports the hypothesis that a significant burst of star formation occurred at the base of Scutum-Crux arm between 10-20 Myr ago, yielding a stellar complex comprising at least similar to 10(5) M-circle dot of stars (noting that since the cluster identification criteria rely on the presence of RSGs, we suspect that the true stellar yield will be significantly higher). We highlight the apparent absence of X-ray binaries within the star formation complex and finally, given the physical association of at least two pulsars with this region, discuss the implications of this finding for stellar evolution and the production and properties of neutron stars
The brightest gamma-ray flaring blazar in the sky: AGILE and multi-wavelength observations of 3C 454.3 during November 2010
Since 2005, the blazar 3C 454.3 has shown remarkable flaring activity at all
frequencies, and during the last four years it has exhibited more than one
gamma-ray flare per year, becoming the most active gamma-ray blazar in the sky.
We present for the first time the multi-wavelength AGILE, SWIFT, INTEGRAL, and
GASP-WEBT data collected in order to explain the extraordinary gamma-ray flare
of 3C 454.3 which occurred in November 2010. On 2010 November 20 (MJD 55520),
3C 454.3 reached a peak flux (E>100 MeV) of F_gamma(p) = (6.8+-1.0)E-5 ph/cm2/s
on a time scale of about 12 hours, more than a factor of 6 higher than the flux
of the brightest steady gamma-ray source, the Vela pulsar, and more than a
factor of 3 brighter than its previous super-flare on 2009 December 2-3. The
multi-wavelength data make a thorough study of the present event possible: the
comparison with the previous outbursts indicates a close similarity to the one
that occurred in 2009. By comparing the broadband emission before, during, and
after the gamma-ray flare, we find that the radio, optical and X-ray emission
varies within a factor 2-3, whereas the gamma-ray flux by a factor of 10. This
remarkable behavior is modeled by an external Compton component driven by a
substantial local enhancement of soft seed photons.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters. 18 Pages, 4 Figures, 1 Tabl
Another look at the BL Lacertae flux and spectral variability
The GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope
(WEBT) monitored BL Lacertae in 2008-2009 at radio, near-IR, and optical
frequencies. During this period, high-energy observations were performed by
XMM-Newton, Swift, and Fermi. We analyse these data with particular attention
to the calibration of Swift UV data, and apply a helical jet model to interpret
the source broad-band variability. The GASP-WEBT observations show an optical
flare in 2008 February-March, and oscillations of several tenths of mag on a
few-day time scale afterwards. The radio flux is only mildly variable. The UV
data from both XMM-Newton and Swift seem to confirm a UV excess that is likely
caused by thermal emission from the accretion disc. The X-ray data from
XMM-Newton indicate a strongly concave spectrum, as well as moderate flux
variability on an hour time scale. The Swift X-ray data reveal fast (interday)
flux changes, not correlated with those observed at lower energies. We compare
the spectral energy distribution (SED) corresponding to the 2008 low-brightness
state, which was characterised by a synchrotron dominance, to the 1997 outburst
state, where the inverse-Compton emission was prevailing. A fit with an
inhomogeneous helical jet model suggests that two synchrotron components are at
work with their self inverse-Compton emission. Most likely, they represent the
radiation from two distinct emitting regions in the jet. We show that the
difference between the source SEDs in 2008 and 1997 can be explained in terms
of pure geometrical variations. The outburst state occurred when the
jet-emitting regions were better aligned with the line of sight, producing an
increase of the Doppler beaming factor. Our analysis demonstrates that the jet
geometry can play an extremely important role in the BL Lacertae flux and
spectral variability.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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