Abstract
We present HST spectroscopy for 45 cataclysmic variables (CVs), observed with HST/COS and HST/STIS. For 36 CVs, the white dwarf is recognisable through its broad Ly α absorption profile and ...we measure the white dwarf effective temperatures (T
eff) by fitting the HST data assuming log g = 8.35, which corresponds to the average mass for CV white dwarfs (≃0.8 M⊙). Our results nearly double the number of CV white dwarfs with an accurate temperature measurement. We find that CVs above the period gap have, on average, higher temperatures (〈T
eff〉 ≃ 23 000 K) and exhibit much more scatter compared to those below the gap (〈T
eff〉 ≃ 15 000 K). While this behaviour broadly agrees with theoretical predictions, some discrepancies are present: (i) all our new measurements above the gap are characterized by lower temperatures (T
eff ≃ 16 000–26 000 K) than predicted by the present-day CV population models (T
eff ≃ 38 000–43 000 K); (ii) our results below the gap are not clustered in the predicted narrow track and exhibit in particular a relatively large spread near the period minimum, which may point to some shortcomings in the CV evolutionary models. Finally, in the standard model of CV evolution, reaching the minimum period, CVs are expected to evolve back towards longer periods with mean accretion rates
$\dot{M}\lesssim 2 \times 10^{-11}\,\mathrm{M}_{\odot }\,\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$
, corresponding to T
eff ≲ 11 500 K. We do not unambiguously identify any such system in our survey, suggesting that this major component of the predicted CV population still remains elusive to observations.
The young (∼16 Myr) pre-main-sequence star in Sco–Cen 1SWASP J140747.93−394542.6, hereafter referred to as J1407, underwent a deep eclipse in 2007 April, bracketed by several shallower eclipses in ...the surrounding 54 d. This has been interpreted as the first detection of an eclipsing ring system circling a substellar object (dubbed J1407b). We report on a search for this companion with Sparse Aperture Mask imaging and direct imaging with both the UT4 VLT and Keck telescopes. Radial velocity measurements of J1407 provide additional constraints on J1407b and on short period companions to the central star. Follow-up photometric monitoring using the Panchromatic Robotic Optical Monitoring and Polarimetry Telescopes (PROMPT)-4 and ROAD observatories during 2012–2014 has not yielded any additional eclipses. Large regions of mass–period space are ruled out for the companion. For circular orbits the companion period is constrained to the range 3.5–13.8 yr (a ≃ 2.2–5.6 au), and stellar masses (>80M
Jup) are ruled out at 3σ significance over these periods. The complex ring system appears to occupy more than 0.15 of its Hill radius, much larger than its Roche radius and suggesting a ring structure in transition. Further, we demonstrate that the radial velocity of J1407 is consistent with membership in the Upper Cen–Lup subgroup of the Sco–Cen association, and constraints on the rotation period and projected rotational velocity of J1407 are consistent with a stellar inclination of i
⋆ ≃ 68° ± 10°.
We present an extensive set of photometric and spectroscopic data for SN 2009jf, a nearby Type Ib supernova (SN), spanning from ∼20 d before B-band maximum to 1 yr after maximum. We show that SN ...2009jf is a slowly evolving and energetic stripped-envelope SN and is likely from a massive progenitor (25-30 M⊙). The large progenitor's mass allows us to explain the complete hydrogen plus helium stripping without invoking the presence of a binary companion. The SN occurred close to a young cluster, in a crowded environment with ongoing star formation. The spectroscopic similarity with the He-poor Type Ic SN 2007gr suggests a common progenitor for some SNe Ib and Ic. The nebular spectra of SN 2009jf are consistent with an asymmetric explosion, with an off-centre dense core. We also find evidence that He-rich Ib SNe have a rise time longer than other stripped-envelope SNe, however confirmation of this result and further observations are needed.
We present the first reported case of the simultaneous metallicity determination of a gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxy, from both afterglow absorption lines as well as strong emission-line ...diagnostics. Using spectroscopic and imaging observations of the afterglow and host of the long-duration Swift GRB 121024A at z = 2.30, we give one of the most complete views of a GRB host/environment to date. We observe a strong damped Lyα absorber (DLA) with a hydrogen column density of log
$N({\rm H\,{\small I}})\,=\,21.88\pm 0.10$
, H2 absorption in the Lyman–Werner bands (molecular fraction of log(f) ≈−1.4; fourth solid detection of molecular hydrogen in a GRB-DLA), the nebular emission lines Hα, Hβ, O ii, O iii and N ii, as well as metal absorption lines. We find a GRB host galaxy that is highly star forming (SFR ∼ 40 M⊙ yr−1), with a dust-corrected metallicity along the line of sight of Zn/Hcorr = −0.6 ± 0.2 (O/H ∼ −0.3 from emission lines), and a depletion factor Zn/Fe = 0.85 ± 0.04. The molecular gas is separated by 400 km s−1 (and 1–3 kpc) from the gas that is photoexcited by the GRB. This implies a fairly massive host, in agreement with the derived stellar mass of log(M
★/M⊙) =
$9.9^{+0.2}_{-0.3}$
. We dissect the host galaxy by characterizing its molecular component, the excited gas, and the line-emitting star-forming regions. The extinction curve for the line of sight is found to be unusually flat (R
V
∼ 15). We discuss the possibility of an anomalous grain size distributions. We furthermore discuss the different metallicity determinations from both absorption and emission lines, which gives consistent results for the line of sight to GRB 121024A.
We present optical and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy of SN 2009ib, a Type II-P supernova in NGC 1559. This object has moderate brightness, similar to those of the intermediate-luminosity ...SNe 2008in and 2009N. Its plateau phase is unusually long, lasting for about 130 d after explosion. The spectra are similar to those of the subluminous SN 2002gd, with moderate expansion velocities. We estimate the 56Ni mass produced as 0.046 ± 0.015 M⊙. We determine the distance to SN 2009ib using both the expanding photosphere method (EPM) and the standard candle method. We also apply EPM to SN 1986L, a Type II-P SN that exploded in the same galaxy. Combining the results of different methods, we conclude the distance to NGC 1559 as D = 19.8 ± 3.0 Mpc. We examine archival, pre-explosion images of the field taken with the Hubble Space Telescope, and find a faint source at the position of the SN, which has a yellow colour (V − I)0 = 0.85 mag. Assuming it is a single star, we estimate its initial mass as M
ZAMS = 20 M⊙. We also examine the possibility, that instead of the yellow source the progenitor of SN 2009ib is a red supergiant star too faint to be detected. In this case, we estimate the upper limit for the initial zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) mass of the progenitor to be ∼14–17 M⊙. In addition, we infer the physical properties of the progenitor at the explosion via hydrodynamical modelling of the observables, and estimate the total energy as ∼0.55 × 1051 erg, the pre-explosion radius as ∼400 R⊙, and the ejected envelope mass as ∼15 M⊙, which implies that the mass of the progenitor before explosion was ∼16.5–17 M⊙.
► Mid-IR spectra from 5.2 to 38μm using the Spitzer/IRS of 28 asteroids. ► Analyzed using STM and a thermophysical model (TPM) if 3D-shape is available. ► Large (Deq>130km) binary asteroids are ...covered with a thick layer of thermally insulating regolith. ► Smaller (Deq<17km) asteroids have their surfaces are coarser, and therefore younger. ► Their average densities vary from 0.7–1.7g/cm3 (P-, C-type) to ∼2g/cm3 (S-type) and 3.2g/cm3 (M-type).
We collected mid-IR spectra from 5.2 to 38μm using the Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Spectrograph of 28 asteroids representative of all established types of binary groups. Photometric lightcurves were also obtained for 14 of them during the Spitzer observations to provide the context of the observations and reliable estimates of their absolute magnitudes. The extracted mid-IR spectra were analyzed using a modified standard thermal model (STM) and a thermophysical model (TPM) that takes into account the shape and geometry of the large primary at the time of the Spitzer observation. We derived a reliable estimate of the size, albedo, and beaming factor for each of these asteroids, representing three main taxonomic groups: C, S, and X. For large (volume-equivalent system diameter Deq>130km) binary asteroids, the TPM analysis indicates a low thermal inertia (Γ⩽∼100Js−1/2K−1m−2) and their emissivity spectra display strong mineral features, implying that they are covered with a thick layer of thermally insulating regolith. The smaller (surface-equivalent system diameter Deff<17km) asteroids also show some emission lines of minerals, but they are significantly weaker, consistent with regoliths with coarser grains, than those of the large binary asteroids. The average bulk densities of these multiple asteroids vary from 0.7–1.7g/cm3 (P-, C-type) to ∼2g/cm3 (S-type). The highest density is estimated for the M-type (22) Kalliope (3.2±0.9g/cm3). The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and emissivity spectra, made available as a supplement document, could help to constrain the surface compositions of these asteroids.
We present optical photometric and spectroscopic observations of the 1987A-like supernova (SN) 2009mw. Our BVRI and g′r′i′z′ photometry covers 167 d of evolution, including the rise to the ...light-curve maximum, and ends just after the beginning of the linear tail phase. We compare the observational properties of SN 2009mw with those of other SNe belonging to the same subgroup and find that it shows similarities to several objects. The physical parameters of the progenitor and the SN are estimated through hydrodynamical modelling, and yield an explosion energy of 1 foe, a pre-SN mass of 19 M⊙, a progenitor radius of 30 R⊙ and a 56Ni mass of 0.062 M⊙. These values indicate that the progenitor of SN 2009mw was a blue supergiant star, similar to the progenitor of SN 1987A. We examine the host environment of SN 2009mw and find that it emerged from a population with a slightly subsolar metallicty.
We present the first full orbital and physical analysis of HD 187669, recognized by the All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) as the eclipsing binary ASAS J195222-3233.7. We combined multi-band photometry ...from the ASAS and SuperWASP public archives and 0.41-m PROMPT robotic telescopes with our high-precision radial velocities from the HARPS spectrograph. Two different approaches were used for the analysis: (1) fitting to all data simultaneously with the WD code and (2) analysing each light curve (with jktebop) and radial velocities separately and combining the partial results at the end. This system also shows a total primary (deeper) eclipse, lasting for about 6 d. A spectrum obtained during this eclipse was used to perform atmospheric analysis with the moog and sme codes to constrain the physical parameters of the secondary. We found that ASAS J195222-3233.7 is a double-lined spectroscopic binary composed of two evolved, late-type giants, with masses of M
1 = 1.504 ± 0.004 and M
2 = 1.505 ± 0.004 M⊙, and radii of R
1 = 11.33 ± 0.28 and R
2 = 22.62 ± 0.50 R⊙. It is slightly less metal abundant than the Sun, and has a P = 88.39 d orbit. Its properties are well reproduced by a 2.38-Gyr isochrone, and thanks to the metallicity estimation from the totality spectrum and high precision of the masses, it was possible to constrain the age down to 0.1 Gyr. It is the first so evolved Galactic eclipsing binary measured with such good accuracy, and as such it is a unique benchmark for studying the late stages of stellar evolution.
Abstract
We report extensive 3-yr multiwavelength observations of the WZ Sge-type dwarf nova SSS J122221.7−311525 during its unusual double superoutburst, the following decline and in quiescence. The ...second segment of the superoutburst had a long duration of 33 d and a very gentle decline with a rate of 0.02 mag d−1, and it displayed an extended post-outburst decline lasting at least 500 d. Simultaneously with the start of the rapid fading from the superoutburst plateau, the system showed the appearance of a strong near-infrared excess resulting in very red colours, which reached extreme values (B − I ≃ 1.4) about 20 d later. The colours then became bluer again, but it took at least 250 d to acquire a stable level. Superhumps were clearly visible in the light curve from our very first time-resolved observations until at least 420 d after the rapid fading from the superoutburst. The spectroscopic and photometric data revealed an orbital period of 109.80 min and a fractional superhump period excess ≲0.8 per cent, indicating a very low mass ratio q ≲ 0.045. With such a small mass ratio the donor mass should be below the hydrogen-burning minimum mass limit. The observed infrared flux in quiescence is indeed much lower than is expected from a cataclysmic variable with a near-main-sequence donor star. This strongly suggests a brown-dwarf-like nature for the donor and that SSS J122221.7−311525 has already evolved away from the period minimum towards longer periods, with the donor now extremely dim.
We present broadband (radio, optical, and X-ray) light curves and spectra of the afterglows of four long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs; GRBs 09032,09032,090902B, and 090926A) detected by the ...Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor and Large Area Telescope (LAT) instruments on the Fermi satellite. With its wide spectral bandpass, extending to GeV energies, Fermi is sensitive to GRBs with very large isotropic energy releases (1054 erg). Although rare, these events are particularly important for testing GRB central-engine models. When combined with spectroscopic redshifts, our afterglow data for these four events are able to constrain jet collimation angles, the density structure of the circumburst medium, and both the true radiated energy release and the kinetic energy of the outflows. In agreement with our earlier work, we find that the relativistic energy budget of at least one of these events (GRB 090926A) exceeds the canonical value of 1051 erg by an order of magnitude. Such energies pose a severe challenge for models in which the GRB is powered by a magnetar or a neutrino-driven collapsar, but remain compatible with theoretical expectations for magnetohydrodynamical collapsar models (e.g., the Blandford-Znajek mechanism). Our jet opening angles ( Delta *c) are similar to those found for pre-Fermi GRBs, but the large initial Lorentz factors ( Delta *G0) inferred from the detection of GeV photons imply Delta *c Delta *G0 70-90, values which are above those predicted in magnetohydrodynamic models of jet acceleration. Finally, we find that these Fermi-LAT events preferentially occur in a low-density circumburst environment, and we speculate that this might result from the lower mass-loss rates of their lower-metallicity progenitor stars. Future studies of Fermi-LAT afterglows at radio wavelengths with the order-of-magnitude improvement in sensitivity offered by the Extended Very Large Array should definitively establish the relativistic energy budgets of these events.
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