| 1. |
- Bianco, Federica B., et al.
(författare)
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Optimization of the Observing Cadence for the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time : A Pioneering Process of Community-focused Experimental Design
- 2022
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0067-0049 .- 1538-4365. ; 258:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vera C. Rubin Observatory is a ground-based astronomical facility under construction, a joint project of the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, designed to conduct a multipurpose 10 yr optical survey of the Southern Hemisphere sky: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Significant flexibility in survey strategy remains within the constraints imposed by the core science goals of probing dark energy and dark matter, cataloging the solar system, exploring the transient optical sky, and mapping the Milky Way. The survey's massive data throughput will be transformational for many other astrophysics domains and Rubin's data access policy sets the stage for a huge community of potential users. To ensure that the survey science potential is maximized while serving as broad a community as possible, Rubin Observatory has involved the scientific community at large in the process of setting and refining the details of the observing strategy. The motivation, history, and decision-making process of this strategy optimization are detailed in this paper, giving context to the science-driven proposals and recommendations for the survey strategy included in this Focus Issue.
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| 2. |
- Aamer, Aysha, et al.
(författare)
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A precursor plateau and pre-maximum [O ii] emission in the superluminous SN2019szu : a pulsational pair-instability candidate
- 2023
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 527:4, s. 11970-11995
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a detailed study on SN2019szu, a Type I superluminous supernova at z = 0.213 that displayed unique photometric and spectroscopic properties. Pan-STARRS and ZTF forced photometry show a pre-explosion plateau lasting ∼40 d. Unlike other SLSNe that show decreasing photospheric temperatures with time, the optical colours show an apparent temperature increase from ∼15 000 to ∼20 000 K over the first 70 d, likely caused by an additional pseudo-continuum in the spectrum. Remarkably, the spectrum displays a forbidden emission line (likely attributed to λλ7320,7330) visible 16 d before maximum light, inconsistent with an apparently compact photosphere. This identification is further strengthened by the appearances of [O III] λλ4959, 5007, and [O III] λ4363 seen in the spectrum. Comparing with nebular spectral models, we find that the oxygen line fluxes and ratios can be reproduced with ∼0.25 M⊙ of oxygen-rich material with a density of ∼10−15 g cm−3. The low density suggests a circumstellar origin, but the early onset of the emission lines requires that this material was ejected within the final months before the terminal explosion, consistent with the timing of the precursor plateau. Interaction with denser material closer to the explosion likely produced the pseudo-continuum bluewards of ∼5500 Å. We suggest that this event is one of the best candidates to date for a pulsational pair-instability ejection, with early pulses providing the low density material needed for the formation of the forbidden emission line, and collisions between the final shells of ejected material producing the pre-explosion plateau.
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| 3. |
- Barna, Barnabas, et al.
(författare)
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SN 2019muj-a well-observed Type Iax supernova that bridges the luminosity gap of the class
- 2021
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 501:1, s. 1078-1099
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present early-time (t < +50 d) observations of SN 2019muj (=ASASSN-19tr), one of the best-observed members of the peculiar SN Iax class. Ultraviolet and optical photometric and optical and near-infrared spectroscopic follow-up started from similar to 5 d before maximum light [t(max)(B) on 58707.8 MJD] and covers the photospheric phase. The early observations allow us to estimate the physical properties of the ejecta and characterize the possible divergence from a uniform chemical abundance structure. The estimated bolometric light-curve peaks at 1.05 x 10(42) erg s(-1) and indicates that only 0.031 M-circle dot of Ni-56 was produced, making SN 2019muj a moderate luminosity object in the Iax class with peak absolute magnitude of M-V = -16.4 mag. The estimated date of explosion is t(0) = 58698.2 MJD and implies a short rise time of t(rise) = 9.6 d in B band. We fit of the spectroscopic data by synthetic spectra, calculated via the radiative transfer code TARDIS. Adopting the partially stratified abundance template based on brighter SNe Iax provides a good match with SN 2019muj. However, without earlier spectra, the need for stratification cannot be stated in most of the elements, except carbon, which is allowed to appear in the outer layers only. SN 2019muj provides a unique opportunity to link extremely low-luminosity SNe Iax to well-studied, brighter SNe Iax.
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| 4. |
- Cikota, Aleksandar, et al.
(författare)
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Testing the magnetar scenario for superluminous supernovae with circular polarimetry
- 2018
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 479:4, s. 4984-4990
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) are at least similar to 5 times more luminous than common supernovae. Especially hydrogen-poor SLSN-I are difficult to explain with conventional powering mechanisms. One possible scenario that might explain such luminosities is that SLSNe-I are powered by an internal engine, such as a magnetar or an accreting black hole. Strong magnetic fields or collimated jets can circularly polarize light. In this work, we measured circular polarization of two SLSNe-I with the FOcal Reducer and low dispersion Spectrograph (FORS2) mounted at the ESO's Very Large Telescope. PS17bek, a fast-evolving SLSN-I, was observed around peak, while OGLE16dmu, a slowly evolving SLSN-I, was observed 100 d after maximum. Neither SLSN shows evidence of circularly polarized light; however, these non-detections do not rule out the magnetar scenario as the powering engine for SLSNe-I. We calculate the strength of the magnetic field and the expected circular polarization as a function of distance from the magnetar, which decreases very fast. Additionally, we observed no significant linear polarization for PS17bek at four epochs, suggesting that the photosphere near peak is close to spherical symmetry.
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| 5. |
- Clark, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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LSQ13ddu : a rapidly evolving stripped-envelope supernova with early circumstellar interaction signatures
- 2020
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 492:2, s. 2208-2228
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper describes the rapidly evolving and unusual supernova LSQ13ddu, discovered by the La Silla-QUEST survey. LSQ13ddu displayed a rapid rise of just 4.8 +/- 0.9 d to reach a peak brightness of -19.70 +/- 0.02 mag in the LSQgr band. Early spectra of LSQ13ddu showed the presence of weak and narrow He I features arising from interaction with circumstellar material (CSM). These interaction signatures weakened quickly, with broad features consistent with those seen in stripped-envelope SNe becoming dominant around two weeks after maximum. The narrow He I velocities are consistent with the wind velocities of luminous blue variables but its spectra lack the typically seen hydrogen features. The fast and bright early light curve is inconsistent with radioactive Ni-56 powering but can be explained through a combination of CSM interaction and an underlying Ni-56 decay component that dominates the later time behaviour of LSQ13ddu. Based on the strength of the underlying broad features, LSQ13ddu appears deficient in He compared to standard SNe Ib.
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| 6. |
- Clark, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Probing the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae using circumstellar material interaction signatures
- 2021
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 507:3, s. 4367-4388
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This work aims to study different probes of Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) progenitors that have been suggested to be linked to the presence of circumstellar material (CSM). In particular, we have investigated, for the first time, the link between narrow blueshifted Na I D absorption profiles and the presence and strength of the broad high-velocity Ca II near-infrared triplet absorption features seen in SNe la around maximum light. With the probes exploring different distances from the SN; Na I D > 10(17) cm, high-velocity Ca TT features < 10(15) cm. For this, we have used a new intermediate-resolution X-shooter spectral sample of 15 SNe Ia. We do not identify a link between these two probes, implying either that, one (or both) is not physically related to the presence of CSM or that the occurrence of CSM at the distance explored by one probe is not linked to its presence at the distance probed by the other. However, the previously identified statistical excess in the presence of blueshifted (over redshifted) Na I D absorption is confirmed in this sample at high significance and is found to be stronger in SNe Ia hosted by late-type galaxies. This excess is difficult to explain as being from an interstellar-medium origin as has been suggested by some recent modelling, as such an origin is not expected to show a bias for blueshifted absorption. However, a circumstellar origin for these features also appears unsatisfactory based on our new results, given the lack of link between the two probes of CSM investigated.
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| 7. |
- Hosseinzadeh, Griffin, et al.
(författare)
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Type Ibn Supernovae Show Photometric Homogeneity and Spectral Diversity at Maximum Light
- 2017
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 836:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Type Ibn supernovae (SNe) are a small yet intriguing class of explosions whose spectra are characterized by low-velocity helium emission lines with little to no evidence for hydrogen. The prevailing theory has been that these are the core-collapse explosions of very massive stars embedded in helium-rich circumstellar material (CSM). We report optical observations of six new SNe Ibn: PTF11rfh, PTF12ldy, iPTF14aki, iPTF15ul, SN 2015G, and iPTF15akq. This brings the sample size of such objects in the literature to 22. We also report new data, including a near-infrared spectrum, on the Type Ibn SN 2015U. In order to characterize the class as a whole, we analyze the photometric and spectroscopic properties of the full Type Ibn sample. We find that, despite the expectation that CSM interaction would generate a heterogeneous set of light curves, as seen in SNe IIn, most Type Ibn light curves are quite similar in shape, declining at rates around 0.1 mag day(-1) during the first month after maximum light, with a few significant exceptions. Early spectra of SNe Ibn come in at least two varieties, one that shows narrow P Cygni lines and another dominated by broader emission lines, both around maximum light, which may be an indication of differences in the state of the progenitor system at the time of explosion. Alternatively, the spectral diversity could arise from viewing-angle effects or merely from a lack of early spectroscopic coverage. Together, the relative light curve homogeneity and narrow spectral features suggest that the CSM consists of a spatially confined shell of helium surrounded by a less dense extended wind.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Krisciunas, Kevin, et al.
(författare)
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The Type Ia supernova 2004s, a clone of SN 2001el, and the optimal photometric bands for extinction estimation
- 2007
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Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 133:1, s. 58-72
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present optical (UBVRI) and near-IR (YJHK) photometry of the normal Type Ia supernova (SN) 2004S. We also present eight optical spectra and one near-IR spectrum of SN 2004S. The light curves and spectra are nearly identical to those of SN 2001el. This is the first time we have seen optical and IR light curves of two Type Ia SNe match so closely. Within the one parameter family of light curves for normal Type Ia SNe, that two objects should have such similar light curves implies that they had identical intrinsic colors and produced similar amounts of Ni-56. From the similarities of the light-curve shapes we obtain a set of extinctions as a function of wavelength that allows a simultaneous solution for the distance modulus difference of the two objects, the difference of the host galaxy extinctions, and RV. Since SN 2001el had roughly an order of magnitude more host galaxy extinction than SN 2004S, the value of R-V = 2.15(-0.22)(+0.24) pertains primarily to dust in the host galaxy of SN 2001el. We have also shown via Monte Carlo simulations that adding rest-frame J-band photometry to the complement of BVRI photometry of Type Ia SNe decreases the uncertainty in the distance modulus by a factor of 2.7. A combination of rest-frame optical and near-IR photometry clearly gives more accurate distances than using rest-frame optical photometry alone.
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| 11. |
- Kuncarayakti, Hanindyo, et al.
(författare)
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SN 2017dio : A Type-Ic Supernova Exploding in a Hydrogen-rich Circumstellar Medium
- 2018
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 854:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- SN 2017dio shows both spectral characteristics of a type-Ic supernova (SN) and signs of a hydrogen-rich circumstellar medium (CSM). Prominent, narrow emission lines of H and He are superposed on the continuum. Subsequent evolution revealed that the SN ejecta are interacting with the CSM. The initial SN Ic identification was confirmed by removing the CSM interaction component from the spectrum and comparing with known SNe Ic and, reversely, adding a CSM interaction component to the spectra of known SNe Ic and comparing them to SN 2017dio. Excellent agreement was obtained with both procedures, reinforcing the SN Ic classification. The light curve constrains the pre-interaction SN Ic peak absolute magnitude to be around M-g = -17.6 mag. No evidence of significant extinction is found, ruling out a brighter luminosity required by an SN Ia classification. These pieces of evidence support the view that SN 2017dio is an SN Ic, and therefore the first firm case of an SN Ic with signatures of hydrogen-rich CSM in the early spectrum. The CSM is unlikely to have been shaped by steady-state stellar winds. The mass loss of the progenitor star must have been intense, M similar to 0.02 (epsilon(H alpha)/0.01)(-1) (nu(wind)/500 km s(-1)) (nu(shock)/10,000 km s(-1))M--3(circle dot) yr(-1), peaking at a few decades before the SN. Such a high mass-loss rate might have been experienced by the progenitor through eruptions or binary stripping.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- McBrien, Owen R., et al.
(författare)
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SN2018kzr : A Rapidly Declining Transient from the Destruction of a White Dwarf
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 885:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present SN2018kzr, the fastest declining supernova-like transient, second only to the kilonova, AT2017gfo. SN2018kzr is characterized by a peak magnitude of M-r & xfffd;=& xfffd;?17.98, a peak bolometric luminosity of ?1.4 & xfffd;& x5e0;10(43) erg s(?1), and a rapid decline rate of 0.48 & xfffd;& xfffd;0.03 mag day(?1) in the r band. The bolometric luminosity evolves too quickly to be explained by pure Ni-56 heating, necessitating the inclusion of an alternative powering source. Incorporating the spin-down of a magnetized neutron star adequately describes the lightcurve and we estimate a small ejecta mass of M-ej & xfffd;=& xfffd;0.10 & xfffd;& xfffd;0.05 M. Our spectral modeling suggests the ejecta is composed of intermediate mass elements including O, Si, and Mg and trace amounts of Fe-peak elements, which disfavors a binary neutron star merger. We discuss three explosion scenarios for SN2018kzr, given the low ejecta mass, intermediate mass element composition, and high likelihood of additional powering?the core collapse of an ultra-stripped progenitor, the accretion induced collapse (AIC) of a white dwarf, and the merger of a white dwarf and neutron star. The requirement for an alternative input energy source favors either the AIC with magnetar powering or a white dwarf?neutron star merger with energy from disk wind shocks.
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| 14. |
- Müller-Bravo, Tomás E., et al.
(författare)
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The low-luminosity Type II SN2016aqf : a well-monitored spectral evolution of the Ni/Fe abundance ratio
- 2020
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 497:1, s. 361-377
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Low-luminosity Type II supernovae (LL SNe II) make up the low explosion energy end of core-collapse SNe, but their study and physical understanding remain limited. We present SN 2016aqf, an LL SN II with extensive spectral and photometric coverage. We measure a V-band peak magnitude of −14.58 mag, a plateau duration of ∼100 d, and an inferred 56Ni mass of 0.008 ± 0.002 M⊙. The peak bolometric luminosity, Lbol ≈ 1041.4 erg s−1, and its spectral evolution are typical of other SNe in the class. Using our late-time spectra, we measure the [O i] λλ6300, 6364 lines, which we compare against SN II spectral synthesis models to constrain the progenitor zero-age main-sequence mass. We find this to be 12 ± 3 M⊙. Our extensive late-time spectral coverage of the [Fe ii] λ7155 and [Ni ii] λ7378 lines permits a measurement of the Ni/Fe abundance ratio, a parameter sensitive to the inner progenitor structure and explosion mechanism dynamics. We measure a constant abundance ratio evolution of 0.081+0.009−0.010 and argue that the best epochs to measure the ratio are at ∼200–300 d after explosion. We place this measurement in the context of a large sample of SNe II and compare against various physical, light-curve, and spectral parameters, in search of trends that might allow indirect ways of constraining this ratio. We do not find correlations predicted by theoretical models; however, this may be the result of the exact choice of parameters and explosion mechanism in the models, the simplicity of them, and/or primordial contamination in the measured abundance ratio.
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| 15. |
- Setzer, Christian N., 1990-
(författare)
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Modelling and Detecting Kilonovae in the Rubin Observatory Era
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Survey astronomy is a powerful tool for discoveries in astrophysics and cosmology. In the coming years, this field will be revolutionised with the start of the ten-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), to be conducted at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This survey, with its unique capabilities in temporal sampling, single-image depth and covered sky-area, will explore a new discovery space for astrophysical transients in the Universe. The 2017 discovery of an electromagnetic and gravitational-wave transient presents a unique opportunity to influence the design of the LSST observing strategy for the detection of binary neutron star (BNS) mergers. This will be scientifically beneficial, not only for studies of the astrophysics of these sources, but also for developing new cosmological probes. Given the sensitivity of the Rubin Observatory, it is expected that this instrument will detect these binary neutron star mergers to greater distances than detectable by current and near-term gravitational wave detectors. This presents further opportunities to study the characteristics of the BNS population that will be selected into these surveys. If we understand the underlying BNS merger population and associated electromagnetic emission, it may also be possible to recover the previously undetected counterpart gravitational wave signals.In this thesis I discuss kilonovae (kNe) from BNS mergers with a focus on detection of kNe in the LSST survey. I will discuss the physics and modelling of kNe, including my work incorporating a viewing-angle dependence in the optical light curve modelling of BNS kNe. After setting the context for the Rubin Observatory and the LSST, I will describe work on optimising the observing strategy of the LSST to detect kNe from BNS mergers and the observing strategy features that impact detection. This work also indicates that a portion of the BNS mergers associated with kN detections in the LSST will be below the threshold for detection of their gravitational wave emission. Furthermore, I will discuss modelling a population of kNe from BNS mergers that is consistent with each merger’s associated gravitational-wave signal. This modelling includes a dependence of the kN on nuclear physics calibrated with detailed emulation of radiation-transport simulations. I conclude by summarising the scientific impact of this research and discussing future directions, such as: studying the BNS multi-messenger observational selection function for the LSST and concurrent gravitational wave detectors, detection of subthreshold signals, and the problem of classifying kN light curves.
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| 16. |
- Valenti, Stefano, et al.
(författare)
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A SPECTROSCOPICALLY NORMAL TYPE Ic SUPERNOVA FROM A VERY MASSIVE PROGENITOR
- 2012
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Ingår i: The Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205. ; 749:2, s. L28-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present observations of the Type Ic supernova (SN Ic) 2011bm spanning a period of about one year. The data establish that SN 2011bm is a spectroscopically normal SN Ic with moderately low ejecta velocities and with a very slow spectroscopic and photometric evolution (more than twice as slow as SN 1998bw). The Pan-STARRS1 retrospective detection shows that the rise time from explosion to peak was similar to 40 days in the R band. Through an analysis of the light curve and the spectral sequence, we estimate a kinetic energy of similar to 7-17 foe and a total ejected mass of similar to 7-17 M-circle dot, 5-10 M-circle dot of which is oxygen and 0.6-0.7 M-circle dot is Ni-56. The physical parameters obtained for SN 2011bm suggest that its progenitor was a massive star of initial mass 30-50 M-circle dot. The profile of the forbidden oxygen lines in the nebular spectra shows no evidence of a bi-polar geometry in the ejected material.
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| 17. |
- Wang, Qinan, et al.
(författare)
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Revealing the Progenitor of SN 2021zby through Analysis of the TESS Shock-cooling Light Curve
- 2023
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 943:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present early observations and analysis of the double-peaked Type IIb supernova (SN IIb) SN 2021zby. TESS captured the prominent early shock-cooling peak of SN 2021zby within the first ∼10 days after explosion with a 30 minute cadence. We present optical and near-infrared spectral series of SN 2021zby, including three spectra during the shock-cooling phase. Using a multiband model fit, we find that the inferred properties of its progenitor are consistent with a red supergiant or yellow supergiant, with an envelope mass of ∼0.30–0.65 M⊙ and an envelope radius of ∼120–300 R⊙. These inferred progenitor properties are similar to those of other SNe IIb with a double-peaked feature, such as SNe 1993J, 2011dh, 2016gkg, and 2017jgh. This study further validates the importance of the high cadence and early coverage in resolving the shape of the shock-cooling light curve, while the multiband observations, particularly UV, are also necessary to fully constrain the progenitor properties.
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