Characterisation of the CAFOS linear spectro-polarimeter

Aims. This research note presents a full analysis of the CAFOS polarimeter mounted at the Calar Alto 2.2m telescope. It also provides future users of this mode with all necessary information to properly correct for instrumental effects in polarization data obtained with this instrument. Methods. The standard stars BD+59d389 (polarized) and HD14069 (unpolarized) were observed with CAFOS in November, 2010, using 16 half-wave plate angles. The linear spectropolarimetric properties of CAFOS were studied using a Fourier Analysis of the resulting data. Results. CAFOS shows a roughly constant instrumental polarization at the level of ~0.3% between 4000 and 8600 A. Below 4000 A the spurious polarization grows to reach ~0.7% at 3600 A. This instrumental effect is most likely produced by the telescope optics, and appears to be additive. The Wollaston prism presents a clear deviation from the ideal behavior. The problem is largely removed by the usage of at least 4 retarder plate angles. The chromatism of the half-wave plate causes a peak-to-peak oscillation of ~11 degrees in the polarization angle. This can be effectively corrected using the tabulated values presented in this paper. The Fourier analysis shows that the k!=0,4 harmonics are practically negligible between 3800 and 7400 A. Conclusions. After correcting for instrumental polarization and retarder plate chromatism, with 4 half-wave plate angles CAFOS can reach an rms linear polarization accuracy of about 0.1%.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A (Research Note

Reflections on Reflexions: I. Light Echoes in Type Ia Supernovae

In the last ten years, observational evidences about a possible connection between Type Ia Supernovae (SNe) properties and the environment where they explode have been steadily growing. In this paper I discuss, from a theoretical point of view but with an observer's perspective, the usage of light echoes (LEs) to probe the CSM around SNe of Type Ia since, in principle, they give us a unique opportunity of getting a three-dimensional description of the SN environment. In turn, this can be used to check the often suggested association of some Ia's with dusty/star forming regions, which would point to a young population for the progenitors. After giving a brief introduction to the LE phenomenon in single scattering approximation, I derive analytical and numerical solutions for the optical light and colour curves for a few simple dust geometries. A fully 3D multiple scattering treatment has also been implemented in a Monte Carlo code, which I have used to investigate the effects of multiple scattering. In particular, I have explored in detail the LE colour dependency from time and dust distribution, since this is a promising tool to determine the dust density and derive the effective presence of multiple scattering from the observed properties. Finally, again by means of Monte Carlo simulations, I have studied the effects of multiple scattering on the LE linear polarization, analyzing the dependencies from the dust parameters and geometry. Both the analytical formalism and MC codes described in this paper can be used for any LE for which the light curve of the central source is known.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS. Full resolution version at http://www.eso.org/~fpatat/science/LE/paperI.pd

The Dancing Sky: 6 years of night sky observations at Cerro Paranal

The present work provides the results of the first six years of operation of the systematic night-sky monitoring at ESO-Paranal (Chile). The UBVRI night-sky brightness was estimated on about 10,000 VLT-FORS1 archival images, obtained on more than 650 separate nights, distributed over 6 years and covering the descent from maximum to minimum of sunspot cycle n.23. Additionally, a set of about 1,000 low resolution, optical night-sky spectra have been extracted and analyzed. The unprecedented database discussed in this paper has led to the detection of a clear seasonal variation of the broad band night sky brightness in the VRI passbands, similar to the well known semi-annual oscillation of the NaI D doublet. The spectroscopic data demonstrate that this seasonality is common to all spectral features, with the remarkable exception of the OH rotational-vibrational bands. A clear dependency on the solar activity is detected in all passbands and it is particularly pronounced in the U band, where the sky brightness decreased by about 0.6 mag arcsec-2 from maximum to minimum of solar cycle n.23. No correlation is found between solar activity and the intensity of the NaI D doublet and the OH bands. A strong correlation between the intensity of NI 5200A and [OI]6300,6364A is reported here for the first time. The paper addresses also the determination of the correlation timescales with solar activity and the possible connection with the flux of charged particles emitted by the Sun.Comment: 19 pages, 27 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Full resolution version at http://www.hq.eso.org/~fpatat/science/skybright/paperIII.pd

UBVRI twilight sky brightness at ESO-Paranal

Twilight studies have proved to be important tools to analyze the atmospheric structure with interesting consequences on the characterization of astronomical sites. Active discussions on this topic have been recently restarted in connection with the evaluation of Dome C, Antarctica as a potential astronomical site and several site-testing experiments, including twilight brightness measurements, are being prepared. The present work provides for the first time absolute photometric measurements of twilight sky brightness for ESO-Paranal (Chile), which are meant both as a contribution to the site monitoring and as reference values in the analysis of other sites, including Dome C. The UBVRI twilight sky brightness was estimated on more than 2000 FORS1 archival images, which include both flats and standard stars observations taken in twilight, covering a Sun zenith distance range 94-112 deg. The comparison with a low altitude site shows that Paranal V twilight sky brightness is about 30% lower, implying that some fraction of multiple scattering has to take place at an altitude of a few km above the sea level.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Dense molecular clouds in the SN2008fp host galaxy

(abridged) We use observations of interstellar absorption features, such as atomic and molecular lines as well as diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs), towards SN2008fp to study the physical properties of extra-galactic diffuse interstellar clouds in the host galaxy, ESO428-G14. The properties of the intervening dust are investigated via spectropolarimetry. The spectra of SN2008fp reveal a complex of diffuse atomic clouds at radial velocities in line with the systematic velocities of the host galaxy (~1700 km/s). A translucent (A_V ~ 1.5 mag) cloud is detected at a heliocentric velocity of 1770 km/s This cold dense cloud is rich in dense atomic gas tracers, molecules, as well as diffuse interstellar bands. We have detected both C2 and C3 for the first time in a galaxy beyond the Local Group. The CN (0,0) band line ratios are used to derive an in-situ measurement of the cosmic background radiation temperature in an external galaxy; this gives an excitation temperature of T = 2.9 +- 0.3 K. The interstellar polarization law deviates significantly from what is observed in the Galaxy, indicating substantial differences in the composition or size distribution of dust grains in the SN2008fp host galaxy. C2 is used to probe the cold diffuse ISM density and temperature. The lack of variability in the extra-galactic absorption line profiles over a period of one month implies that the absorbing material is not circumstellar and thus not affected directly by the SN event. Also it shows that there are no significant density variation in the small-scale structure of the molecular cloud down to 100 AU.Comment: 10 pages. Accepted for publication in A&A. Revisions include several small correction

A Fundamental Test of the Nature of Dark Matter

Dark matter may consist of weakly interacting elementary particles or of macroscopic compact objects. We show that the statistics of the gravitational lensing of high redshift supernovae strongly discriminate between these two classes of dark matter candidates. We develop a method of calculating the magnification distribution of supernovae, which can be interpreted in terms of the properties of the lensing objects. With simulated data we show that >~ 50 well measured type Ia supernovae (\Delta m ~ 0.2 mag) at redshifts ~1 can clearly distinguish macroscopic from microscopic dark matter if \Omega_o \simgt 0.2 and all dark matter is in one form or the other.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, AASTeX, replaced to conform to the version to be published in ApJL. It is now more clearly written and addresses some possible systematic uncertaintie

Bright Supernovae from Magnetar Birth

Following an initial explosion that might be launched either by magnetic interactions or neutrinos, a rotating magnetar radiating according to the classic dipole formula could power a very luminous supernova. While some 56Ni might be produced in the initial explosion, the peak of the light curve in a Type I supernova would not be directly related to its mass. In fact, the peak luminosity would be most sensitive to the dipole field strength of the magnetar. The tail of the light curve could resemble radioactive decay for some time but, assuming complete trapping of the pulsar emission, would eventually be brighter. Depending on the initial explosion energy, both high and moderate velocities could accompany a very luminous light curve.Comment: submitted to Astrophysical Journal Letter