| 1. |
- Soderberg, A. M., et al.
(author)
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PANCHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS OF SN 2011dh POINT TO A COMPACT PROGENITOR STAR
- 2012
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 752:2, s. 78-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the discovery and detailed monitoring of X-ray emission associated with the Type IIb SN 2011dh using data from the Swift and Chandra satellites, placing it among the best-studied X-ray supernovae (SNe) to date. We further present millimeter and radio data obtained with the Submillimeter Array, the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy, and the Expanded Very Large Array during the first three weeks after explosion. Combining these observations with early optical photometry, we show that the panchromatic data set is well described by non-thermal synchrotron emission (radio/mm) with inverse Compton scattering (X-ray) of a thermal population of optical photons. In this scenario, the shock partition fractions deviate from equipartition by a factor, (epsilon(e)/epsilon(B)) similar to 30. We derive the properties of the shock wave and the circumstellar environment and find a time-averaged shock velocity of (v) over bar approximate to 0.1c and a progenitor mass-loss rate of (M) over dot approximate to 6x10(-5) M-circle dot yr(-1) (for an assumed wind velocity, v(w) = 1000 km s(-1)). We show that these properties are consistent with the sub-class of Type IIb SNe characterized by compact progenitors (Type cIIb) and dissimilar from those with extended progenitors (Type eIIb). Furthermore, we consider the early optical emission in the context of a cooling envelope model to estimate a progenitor radius of R-* approximate to 10(11) cm, in line with the expectations for a Type cIIb SN. Together, these diagnostics are difficult to reconcile with the extended radius of the putative yellow supergiant progenitor star identified in archival Hubble Space Telescope observations, unless the stellar density profile is unusual. Finally, we searched for the high-energy shock breakout pulse using X-ray and gamma-ray observations obtained during the purported explosion date range. Based on the compact radius of the progenitor, we estimate that the shock breakout pulse was detectable with current instruments but likely missed due to their limited temporal/spatial coverage. Future all-sky missions will regularly detect shock breakout emission from compact SN progenitors enabling prompt follow-up observations with sensitive multi-wavelength facilities.
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| 2. |
- Levesque, E. M., et al.
(author)
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THE HIGH-METALLICITY EXPLOSION ENVIRONMENT OF THE RELATIVISTIC SUPERNOVA 2009bb
- 2010
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In: The Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205. ; 709:1, s. l26-L31
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We investigate the environment of the nearby (d approximate to 40 Mpc) broad-lined Type Ic supernova (SN) 2009bb. This event was observed to produce a relativistic outflow likely powered by a central accreting compact object. While such a phenomenon was previously observed only in long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs), no LGRB was detected in association with SN 2009bb. Using an optical spectrum of the SN 2009bb explosion site, we determine a variety of interstellar medium properties for the host environment, including metallicity, young stellar population age, and star formation rate. We compare the SN explosion site properties to observations of LGRB and broad-lined SN Ic host environments on optical emission line ratio diagnostic diagrams. Based on these analyses, we find that the SN 2009bb explosion site has a metallicity between 1.7 Z(circle dot) and 3.5 Z(circle dot), in agreement with other broad-lined SN Ic host environments and at odds with the low-redshift LGRB host environments and recently proposed maximum metallicity limits for relativistic explosions. We consider the implications of these findings and the impact that SN 2009bb's unusual explosive properties and environment have on our understanding of the key physical ingredient that enables some SNe to produce a relativistic outflow.
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| 3. |
- Soderberg, A. M., et al.
(author)
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A relativistic type Ibc supernova without a detected gamma-ray burst
- 2010
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 463:7280, s. 513-515
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) mark(1) the explosive death of some massive stars and are a rare sub-class of type Ibc supernovae. They are distinguished by the production of an energetic and collimated relativistic outflow powered(2) by a central engine (an accreting black hole or neutron star). Observationally, this outflow is manifested(3) in the pulse of gamma-rays and a long-lived radio afterglow. Until now, central-engine driven supernovae have been discovered exclusively through their gamma-ray emission, yet it is expected(4) that a larger population goes undetected because of limited satellite sensitivity or beaming of the collimated emission away from our line of sight. In this framework, the recovery of undetected GRBs may be possible through radio searches(5,6) for type Ibc supernovae with relativistic outflows. Here we report the discovery of luminous radio emission from the seemingly ordinary type Ibc SN 2009bb, which requires a substantial relativistic outflow powered by a central engine. A comparison with our radio survey of type Ibc supernovae reveals that the fraction harbouring central engines is low, about one per cent, measured independently from, but consistent with, the inferred(7) rate of nearby GRBs. Independently, a second mildly relativistic supernova has been reported(8).
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| 4. |
- Soderberg, A. M., et al.
(author)
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Discovery of a Relativistic Supernova Without a Gamma-ray Trigger
- 2009
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Other publication (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Type Ibc supernovae (SNe Ibc) mark the gravitational collapse of some massive stars (M > 20 Msun) propelling several solar masses of material to typical velocities of ~10,000 km/s. The closely-related but exceedingly rare class of long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) produce, in addition, a relativistic outflow powered by a central engine (accreting black hole or neutron star) and have been found exclusively through their gamma-ray signal. Here we report the discovery of luminous radio emission from the seemingly ordinary Type Ibc SN 2009bb which outshines that of all other SNe Ibc observed on a comparable timescale. These observations require a substantial mildly-relativistic outflow and indicate that the explosion was powered by a central engine, thus representing the first such event discovered without the aid of a gamma-ray trigger. A comparison with our extensive radio survey of SNe Ibc reveals that the fraction of such events is low (roughly 1 percent), measured independently from, and yet consistent with, the inferred rate of nearby GRBs. This discovery marks the observational realization that long-wavelength surveys will soon rival gamma-ray satellites in pinpointing nearby engine-driven explosions.
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| 5. |
- Chakraborti, Sayan, et al.
(author)
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A MISSING-LINK IN THE SUPERNOVA-GRB CONNECTION : THE CASE OF SN 2012ap
- 2015
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 805:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are characterized by ultra-relativistic outflows, while supernovae are generally characterized by non-relativistic ejecta. GRB afterglows decelerate rapidly, usually within days, because their low-mass ejecta rapidly sweep up a comparatively larger mass of circumstellar material. However, supernovae with heavy ejecta can be in nearly free expansion for centuries. Supernovae were thought to have non-relativistic outflows except for a few relativistic ones accompanied by GRBs. This clear division was blurred by SN 2009bb, the first supernova with a relativistic outflow without an observed GRB. However, the ejecta from SN 2009bb was baryon loaded and in nearly free expansion for a year, unlike GRBs. We report the first supernova discovered without a GRB but with rapidly decelerating mildly relativistic ejecta, SN 2012ap. We discovered a bright and rapidly evolving radio counterpart driven by the circumstellar interaction of the relativistic ejecta. However, we did not find any coincident GRB with an isotropic fluence of more than one-sixth of the fluence from GRB 980425. This shows for the first time that central engines in SNe Ic, even without an observed GRB, can produce both relativistic and rapidly decelerating outflows like GRBs.
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| 6. |
- Coppejans, D. L., et al.
(author)
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A Mildly Relativistic Outflow from the Energetic, Fast-rising Blue Optical Transient CSS161010 in a Dwarf Galaxy
- 2020
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 895:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present X-ray and radio observations of the Fast Blue Optical Transient CRTS-CSS161010 J045834-081803 (CSS161010 hereafter) at t = 69-531 days. CSS161010 shows luminous X-ray (L-x similar to 5 x 10(39) erg s(-1)) and radio (L-nu similar to 10(29) erg s(-1) Hz(-1)) emission. The radio emission peaked at similar to 100 days post-transient explosion and rapidly decayed. We interpret these observations in the context of synchrotron emission from an expanding blast wave. CSS161010 launched a mildly relativistic outflow with velocity Gamma beta c >= 0.55c at similar to 100 days. This is faster than the non-relativistic AT 2018cow (Gamma beta c similar to 0.1c) and closer to ZTF18abvkwla (Gamma beta c >= 0.3c at 63 days). The inferred initial kinetic energy of CSS161010 (E-k greater than or similar to 10(51) erg) is comparable to that of long gamma-ray bursts, but the ejecta mass that is coupled to the mildly relativistic outflow is significantly larger (similar to 0.01-.1 M-circle dot). This is consistent with the lack of observed gamma-rays. The luminous X-rays were produced by a different emission component to the synchrotron radio emission. CSS161010 is located at similar to 150 Mpc in a dwarf galaxy with stellar mass M-* similar to 10(7) M-circle dot and specific star formation rate sSFR similar to 0.3 Gyr(-1). This mass is among the lowest inferred for host galaxies of explosive transients from massive stars. Our observations of CSS161010 are consistent with an engine-driven aspherical explosion from a rare evolutionary path of a H-rich stellar progenitor, but we cannot rule out a stellar tidal disruption event on a centrally located intermediate-mass black hole. Regardless of the physical mechanism, CSS161010 establishes the existence of a new class of rare (rate < 0.4% of the local core-collapse supernova rate) H-rich transients that can launch mildly relativistic outflows.
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| 7. |
- Krauss, M. I., et al.
(author)
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EXPANDED VERY LARGE ARRAY OBSERVATIONS OF THE RADIO EVOLUTION OF SN 2011dh
- 2012
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In: ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS. - 2041-8205. ; 750:2, s. L40-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report on Expanded Very Large Array observations of the Type IIb supernova 2011dh, performed over the first 100 days of its evolution and spanning 1-40 GHz in frequency. The radio emission is well described by the self-similar propagation of a spherical shockwave, generated as the supernova ejecta interact with the local circumstellar environment. Modeling this emission with a standard synchrotron self-absorption (SSA) model gives an average expansion velocity of v approximate to 0.1c, supporting the classification of the progenitor as a compact star (R-star approximate to 10(11) cm). We find that the circumstellar density is consistent with a rho proportional to r(-2) profile. We determine that the progenitor shed mass at a constant rate of approximate to 3 x 10(-5) M-circle dot yr(-1), assuming a wind velocity of 1000 km s(-1) (values appropriate for a Wolf-Rayet star), or approximate to 7 x 10(-7) M-circle dot yr(-1) assuming 20 km s(-1) (appropriate for a yellow supergiant [YSG] star). Both values of the mass-loss rate assume a converted fraction of kinetic to magnetic energy density of epsilon(B) = 0.1. Although optical imaging shows the presence of a YSG, the rapid optical evolution and fast expansion argue that the progenitor is a more compact star-perhaps a companion to the YSG. Furthermore, the excellent agreement of the radio properties of SN 2011dh with the SSA model implies that any YSG companion is likely in a wide, non-interacting orbit.
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| 8. |
- Litvinov, Dmitry, et al.
(author)
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Probing the gravitational redshift with an Earth-orbiting satellite
- 2018
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In: Physics Letters, Section A: General, Atomic and Solid State Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0375-9601. ; 382:33, s. 2192-2198
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present an approach to testing the gravitational redshift effect using the RadioAstron satellite. The experiment is based on a modification of the Gravity Probe A scheme of nonrelativistic Doppler compensation and benefits from the highly eccentric orbit and ultra-stable atomic hydrogen maser frequency standard of the RadioAstron satellite. Using the presented techniques we expect to reach an accuracy of the gravitational redshift test of order 10−5, a magnitude better than that of Gravity Probe A. Data processing is ongoing, our preliminary results agree with the validity of the Einstein Equivalence Principle.
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| 9. |
- Margutti, Raffaella, et al.
(author)
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Luminous Radio Emission from the Superluminous Supernova 2017ens at 3.3 yr after Explosion
- 2023
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 954:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the results from a multiyear radio campaign of the superluminous supernova (SLSN) SN 2017ens, which yielded the earliest radio detection of an SLSN to date at the age of ∼3.3 yr after explosion. SN 2017ens was not detected at radio frequencies in the first ∼300 days but reached Lν ≈ 1028 erg s−1 cm−2 Hz−1 at ν ∼ 6 GHz, ∼1250 days post explosion. Interpreting the radio observations in the context of synchrotron radiation from the supernova shock interaction with the circumstellar medium (CSM), we infer an effective mass-loss rate Ṁ ≈ 10−4 M☉ yr−1 at r ∼ 1017 cm from the explosion's site, for a wind speed of vw = 50–60 km s−1 as measured from optical spectra. These findings are consistent with the spectroscopic metamorphosis of SN 2017ens from hydrogen poor to hydrogen rich ∼190 days after explosion reported by Chen et al. SN 2017ens is thus an addition to the sample of hydrogen-poor massive progenitors that explode shortly after having lost their hydrogen envelope. The inferred circumstellar densities, implying a CSM mass up to ∼0.5 M☉, and low velocity of the ejection suggest that binary interactions (in the form of common-envelope evolution and subsequent envelope ejection) play a role in shaping the evolution of the stellar progenitors of SLSNe in the ≲500 yr preceding core collapse.
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| 10. |
- Litvinov, D. A., et al.
(author)
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RadioAstron gravitational redshift experiment: Status update
- 2018
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In: 14th Marcel Grossman Meeting On Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Astrophysics and Relativistic Field Theories, Proceedings. - : WORLD SCIENTIFIC. - 9789813226593 ; , s. 3569-3575
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A test of a cornerstone of general relativity, the gravitational redshift effect, is currently being conducted with the RadioAstron spacecraft, which is on a highly eccentric orbit around Earth. Using ground radio telescopes to record the spacecraft signal, synchronized to its ultra-stable on-board H-maser, we can probe the varying flow of time on board with unprecedented accuracy. The observations performed so far, currently being analyzed, have already allowed us to measure the effect with a relative accuracy of 4 × 10−4. We expect to reach 2.5 × 10−5 with additional observations in 2016, an improvement of almost a magnitude over the 40-year old result of the GP-A mission.
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