Engineering topics

Hjorth, Jens

Publications and source records attributed to Hjorth, Jens.

8 records

DOE OSTI2023

Constraints on the Hubble constant from supernova Refsdal’s reappearance

The Hubble constant measures the expansion rate of the Universe, but different methods give inconsistent values. Kelly et al. studied a supernova that had its light split into multiple images by the gravitational lensing of a foreground galaxy cluster. They combined measurements of the time delay between the multiple images with predictions made by multiple lensing models of the cluster. Furthermore, this approach allowed the authors to make a blinded measurement of the Hubble constant, finding a value that is more consistent with that derived from the cosmic microwave background than with the cosmic distance ladder.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

The Magnificent Five Images of Supernova Refsdal: Time Delay and Magnification Measurements

In late 2014, four images of supernova (SN) "Refsdal," the first known example of a strongly lensed SN with multiple resolved images, were detected in the MACS J1149 galaxy-cluster field. Following the images' discovery, the SN was predicted to reappear within hundreds of days at a new position ~8'' away in the field. The observed reappearance in late 2015 makes it possible to carry out Refsdal's original proposal to use a multiply imaged SN to measure the Hubble constant H0, since the time delay between appearances should vary inversely with H0. Moreover, the position, brightness, and timing of the reappearance enable a novel test of the blind predictions of galaxy-cluster models, which are typically constrained only by the positions of multiply imaged galaxies. We have developed a new photometry pipeline that uses DOLPHOT to measure the fluxes of the five images of SN Refsdal from difference images. We apply four separate techniques to perform a blind measurement of the relative time delays and magnification ratios between the last image SX and the earlier images S1–S4. We measure the relative time delay of SX–S1 to be 376.0$^{+5.6}_{–5.5}$ days and the relative magnification to be 0.30$^{+0.5}_{–0.3}$. This corresponds to a 1.5% precision on the time delay and 17% precision for the magnification ratios and includes uncertainties due to millilensing and microlensing. In an accompanying paper, we place initial and blind constraints on the value of the Hubble constant.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2014

Shaping the Dust Mass-Star-Formation Rate Relation

There is a remarkably tight relation between the observationally inferred dust masses and star-formation rates (SFRs) of Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxies, M dust ∝ SFR 1.11(exp). Here we extend the M dust-SFR relation to the high end and show that it bends over at very large SFRs (i.e., dust masses are lower than predicted for a given SFR). We identify several distinct evolutionary processes in the diagram: (1) a star-bursting phase in which dust builds up rapidly at early times. The maximum attainable dust mass in this process is the cause of the bend-over of the relation. A high dust-formation efficiency, a bottom-light initial mass function, and negligible supernova shock dust destruction are required to produce sufficiently high dust masses. (2) A quiescent star-forming phase in which the subsequent parallel decline in dust mass and SFR gives rise to the M dust-SFR relation, through astration and dust destruction. The dust-to-gas ratio is approximately constant along the relation. We show that the power-law slope of the M dust-SFR relation is inversely proportional to the global Schmidt-Kennicutt law exponent (i.e., ~0.9) in simple chemical evolution models. (3) A quenching phase which causes star formation to drop while the dust mass stays roughly constant or drops proportionally. Combined with merging, these processes, as well as the range in total baryonic mass, give rise to a complex population of the diagram which adds significant scatter to the original M dust-SFR relation. (4) At very high redshifts, a population of galaxies located significantly below the local relation is predicted.

Shaping↗

NASA NTRS2013

On Inferring Extinction Laws in Z -approximately 6 Quasars as Signatures of Supernova Dust

Unusual extinction curves of high-redshift QSOs have been taken as evidence that dust is primarily produced by supernovae at high redshift. In particular, the 3000 ˚A Todini-Ferrara-Maiolino kink in the extinction curve of the z = 6.20 SDSS J1048+4637 has been attributed to supernova dust. Here we discuss the challenges in inferring robust extinction curves of high-redshift QSOs and critically assess previous claims of detection of supernova dust. In particular, we address the sensitivity to the choice of intrinsic QSO spectrum, the need for a long wavelength baseline, and the drawbacks in fitting theoretical extinction curves. In a sample of 21 QSOs at z ∼ 6 we detect significant ultraviolet extinction using existing broad-band optical, near-infrared, and Spitzer photometry. The median extinction curve is consistent with a Small Magellanic Cloud curve with A1450 ∼ 0.7 mag and does not exhibit any conspicuous (restframe) 2175 ˚A or 3000 ˚A features. For two QSOs, SDSS J1044−0125 at z = 5.78 and SDSS J1030+0524 at z = 6.31, we further present X-shooter spectra covering the wavelength range 0.9-2.5 μm. The resulting non-parametric extinction curves do not exhibit the 3000 ˚A kink. Finally, in a re-analysis of literature spectra of SDSS J1048+4637, we do not find evidence for a conspicuous kink. We conclude that the existing evidence for a 3000 ˚A feature is weak and that the overall dust properties at high and low redshift show no significant differences. This, however, does not preclude supernovae from dominating the dust budget at high redshift.

Extinction↗

NASA NTRS2012

Multi-wavelength Observations of the Enduring Type IIn Supernovae 2005ip and 2006jd1

We present an observational study of the Type IIn supernovae (SNe IIn) 2005ip and 2006jd. Broad-band UV, optical and near-IR photometry, and visual-wavelength spectroscopy of SN 2005ip complement and extend upon published observations to 6.5 years past discovery. Our observations of SN 2006jd extend from UV to mid-infrared wavelengths, and like SN 2005ip, are compared to reported X-ray measurements to understand the nature of the progenitor. Both objects display a number of similarities with the 1988Z-like subclass of SN IIn including: (i) remarkably similar early- and late-phase optical spectra, (ii) a variety of high ionization coronal lines, (iii) long-duration optical and near-IR emission and, (iv) evidence of cold and warm dust components. However, diversity is apparent including an unprecedented late-time r-band excess in SN 2006jd. The observed di erences are attributed to di erences between the mass-loss history of the progenitor stars. We conclude that the progenitor of SN 2006jd likely experienced a signi cant mass-loss event during its pre-SN evolution akin to the great 19th century eruption of eta Carinae. Contrarily, as advocated by Smith et al. (2009), we nd the circumstellar environment of SN 2005ip to be more consistent with a clumpy wind progenitor.

Stritzinger, Maximilian↗

NASA NTRS2005

The Optical Afterglow of a Short Gamma-ray Burst

It has long been known that there are two classes of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), principally distinguished by their durations. The breakthrough in our understanding of long-duration GRBs (greater than 2 seconds in duration), that ultimately linked them with energetic Type Ic supernovae, came about from the discovery of their long-lived X-ray and optical "afterglow", when precise and rapid localizations of the sources could finally be obtained. Recently, X-ray localizations have become available for short (less than 2 seconds in duration) GRBs, a hitherto elusive GRB population, that has evaded optical detection for more than thirty years. Here we report the discovery of transient optical emission (R approximately 23 mag) associated with a short GRB. This first short GRB afterglow is localized with sub-arcsecond accuracy onto the outskirts of a blue dwarf galaxy. Unless the optical and X-ray afterglow arise from different mechanisms our observations 33 h after the GRB suggest that, analogously to long GRBs, we observe synchrotron emission from ultrarelativistic ejecta (ZZZ CAN WE LIMIT GAMMA?). In contrast, we did not detect a bright supernova, as found in most nearby long GRB afterglows, which suggests a different origidstrongly constrain the nature of the short GRB progenitors.

Hjorth, Jens↗

NASA NTRS2004

A Deep Search with HST for Late Time Supernova Signatures in the Hosts of XRF 011030 and XRF 020427

X-ray Flashes (XRFs), are, like Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) thought to signal the collapse of massive stars in distant galaxies. Many models posit that the isotropic equivalent energies of XRFs are lower than those for GRBs, such that they are visible hom a reduced range of distances when compared with GRBs. Here we present the results of two epoch Hubble Space Telescope imaging of two XRFs. These images taken approximately 45 and 200 days post bust reveal no evidence for an associated supernova in either case. Supernovae such as SN 1998bw would have been visible out to z approximately 1.5 in each case, while faint supernovae such as SN 2002ap would be visible to z approximately 1. At these distances the bursts would not fit the observed correlations between E(sub p) and E(sub iso) and would have required extremely luminous X-ray afterglows. We conclude that should these XRFs reside at low redshift, it is necessary either that their line of sight is heavily extinguished, or that XRFs, unlike GRBs do not have temporally coincident supernovae.

Patel, Sandeep↗

NASA NTRS2003

A Very Energetic Supernova Associated with the Gamma Ray Burst of 29 March 2003

Over the past five years evidence has mounted that long-duration (greater than 2s) gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the most brilliant of all astronomical explosions, signal the collapse of massive stars in our Universe. This evidence, originally based on the probable association of one unusual GRB with a supernova, now includes the association of GRBs with regions of massive star-formation in distant galaxies, tantalizing evidence of supernova-like light-curve 'bumps' in the optical afterglows of several bursts, and lines of freshly synthesized elements in the spectra of a few X-ray afterglows. These observations support, but do not yet conclusively validate, models based upon the deaths of massive stars, presumably associated with core collapse. Here we report evidence for a very energetic supernova (a hypernova), temporally and spatially coincident with a GRB at redshift z=0.1685. The timing of the supernova indicates that it exploded within a few days of the GRB, strongly suggesting that core-collapse events can give rise to GRBs. Amongst the GRB central engine models proposed to-date, the properties of this supernova thus favour the collapsar model.

Hjorth, Jens↗