| 1. |
- Smith, Nathan, et al.
(författare)
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Red supergiants as potential Type IIn supernova progenitors: Spatially Resolved 4.6 Mum CO Emission Around VY CMa and Betelgeuse
- 2009
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Ingår i: The Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-3881 .- 0004-6256. ; 137:3, s. 3558-3573
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present high-resolution 4.6 mu m CO spectra of the circumstellar environments of two red supergiants (RSGs) that are potential supernova (SN) progenitors: Betelgeuse and VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa). Around Betelgeuse, (CO)-C-12 emission within +/-3 '' (+/-12 km s(-1)) follows a mildly clumpy but otherwise spherical shell, smaller than its similar to 55 '' shell in KI lambda 7699. In stark contrast, 4.6 mu m CO emission around VY CMa is coincident with bright KI in its clumpy asymmetric reflection nebula, within +/-5 '' (+/-40 km s(-1)) of the star. Our CO data reveal redshifted features not seen in KI spectra of VY CMa, indicating a more isotropic distribution of gas punctuated by randomly distributed asymmetric clumps. The relative CO and KI distribution in Betelgeuse arises from ionization effects within a steady wind, whereas in VY CMa, KI is emitted from skins of CO cloudlets resulting from episodic mass ejections 500-1000 yr ago. In both cases, CO and KI trace potential pre-SN circumstellar matter: we conclude that an extreme RSG like VY CMa might produce a Type IIn event like SN 1988Z if it were to explode in its current state, but Betelgeuse will not. VY CMa demonstrates that luminous blue variables are not necessarily the only progenitors of SNe IIn, but it underscores the requirement that SNe IIn suffer enhanced episodic mass loss shortly before exploding.
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| 2. |
- Dawson, K. S., et al.
(författare)
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An Intensive Hubble Space Telescope Survey for z>1 Type Ia Supernovae by Targeting Galaxy Clusters
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 138, s. 1271-1283
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a new survey strategy to discover and study high-redshift Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). By targeting massive galaxy clusters at 0.9 < z < 1.5, we obtain a twofold improvement in the efficiency of finding SNe compared to an HST field survey and a factor of 3 improvement in the total yield of SN detections in relatively dust-free red-sequence galaxies. In total, sixteen SNe were discovered at z>0.95, nine of which were in galaxy clusters. This strategy provides an SN sample that can be used to decouple the effects of host-galaxy extinction and intrinsic color in high-redshift SNe, thereby reducing one of the largest systematic uncertainties in SN cosmology. Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and obtained from the data archive at the Space Telescope Institute. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under the NASA contract NAS 5-26555. The observations are associated with program 10496.
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| 3. |
- Edvardsson, Sverker, et al.
(författare)
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Spin axis variations of Mars: numerical limitations and model dependences
- 2008
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Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 135:4, s. 1151-1160
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Celestial mechanical integrations for the whole solar system are carried out over four billion years before and after the present. The orbital solution of the solar system is stable during this whole time period. An instantaneous spin axis model including triaxiality is developed. In particular, spin axis precession, the Martian obliquity, solar torques, and the orbital eccentricity/inclination of Mars are studied. Model dependences from general relativity, solar oblateness, the Martian moons, solar mass loss, etc. are tested. Although the obliquity of Mars sometimes shows dramatic variations, some structures are robust and seem insensitive to the initial spin precession rate. A full integration is carried out during a total of 8000 Myr resulting in a Martian obliquity that is restricted between 10 and 60 degrees. The problems with numerical noise due to limited machine precision, integration step sizes, and the chaotic sensitivity of the solutions are studied and discussed. The limited machine precision (15-16 figures) alone is found to limit the duration of exact obliquity solutions to about 80 Myr.
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| 4. |
- Frieman, Josh, et al.
(författare)
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The Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II Supernova Survey : Technical Summary
- 2008
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Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 135:1, s. 338-347
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II (SDSS-II) has embarked on a multi-year project to identify and measure light curves for intermediate-redshift (0.05 < z < 0.35) Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) using repeated five-band (ugriz) imaging over an area of 300 sq. deg. The survey region is a stripe 2.5° wide centered on the celestial equator in the Southern Galactic Cap that has been imaged numerous times in earlier years, enabling construction of a deep reference image for the discovery of new objects. Supernova imaging observations are being acquired between September 1 and November 30 of 2005-7. During the first two seasons, each region was imaged on average every five nights. Spectroscopic follow-up observations to determine supernova type and redshift are carried out on a large number of telescopes. In its first two three-month seasons, the survey has discovered and measured light curves for 327 spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia, 30 probable SNe Ia, 14 confirmed SNe Ib/c, 32 confirmed SNe II, plus a large number of photometrically identified SNe Ia, 94 of which have host-galaxy spectra taken so far. This paper provides an overview of the project and briefly describes the observations completed during the first two seasons of operation.
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| 5. |
- Hayes, Matthew, et al.
(författare)
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Continuum subtracting Lyman-alpha images : Low redshift studies using the Solar Blind Channel of HST/ACS
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 138:3, s. 911-922
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We are undertaking an imaging study of local star-forming galaxies in the Lyman-alpha (Lyα) emission line using the Solar Blind Channel (SBC) of the Advanced Camera for Surveys onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. Observations have been obtained in Lyα and H-alpha (Hα) and six line-free continuum filters between ~1500 Å and the I band. In a previous article, we demonstrated that the production of Lyα line-only images (i.e., continuum subtraction) in the SBC-only data set is nontrivial and that supporting data is a requirement. We here develop various methods of continuum subtraction and assess their relative performance using a variety of spectral energy distributions (SEDs) as input. We conclude that simple assumptions about the behavior of the ultraviolet continuum consistently lead to results that are wildly erroneous, and determine that a spectral fitting approach is essential. Moreover, fitting of a single component stellar or stellar+nebular spectrum is not always sufficient for realistic template SEDs and, in order to successfully recover the input observables, care must be taken to control the contribution of nebular gas and any underlying stellar population. Independent measurements of the metallicity must first be obtained, while details of the initial mass function play only a small role. We identify the need to bin together pixels in our data to obtain signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns) of around 10 in each band before processing. At S/N = 10, we are able to recover Lyα fluxes accurate to within around 30% for Lyα lines with intrinsic equivalent width (W Lyα) of 10 Å. This accuracy improves to 10% for W Lyα = 100 Å. We describe the method of image processing applied to the observations presented in Östlin et al. and the associated data release. We also present simulations for an observing strategy for an alternative low-redshift Lyα imaging campaign using ACS/SBC using adjacent combinations of long-pass filters to target slightly higher redshift.
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| 6. |
- Zheng, Chen, et al.
(författare)
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First-Year Spectroscopy for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II Supernova Survey
- 2008
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Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 135:5, s. 1766-1784
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents spectroscopy of supernovae (SNe) discovered in the first season of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II SN Survey. This program searches for and measures multi-band light curves of SNe in the redshift range z = 0.05-0.4, complementing existing surveys at lower and higher redshifts. Our goal is to better characterize the SN population, with a particular focus on SNe Ia, improving their utility as cosmological distance indicators and as probes of dark energy. Our SN spectroscopy program features rapid-response observations using telescopes of a range of apertures, and provides confirmation of the SN and host-galaxy types as well as precise redshifts. We describe here the target identification and prioritization, data reduction, redshift measurement, and classification of 129 SNe Ia, 16 spectroscopically probable SNe Ia, 7 SNe Ib/c, and 11 SNe II from the first season. We also describe our efforts to measure and remove the substantial host-galaxy contamination existing in the majority of our SN spectra.
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| 7. |
- Östlin, Göran, et al.
(författare)
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The Lyman alpha morphology of local starburst galaxies : release of calibrated images
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 138, s. 923-940
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present reduced and calibrated high resolution Lyman-alpha (Lyα) images for a sample of six local star-forming galaxies. Targets were selected to represent a range in luminosity and metallicity and to include both known Lyα emitters and nonemitters. Far ultraviolet imaging was carried out with the Solar Blind Channel of the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in the F122M (Lyα online) and F140LP (continuum) filters. The resulting Lyα images are the product of careful modeling of both the stellar and nebular continua, facilitated by supporting HST imaging at λ 2200, 3300, 4400, 5500, Hα, and 8000 Å, combined with Starburst 99 evolutionary synthesis models, and prescriptions for dust extinction on the continuum. In all, the resulting morphologies in Lyα, Hα, and UV continuum are qualitatively very different and we show that the bulk of Lyα emerges in a diffuse component resulting from resonant scattering events. Lyα escape fractions, computed from integrated Hα luminosities and recombination theory, are found never to exceed 14%. Internal dust extinction is estimated in each pixel and used to correct Lyα fluxes. However, the extinction corrections are far too small (by factors from 2.6 to infinity) to reconcile the emerging global Lyα luminosities with standard recombination predictions. Surprisingly, when comparing the global equivalent widths of Lyα and Hα, the two quantities appear to be anticorrelated, which may be due to the evolution of mechanical feedback from the starburst. This calls for caution in the interpretation of Lyα observations in terms of star formation rates. The images presented have a physical resolution 3 orders of magnitude better than attainable at high redshifts from the ground with current instrumentation and our images may therefore serve as useful templates for comparing with observations and modeling of primeval galaxy formation. We therefore provide the reduced Lyα, Hα, and continuum images to the community.
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| 8. |
- De Silva, G. M., et al.
(författare)
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Chemical homogeneity in collinder 261 and implications for chemical tagging
- 2007
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Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 133:3, s. 1161-1175
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents abundances for 12 red giants of the old open cluster Collinder 261 based on spectra from the Very Large Telescope UVES. Abundances were derived for Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zr, and Ba. We find that the cluster has a solar-level metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.03 dex. However, most alpha- and s-process elements were found to be enhanced. The star-to-star scatter was consistent with the expected measurement uncertainty for all elements. The observed rms scatter is as follows: Na = 0.07, Mg = 0.05, Si = 0.06, Ca = 0.05, Mn = 0.03, Fe = 0.02, Ni = 0.04, Zr = 0.12, and Ba = 0.03 dex. The intrinsic scatter was estimated to be less than 0.05 dex. Such high levels of homogeneity indicate that chemical information remains preserved in this old open cluster. We use the chemical homogeneity we have now established in Cr 261, the Hyades, and the HR 1614 moving group to examine the uniqueness of the individual cluster abundance patterns, i.e., chemical signatures. We demonstrate that the three studied clusters have unique chemical signatures and discuss how other such signatures may be searched for in the future. Our findings support the prospect of chemically tagging disk stars to common formation sites in order to unravel the dissipative history of the Galactic disk.
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| 9. |
- Faria, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
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Probing the nature of the G1 clump stellar overdensity in the outskirts of M31
- 2007
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Ingår i: The Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-3881 .- 0004-6256. ; 133:4, s. 1275-1286
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present deep Hubble Space Telescope ACS observations of the G1 clump, a distinct stellar overdensity lying at similar to 30 kpc along the southwestern major axis of M31, close to the G1 globular cluster ( from the work of Ferguson and coworkers). Our well-populated color-magnitude diagram reaches similar to 7 mag below the red giant branch tip with 90% completeness, and allows the detection of various morphological features that can be used to derive detailed constraints on the age and metallicity of the constituent stellar population. We find that the color-magnitude diagram is best described spread in metallicity is constrained to be P = 0.5 dex. The star formation rate in this region has declined over time, with the bulk of the stellar mass having formed > 6 Gyr ago. Nonetheless, a nonnegligible mass fraction (approximate to 10%) of the population has formed in the last 2 Gyr. We discuss the nature of the G1 clump in light of these new stellar population constraints and argue that the combination of stellar content and physical size make it unlikely that the structure is the remnant of an accreted dwarf galaxy. Instead, the strong similarity between the stellar content of the G1 clump and that of the M31 outer disk suggests that the substructure is a fragment of the outer disk, perhaps torn off from the main body during a past accretion/merger event; this interpretation is consistent with extant kinematical data. If this interpretation is correct, our analysis of the stellar content provides further evidence that the outskirts of large disk galaxies have been in place for a significant time.
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| 10. |
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