652 research outputs found
Shedding light on the Type Ia supernova extinction puzzle: dust location found
No full textThe colour evolution of reddened Type Ia supernovae can place strong constraints on the location of dust and help address the question of whether the observed extinction stems from the interstellar medium or from circumstellar material surrounding the progenitor. Here, we analyse BV photometry of 48 reddened Type Ia supernovae from the literature and estimate the dust location from their B − V colour evolution. We find a time-variable colour excess E(B − V) for 15 supernovae in our sample and constrain dust to distances between 0.013 and 45 pc (4 × 1016−1020 cm). For the remaining supernovae, we obtain a constantE(B − V) evolution and place lower limits on the dust distance from the explosion. In all the 48 supernovae, the inferred dust location is compatible with an interstellar origin for the extinction. This is corroborated by the observation that supernovae with relatively nearby dust (≲1 pc) are located close to the centre of their host galaxy in high-density dusty regions, where interactions between the supernova radiation and interstellar clouds close by are likely to occur. For supernovae showing time-variable E(B − V), we identify a potential preference for low-RV values, unusually strong sodium absorption, and blue-shifted and time-variable absorption features. Within the interstellar framework, this brings evidence to a proposed scenario, where cloud–cloud collisions induced by the supernova radiation pressure can shift the grain size distribution to smaller values and enhance the abundance of sodium in the gaseous phase
Detectability of kilonovae in optical surveys: post-mortem examination of the LVC O3 run follow-up
No full textThe detection of the binary neutron star (BNS) merger GW170817 and the associated electromagnetic (EM) counterpart, the 'kilonova' (kN) AT2017gfo, opened a new era in multimessenger astronomy. However, despite many efforts, it has been proven very difficult to find additional kNe, even though LIGO/Virgo has reported at least one BNS event during their latest run, O3. The focus of this work is the exploration of the sensitivity of the adopted optical surveys searching for kNe during O3. We propose ways to optimize the choices of filters and survey depth to boost the detection efficiency for these faint and fast-evolving transients in the future. In particular, we use kN models to explore the dependence on ejecta mass, geometry, viewing angle, wavelength coverage, and source distance. We find that the kN detection efficiency has a strong viewing-angle dependence, especially for filters blueward of i-band. This loss of sensitivity can be mitigated by early, deep, observations. Efficient gri counterpart searches for kNe at ∼200 Mpc would require reaching a limiting magnitude mlim = 23 mag, to ensure good sensitivity over a wide range of the model phase-space. We conclude that kN searches during O3 were generally too shallow to detect BNS optical counterparts, even under optimistic assumptions
Estimating dust distances to Type Ia supernovae from colour excess time evolution
No full textWe present a new technique to infer dust locations towards reddened Type Ia supernovae and to help discriminate between an interstellar and a circumstellar origin for the observed extinction. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the time evolution of the light-curve shape and especially of the colour excess E(B - V) places strong constraints on the distance between dust and the supernova. We apply our approach to two highly reddened Type Ia supernovae for which dust distance estimates are available in the literature: SN 2006X and SN 2014J. For the former, we obtain a time-variable E(B - V) and from this derive a distance of 27.5-4.9+9.0 or 22.1-3.8+6.0 pc depending on whether dust properties typical of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) or the Milky Way (MW) are used. For the latter, instead, we obtain a constant E(B - V) consistent with dust at distances larger than ~50 and 38 pc for LMC- and MW-type dust, respectively. Values thus extracted are in excellent agreement with previous estimates for the two supernovae. Our findings suggest that dust responsible for the extinction towards these supernovae is likely to be located within interstellar clouds. We also discuss how other properties of reddened Type Ia supernovae - such as their peculiar extinction and polarization behaviour and the detection of variable, blue-shifted sodium features in some of these events - might be compatible with dust and gas at interstellar-scale distances
Constraining the Observer Angle of the Kilonova AT2017gfo Associated with GW170817: Implications for the Hubble Constant
No full textThere is a strong degeneracy between the luminosity distance (D L) and the observer viewing angle (θ obs; hereafter viewing angle) of the gravitational wave (GW) source with an electromagnetic counterpart, GW170817. Here, for the first time, we present independent constraints on IMG ALIGN="MIDDLE" ALT="" SRC="apjab5799ieqn1.gif"/from broadband photometry of the kilonova (kN) AT2017gfo associated with GW170817. These constraints are consistent with independent results presented in the literature using the associated gamma-ray burst GRB 170817A. Combining the constraints on θ obs with the GW data, we find an improvement of 24% on H 0. The observer angle constraints are insensitive to other model parameters, e.g., the ejecta mass, the half-opening angle of the lanthanide-rich region and the temperature. A broad wavelength coverage extending to the near-infrared is helpful to robustly constrain θ obs. While the improvement on H 0 presented here is smaller than the one from high angular resolution imaging of the radio counterpart of GW170817, kN observations are significantly more feasible at the typical distances of such events from current and future LIGO-Virgo collaboration observing runs (D L ∼ 100 Mpc). Our results are insensitive to the assumption of the peculiar velocity of the kN host galaxy. © 2020. The American Astronomical Society
Testing for redshift evolution of Type Ia supernovae using the strongly lensed PS1-10afx at z=1.4
No full textContext. The light from distant supernovae (SNe) can be magnified through gravitational lensing when a foreground galaxy is located along the line of sight. This line-up allows for detailed studies of SNe at high redshift that otherwise would not be possible. Spectroscopic observations of lensed high-redshift Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are of particular interest since they can be used to test for evolution of their intrinsic properties. The use of SNe Ia for probing the cosmic expansion history has proven to be an extremely powerful method for measuring cosmological parameters. However, if systematic redshift-dependent properties are found, their usefulness for future surveys could be challenged. Aims. We investigate whether the spectroscopic properties of the strongly lensed and very distant SN Ia PS1-10afx at z = 1.4, deviates from the well-studied populations of normal SNe Ia at nearby or intermediate distance. Methods. We created median spectra from nearby and intermediate-redshift spectroscopically normal SNe Ia from the literature at-5 and + 1 days from light-curve maximum. We then compared these median spectra to those of PS1-10afx. Results. We do not find signs of spectral evolution in PS1-10afx. The observed deviation between PS1-10afx and the median templates are within what is found for SNe at low and intermediate redshift. There is a noticeable broad feature centred at λ ~ 3500 Å, which is present only to a lesser extent in individual low-And intermediate-redshift SN Ia spectra. From a comparison with a recently developed explosion model, we find this feature to be dominated by iron peak elements, in particular, singly ionized cobalt and chromium.Context. The light from distant supernovae (SNe) can be magnified through gravitational lensing when a foreground galaxy is located along the line of sight. This line-up allows for detailed studies of SNe at high redshift that otherwise would not be possible. Spectroscopic observations of lensed high-redshift Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are of particular interest since they can be used to test for evolution of their intrinsic properties. The use of SNe Ia for probing the cosmic expansion history has proven to be an extremely powerful method for measuring cosmological parameters. However, if systematic redshift-dependent properties are found, their usefulness for future surveys could be challenged.Aims. We investigate whether the spectroscopic properties of the strongly lensed and very distant SN Ia PS1-10afx at z = 1.4, deviates from the well-studied populations of normal SNe Ia at nearby or intermediate distance.Methods. We created median spectra from nearby and intermediate-redshift ..
iPTF16abc and the population of Type Ia supernovae: comparing the photospheric, transitional, and nebular phases
No full textKey information about the progenitor system and the explosion mechanism of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) can be obtained from early observations, within a few days from explosion. iPTF16abc was discovered as a young SN Ia with excellent early time data. Here, we present photometry and spectroscopy of the SN in the nebular phase. A comparison of the early time data with a sample of SNe Ia shows distinct features, differing from normal SNe Ia at early phases but similar to normal SNe Ia at a few weeks after maximum light (i.e. the transitional phase) and well into the nebular phase. The transparency time-scales (t0) for this sample of SNe Ia range between ~25 and 41 d indicating a diversity in the ejecta masses. t0 also weakly correlates with the peak bolometric luminosity, consistent with the interpretation that SNe with higher ejecta masses would produce more 56Ni. Comparing the t0 and the maximum luminosity, Lmax distribution of a sample of SNe Ia to predictions from a wide range of explosion models we find an indication that the sub-Chandrasekhar mass models span the range of observed values. However, the bright end of the distribution can be better explained by Chandrasekhar mass delayed detonation models, hinting at multiple progenitor channels to explain the observed bolometric properties of SNe Ia. iPTF16abc appears to be consistent with the predictions from the Mch models
No Evidence of Circumstellar Gas Surrounding Type Ia Supernova SN 2017cbv
No full textNearby type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), such as SN 2017cbv, are useful events to address the question of what the elusive progenitor systems of the explosions are. Hosseinzadeh et al. suggested that the early blue excess of the light curve of SN 2017cbv could be due to the supernova ejecta interacting with a non-degenerate companion star. Some SN Ia progenitor models suggest the existence of circumstellar (CS) environments in which strong outflows create low-density cavities of different radii. Matter deposited at the edges of the cavities should be at distances at which photoionization due to early ultraviolet (UV) radiation of SNe Ia causes detectable changes to the observable Na i D and Ca ii H&K absorption lines. To study possible narrow absorption lines from such material, we obtained a time series of high-resolution spectra of SN 2017cbv at phases between -14.8 and +83 days with respect to B-band maximum, covering the time at which photoionization is predicted to occur. Both narrow Na i D and Ca ii H&K are detected in all spectra, with no measurable changes between the epochs. We use photoionization models to rule out the presence of Na i and Ca ii gas clouds along the line of sight of SN 2017cbv between ∼8 × 1016-2 × 1019 cm and ∼1015-1017 cm, respectively. Assuming typical abundances, the mass of a homogeneous spherical CS gas shell with radius R must be limited to MH ICSM < 3 ×10-4 × (R/1017[cm])2 M⊙. The bounds point to progenitor models that deposit little gas in their CS environment
R-band light-curve properties of Type Ia supernovae from the (intermediate) Palomar Transient Factory
No full textWe present the best 265 sampled R-band light curves of spectroscopically identified Type Ia supernovae (SNe) from the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF; 2009-2012) survey and the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory (iPTF; 2013-2017). A model-independent light-curve template is built from our data-set with the purpose to investigate average properties and diversity in our sample. We searched for multiple populations in the light-curve properties using machine learning tools. We also utilized the long history of our light curves, up to 4000 days, to exclude any significant pre- or post- supernova flares. From the shapes of light curves we found the average rise time in the R band to be 16.8+0.5-0.6 days. Although PTF/iPTF were single-band surveys, by modelling the residuals of the SNe in the Hubble-Lemaître diagram, we estimate the average colour excess of our sample to be E(B - V)‰ ≈ 0.05(2) mag and thus the mean corrected peak brightness to be M R = -19.02 ± 0.02 +5 log (H0[km, s-1 Mpc-1]/70) mag with only weak dependennce on light-curve shape. The intrinsic scatter is found to be σ R = 0.186 ± 0.033 mag for the redshift range 0.05 < z < 0.1, without colour corrections of individual SNe. Our analysis shows that Malmquist bias becomes very significant at z = 0.13. A similar limitation is expected for the ongoing Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) survey using the same telescope, but new camera expressly designed for ZTF
Type Ia supernova Hubble diagram with near-infrared and optical observations
No full textContext. Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) have been used as standardizable candles in the optical wavelengths to measure distances with an accuracy of ∼7% out to redshift z ∼ 1.5. There is evidence that in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths SNe Ia are even better standard candles, however, NIR observations are much more time-consuming. Aims. We aim to test whether the NIR peak magnitudes could be accurately estimated with only a single observation obtained close to maximum light, provided that the time of B band maximum, the B − V color at maximum and the optical stretch parameter are known. Methods. We present multi-epoch UBVRI and single-epoch J and H photometric observations of 16 SNe Ia in the redshift range z = 0.037 − 0.183, doubling the leverage of the current SN Ia NIR Hubble diagram and the number of SNe beyond redshift 0.04. This sample was analyzed together with 102 NIR and 458 optical light curves (LCs) of normal SNe Ia from the literature. Results. The analysis of 45 NIR LCs with well-sampled first maximum shows that a single template accurately describes the LCs if its time axis is stretched with the optical stretch parameter. This allows us to estimate the peak NIR magnitudes of SNe with only few observations obtained within ten days from B-band maximum. The NIR Hubble residuals show weak correlation with ∆M15 and the color excess E(B − V), and for the first time we report a potential dependence on the Jmax − Hmax color. With these corrections, the intrinsic NIR luminosity scatter of SNe Ia is estimated to be ∼0.10 mag, which is smaller than what can be derived for a similarly heterogeneous sample at optical wavelengths. Analysis of both NIR and optical data shows that the dust extinction in the host galaxies corresponds to a low RV 1.8–1.9. Conclusions. We conclude that SNe Ia are at least as good standard candles in the NIR as in the optical and are potentially less affected by systematic uncertainties. We extended the NIR SN Ia Hubble diagram to its nonlinear part at z ∼ 0.2 and confirmed that it is feasible to accomplish this result with very modest sampling of the NIR LCs, if complemented by well-sampled optical LCs. With future facilities it will be possible to extend the NIR Hubble diagram beyond redshift z 1, and our results suggest that the most efficient way to achieve this would be to obtain a single observation close to the NIR maximum.</p
Probing gas and dust in the tidal tail of NGC 5221 with the type Ia supernova iPTF16abc
No full textContext. Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) can be used to address numerous questions in astrophysics and cosmology. Due to their well known spectral and photometric properties, SNe Ia are well suited to study gas and dust along the lines-of-sight to the explosions. For example, narrow Na I D and Ca II H&K absorption lines can be studied easily, because of the well-defined spectral continuum of SNe Ia around these features. Aims. We aim to study the gas and dust along the line-of-sight to iPTF16abc, which occurred in an unusual location, in a tidal arm, 80 kpc from centre of the galaxy NGC 5221. Methods. Using a time-series of high-resolution spectra, we have examined narrow Na I D and Ca II H&K absorption features for variations in time, which would be indicative for circumstellar (CS) matter. Furthermore, we have taken advantage of the well known photometric properties of SNe Ia to determine reddening due to dust along the line-of-sight. Results. From the lack of variations in Na I D and Ca II H&K, we determine that none of the detected absorption features originate from the CS medium of iPTF16abc. While the Na I D and Ca II H&K absorption is found to be optically thick, a negligible amount of reddening points to a small column of interstellar dust. Conclusions. We find that the gas along the line-of-sight to iPTF16abc is typical of what might be found in the interstellar medium (ISM) within a galaxy. It suggests that we are observing gas that has been tidally stripped during an interaction of NGC 5221 with one of its neighbouring galaxies in the past ~ 109 yr. In the future, the gas clouds could become the locations of star formation. On a longer time scale, the clouds might diffuse, enriching the circum-galactic medium (CGM) with metals. The gas profile along the line-of-sight should be useful for future studies of the dynamics of the galaxy group containing NGC 5221
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