| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Amanullah, Rahman, 1977-
(författare)
-
Observations of distant supernovae and cosmological implications
- 2006
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Type Ia supernovae can be used as distance indicators for probing the expansion history of the Universe. The method has proved to be an efficient tool in cosmology and played a decisive role in the discovery of a yet unknown energy form, dark energy, that drives the accelerated expansion of the Universe. The work in this thesis addresses the nature of dark energy, both by presenting existing data, and by predicting opportunities and difficulties related to possible future data.Optical and infrared measurements of type Ia supernovae for different epochs in the cosmic expansion history are presented along with a discussion of the systematic errors. The data have been obtained with several instruments, and an optimal method for measuring the lightcurve of a background contaminated source has been used. The procedure was also tested by applying it on simulated images.The future of supernova cosmology, and the target precision of cosmological parameters for the proposed SNAP satellite are discussed. In particular, the limits that can be set on various dark energy scenarios are investigated. The possibility of distinguishing between different inverse power-law quintessence models is also studied. The predictions are based on calculations made with the Supernova Observation Calculator, a software package, introduced in the thesis, for simulating the light propagation from distant objects. This tool has also been used for investigating how SNAP observations could be biased by gravitational lensing, and to what extent this would affect cosmology fitting. An alternative approach for estimating cosmological parameters, where lensing effects are taken into account, is also suggested. Finally, it is investigated to what extent strongly lensed core-collapse supernovae could be used as an alternative approach for determining cosmological parameters.
|
|
| 3. |
- Barbary, K., et al.
(författare)
-
Discovery of an Unusual Optical Transient with the Hubble Space Telescope
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 690, s. 1358-1362
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present observations of SCP 06F6, an unusual optical transient discovered during the Hubble Space Telescope Cluster Supernova Survey. The transient brightened over a period of ~100 days, reached a peak magnitude of ~ 21.0 in both i 775 and z 850, and then declined over a similar timescale. There is no host galaxy or progenitor star detected at the location of the transient to a 3σ upper limit of i 775 >= 26.4 and z 850 >= 26.1, giving a corresponding lower limit on the flux increase of a factor of ~ 120. Multiple spectra show five broad absorption bands between 4100 Å and 6500 Å, and a mostly featureless continuum longward of 6500 Å. The shape of the light curve is inconsistent with microlensing. The transient's spectrum, in addition to being inconsistent with all known supernova types, does not match any spectrum in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey database. We suggest that the transient may be one of a new class. Based in part on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained from the data archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under the NASA contract NAS 5-26555. The observations are associated with program GO-10496. Based in part on observations obtained at the European Southern Observatory under ESO program 077.A-0110. Based in part on observations collected at Subaru Telescope, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Some of the data presented herein were obtained at the W.M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and NASA.
|
|
| 4. |
- Goobar, Ariel, et al.
(författare)
-
Near-IR search for lensed supernovae behind galaxy clusters. II. First detection and future prospects
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 507:1, s. 71-83
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: Powerful gravitational telescopes in the form of massive galaxy clusters can be used to enhance the light collecting power over a limited field of view by about an order of magnitude in flux. This effect is exploited here to increase the depth of a survey for lensed supernovae at near-IR wavelengths. Methods: We present a pilot supernova search programme conducted with the ISAAC camera at VLT. Lensed galaxies behind the massive clusters A1689, A1835, and AC114 were observed for a total of 20 h divided into 2, 3, and 4 epochs respectively, separated by approximately one month to a limiting magnitude J ≲ 24 (Vega). Image subtractions including another 20 h worth of archival ISAAC/VLT data were used to search for transients with lightcurve properties consistent with redshifted supernovae, both in the new and reference data. Results: The feasibility of finding lensed supernovae in our survey was investigated using synthetic lightcurves of supernovae and several models of the volumetric type Ia and core-collapse supernova rates as a function of redshift. We also estimate the number of supernova discoveries expected from the inferred star-formation rate in the observed galaxies. The methods consistently predict a Poisson mean value for the expected number of supernovae in the survey of between N_SN = 0.8 and 1.6 for all supernova types, evenly distributed between core collapse and type Ia supernovae. One transient object was found behind A1689, 0.5 arcsec from a galaxy with photometric redshift z_gal = 0.6 ± 0.15. The lightcurve and colors of the transient are consistent with being a reddened type IIP supernova at z_SN = 0.59. The lensing model predicts 1.4 mag of magnification at the location of the transient, without which this object would not have been detected in the near-IR ground-based search described in this paper (unlensed magnitude J ~ 25). We perform a feasibility study of the potential for lensed supernovae discoveries with larger and deeper surveys and conclude that the use of gravitational telescopes is a very exciting path for new discoveries. For example, a monthly rolling supernova search of a single very massive cluster with the HAWK-I camera at VLT would yield ≳ 10 lensed supernova lightcurves per year, where type Ia supernovae would constitute about half of the expected sample. Based on observations made with ESO telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under programme ID 079.A-0192 and ID 081.A-0734.
|
|
| 5. |
- Huang, X., et al.
(författare)
-
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE DISCOVERY OF A z=3.9 MULTIPLY IMAGED GALAXY BEHIND THE COMPLEX CLUSTER LENS WARPS J1415.1+36 AT z=1.026
- 2009
-
Ingår i: ASTROPHYS J LETT. ; 707:1, s. l12-L16
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the discovery of a multiply lensed Ly alpha emitter at z = 3.90 behind the massive cluster WARPS J1415.1+3612 at z = 1.026. Images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope using the Advanced Camera for Surveys reveal a complex lensing system that produces a prominent, highly magnified arc and a triplet of smaller arcs grouped tightly around a spectroscopically confirmed cluster member. Spectroscopic observations using the Faint Object Camera and Spectrograph on Subaru confirm strong Lya emission in the source galaxy and provide the redshifts for more than 21 cluster members with a velocity dispersion of 807 +/- 185 km s(-1). Assuming a singular isothermal sphere profile, the mass within the Einstein ring (7.13 +/- 0.'' 38) corresponds to a central velocity dispersion of 686(-19)(+15) km s(-1) for the cluster, consistent with the value estimated from cluster member redshifts. Our mass profile estimate from combining strong lensing and dynamical analyses is in good agreement with both X-ray and weak lensing results.
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Nobili, Serena, et al.
(författare)
-
Constraining Dust and Color Variations of High-z SNe Using NICMOS on the Hubble Space Telescope
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 700, s. 1415-1427
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present data from the Supernova Cosmology Project for five high redshift Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) that were obtained using the NICMOS infrared camera on the Hubble Space Telescope. We add two SNe from this sample to a rest-frame I-band Hubble diagram, doubling the number of high redshift supernovae on this diagram. This I-band Hubble diagram is consistent with a flat universe (ΩM, ΩΛ) = (0.29, 0.71). A homogeneous distribution of large grain dust in the intergalactic medium (replenishing dust) is incompatible with the data and is excluded at the 5σ confidence level, if the SN host galaxy reddening is corrected assuming RV = 1.75. We use both optical and infrared observations to compare photometric properties of distant SNe Ia with those of nearby objects. We find generally good agreement with the expected color evolution for all SNe except the highest redshift SN in our sample (SN 1997ek at z = 0.863) which shows a peculiar color behavior. We also present spectra obtained from ground-based telescopes for type identification and determination of redshift. Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained from the data archive at the Space Telescope Science 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 GO-07850.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Stanishev, Vallery, et al.
(författare)
-
Near-IR search for lensed supernovae behind galaxy clusters. I. Observations and transient detection efficiency
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 507:1, s. 61-69
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: Massive galaxy clusters at intermediate redshift can magnify the flux of distant background sources by several magnitudes. Aims: We exploit this effect to search for lensed distant supernovae that may otherwise be too faint to be detected. Methods: A supernova search was conducted at near infrared wavelengths using the ISAAC instrument at the VLT. The massive galaxy clusters Abell 1689, Abell 1835, and AC114 were observed for a total of 20 h to search for supernovae in gravitationally magnified background galaxies. The observations were split into individual epochs of 2 h of exposure time, separated by approximately one month. Image-subtraction techniques were used to search for transient objects with light curve properties consistent with supernovae, both in our new and archival ISAAC/VLT data. The limiting magnitude of the individual epochs was estimated by adding artificial stars to the subtracted images. Most of the epochs reach 90% detection efficiency at SZ(J) ≃ 23.8-24.0 mag (Vega). Results: Two transient objects, both in archival images of Abell 1689 and AC114, were detected. The transient in AC114 coincides - within the position uncertainty - with an X-ray source and is likely to be a variable AGN at the cluster redshift. The transient in Abell 1689 was found at SZ = 23.24 mag, ~0.5´´away from a galaxy with photometric redshift z_gal = 0.6 ± 0.15. The light curves and the colors of the transient are consistent with a reddened type IIP supernova at redshift z = 0.59 ± 0.05. The lensing model of Abell 1689 predicts ~1.4 mag of magnification at the position of the transient, making it the most magnified supernova ever found and only the second supernova found behind a galaxy cluster. Conclusions: Our pilot survey has demonstrated the feasibility to find distant gravitationally magnified supernovae behind massive galaxy clusters. One likely supernova was found behind Abell 1689, in accordance with the expectations for this survey, as shown in an accompanying analysis paper. Based on observations made with ESO telescopes at the Paranal Observatory under program IDs 079.A-0192 and 081.A-0734.
|
|
