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Abstract
We report on multiwavelength observations of the tidal disruption event (TDE) candidate eRASSt J074426.3 + 291606 (J0744), located in the nucleus of a previously quiescent galaxy at z = 0.0396. J0744 was first detected as a new, ultra-soft X-ray source (photon index similar to 4) during the second SRG/eROSITA All-Sky Survey (eRASS2), where it had brightened in the 0.3-2 keV band by a factor of more than similar to 160 relative to an archival 3 sigma upper limit inferred from a serendipitous Chandra pointing in 2011. The transient was also independently found in the optical by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), with the eRASS2 detection occurring only similar to 20 d after the peak optical brightness, suggesting that the accretion disc formed promptly in this TDE. Continued X-ray monitoring over the following similar to 400 d by eROSITA, NICER XTI and Swift XRT showed a net decline by a factor of similar to 100, albeit with large amplitude X-ray variability where the system fades, and then rebrightens, in the 0.3-2 keV band by a factor similar to 50 during an 80-d period. Contemporaneous Swift UVOT observations during this extreme X-ray variability reveal a relatively smooth decline, which persists over similar to 400 d post-optical peak. The peak observed optical luminosity (absolute g-band magnitude similar to-16.8 mag) from this transient makes J0744 the faintest optically detected TDE observed to date. However, contrasting the known set of 'faint and fast' TDEs, the optical emission from J0744 decays slowly (exponential decay time-scale similar to 120 d), making J0744 the first member of a potential new class of 'faint and slow' TDEs.
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Abstract
We present new 0.3-21 mu m photometry of SN 2021aefx in the spiral galaxy NGC 1566 at +357 days after B-band maximum, including the first detection of any Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) at >15 mu m. These observations follow earlier JWST observations of SN 2021aefx at +255 days after the time of maximum brightness, allowing us to probe the temporal evolution of the emission properties. We measure the fraction of flux emerging at different wavelengths and its temporal evolution. Additionally, the integrated 0.3-14 mu m decay rate of Delta m (0.3-14) = 1.35 +/- 0.05 mag/100 days is higher than the decline rate from the radioactive decay of Co-56 of similar to 1.2 mag/100 days. The most plausible explanation for this discrepancy is that flux is shifting to >14 mu m, and future JWST observations of SNe Ia will be able to directly test this hypothesis. However, models predicting nonradiative energy loss cannot be excluded with the present data.
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Abstract
We present JWST near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopic observations of the nearby normal Type Ia supernova (SN) SN 2021aefx in the nebular phase at +255 days past maximum light. Our Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and Mid Infrared Instrument observations, combined with ground-based optical data from the South African Large Telescope, constitute the first complete optical+NIR+MIR nebular SN Ia spectrum covering 0.3-14 mu m. This spectrum unveils the previously unobserved 2.5-5 mu m region, revealing strong nebular iron and stable nickel emission, indicative of high-density burning that can constrain the progenitor mass. The data show a significant improvement in sensitivity and resolution compared to previous Spitzer MIR data. We identify numerous NIR and MIR nebular emission lines from iron-group elements as well as lines from the intermediate-mass element argon. The argon lines extend to higher velocities than the iron-group elements, suggesting stratified ejecta that are a hallmark of delayed-detonation or double-detonation SN Ia models. We present fits to simple geometric line profiles to features beyond 1.2 mu m and find that most lines are consistent with Gaussian or spherical emission distributions, while the [Ar iii] 8.99 mu m line has a distinctively flat-topped profile indicating a thick spherical shell of emission. Using our line profile fits, we investigate the emissivity structure of SN 2021aefx and measure kinematic properties. Continued observations of SN 2021aefx and other SNe Ia with JWST will be transformative to the study of SN Ia composition, ionization structure, density, and temperature, and will provide important constraints on SN Ia progenitor and explosion models.
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Abstract
We present a JWST/MIRI low-resolution mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopic observation of the normal Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) SN 2021aefx at +323 days past rest-frame B-band maximum light. The spectrum ranges from 4 to 14 mu m and shows many unique qualities, including a flat-topped [Ar iii] 8.991 mu m profile, a strongly tilted [Co iii] 11.888 mu m feature, and multiple stable Ni lines. These features provide critical information about the physics of the explosion. The observations are compared to synthetic spectra from detailed non-local thermodynamic equilibrium multidimensional models. The results of the best-fitting model are used to identify the components of the spectral blends and provide a quantitative comparison to the explosion physics. Emission line profiles and the presence of electron capture elements are used to constrain the mass of the exploding white dwarf (WD) and the chemical asymmetries in the ejecta. We show that the observations of SN 2021aefx are consistent with an off-center delayed detonation explosion of a near-Chandrasekhar mass (M (Ch)) WD at a viewing angle of -30 degrees relative to the point of the deflagration to detonation transition. From the strengths of the stable Ni lines, we determine that there is little to no mixing in the central regions of the ejecta. Based on both the presence of stable Ni and the Ar velocity distributions, we obtain a strict lower limit of 1.2 M (circle dot) for the initial WD, implying that most sub-M (Ch) explosions models are not viable models for SN 2021aefx. The analysis here shows the crucial importance of MIR spectra in distinguishing between explosion scenarios for SNe Ia.
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Abstract
The JWST observations of high-redshift galaxies are used to measure their star formation histories-the buildup of stellar mass in the earliest galaxies. Here we use a novel analysis program, SEDz*, to compare near-IR spectral energy distributions for galaxies with redshifts 5 < z < 7 to combinations of stellar population templates evolved from z = 12. We exploit NIRCam imaging in seven wide bands covering 1-5 mu m taken in the context of the GLASS-JWST-ERS program and use SEDz* to solve for well-constrained star formation histories for 24 exemplary galaxies. In this first look, we find a variety of histories, from long, continuous star formation over 5 < z < 12 to short but intense starbursts, sometimes repeating, and, most commonly, contiguous mass buildup lasting similar to 0.5 Myr, possibly the seeds of today's typical M* galaxies.
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Abstract
We present 170 optical spectra of 35 low-redshift stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae observed by the Carnegie Supernova Project-I between 2004 and 2009. The data extend from as early as -19 days (d) prior to the epoch of B-band maximum to +322 d, with the vast majority obtained during the so-called photospheric phase covering the weeks around peak luminosity. In addition to histogram plots characterizing the redshift distribution, number of spectra per object, and the phase distribution of the sample, spectroscopic classification is also provided following standard criteria. The CSP-I spectra are electronically available and a detailed analysis of the data set is presented in a companion paper being the fifth and final paper of the series.
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Abstract
We present 170 optical spectra of 35 low-redshift stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae observed by the Carnegie Supernova Project-I between 2004 and 2009. The data extend from as early as -19 days (d) prior to the epoch of B-band maximum to +322 d, with the vast majority obtained during the so-called photospheric phase covering the weeks around peak luminosity. In addition to histogram plots characterizing the redshift distribution, number of spectra per object, and the phase distribution of the sample, spectroscopic classification is also provided following standard criteria. The CSP-I spectra are electronically available and a detailed analysis of the data set is presented in a companion paper being the fifth and final paper of the series.
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Abstract
We present a JWST mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum of the underluminous Type Ia Supernova (SN Ia) 2022xkq, obtained with the medium-resolution spectrometer on the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) similar to 130 days post-explosion. We identify the first MIR lines beyond 14 mu m in SN Ia observations. We find features unique to underluminous SNe Ia, including the following: isolated emission of stable Ni, strong blends of [Ti ii], and large ratios of singly ionized to doubly ionized species in both [Ar] and [Co]. Comparisons to normal-luminosity SNe Ia spectra at similar phases show a tentative trend between the width of the [Co iii] 11.888 mu m feature and the SN light-curve shape. Using non-LTE-multi-dimensional radiation hydro simulations and the observed electron capture elements, we constrain the mass of the exploding WD. The best-fitting model shows that SN 2022xkq is consistent with an off-center delayed-detonation explosion of a near-Chandrasekhar mass WD ( MWD approximate to 1.37 M circle dot) of high central density (rho c >= 2.0 x 109 g cm-3) seen equator-on, which produced M(56Ni) =0.324 M circle dot and M(58Ni) >= 0.06 M circle dot. The observed line widths are consistent with the overall abundance distribution; and the narrow stable Ni lines indicate little to no mixing in the central regions, favoring central ignition of subsonic carbon burning followed by an off-center deflagration-to-detonation transition beginning at a single point. Additional observations may further constrain the physics revealing the presence of additional species including Cr and Mn. Our work demonstrates the power of using the full coverage of MIRI in combination with detailed modeling to elucidate the physics of SNe Ia at a level not previously possible.
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Abstract
We present a measurement of the Hubble constant (H-0) using type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) in the near-infrared (NIR) from the recently updated sample of SNe Ia in nearby galaxies with distances measured via Cepheid period-luminosity relations by the SH0ES project. We collected public near-infrared photometry of up to 19 calibrator SNe Ia and 57 SNe Ia in the Hubble flow (z > 0.01), and directly measured their peak magnitudes in the J- and H-band by Gaussian processes and spline interpolation. Calibrator peak magnitudes together with Cepheid-based distances were used to estimate the average absolute magnitude in each band, while Hubble-flow SNe were used to constrain the zero-point intercept of the magnitude-redshift relation. Our baseline result of H-0 is 72.3 +/- 1.4 (stat) +/- 1.4 (syst) km s(-1) Mpc(-1) in the J-band and 72.3 +/- 1.3 (stat) +/- 1.4 (syst) km s(-1) Mpc(-1) in the H-band, where the systematic uncertainties include the standard deviation of up to 21 variations of the analysis, the 0.7% distance scale systematic from SH0ES Cepheid anchors, a photometric zero-point systematic, and a cosmic variance systematic. Our final measurement represents a measurement with a precision of 2.8% in both bands. Among all the analysis variants, the largest change in H-0 comes from limiting the sample to those SNe from the CSP and CfA programs; they are noteworthy because they are the best calibrated, yielding H-0 similar to 75 km s(-1) Mpc(-1) in both bands. We explore applying stretch and reddening corrections to standardize SN Ia NIR peak magnitudes, and we demonstrate that they are still useful to reduce the absolute magnitude scatter and, which improves its standardization, at least up to the H-band. Based on our results, in order to improve the precision of the H-0 measurement with SNe Ia in the NIR in the future, we would need to increase the number of calibrator SNe Ia, to be able to extend the Hubble-Lemaitre diagram to higher redshift, and to include standardization procedures to help reduce the NIR intrinsic scatter.
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Abstract
The nearby, luminous infrared galaxy NGC 7469 hosts a Seyfert nucleus with a circumnuclear star-forming ring and is thus the ideal local laboratory for investigating the starburst-AGN (active galactic nucleus) connection in detail. We present integral-field observations of the central 1.3 kpc region in NGC 7469 obtained with the JWST Mid-InfraRed Instrument. Molecular and ionized gas distributions and kinematics at a resolution of similar to 100 pc over the 4.9-7.6 mu m region are examined to study the gas dynamics influenced by the central AGN. The low-ionization [Fe ii] lambda 5.34 mu m and [Ar ii] lambda 6.99 mu m lines are bright on the nucleus and in the starburst ring, as opposed to H-2 S(5) lambda 6.91 mu m, which is strongly peaked at the center and surrounding ISM. The high-ionization [Mg v] line is resolved and shows a broad, blueshifted component associated with the outflow. It has a nearly face-on geometry that is strongly peaked on the nucleus, where it reaches a maximum velocity of -650 km s(-1), and extends about 400 pc to the east. Regions of enhanced velocity dispersion in H-2 and [Fe ii] similar to 180 pc from the AGN that also show high L(H-2)/L(PAH) and L([Fe ii])/L(Pf alpha) ratios to the W and N of the nucleus pinpoint regions where the ionized outflow is depositing energy, via shocks, into the dense interstellar medium between the nucleus and the starburst ring. These resolved mid-infrared observations of the nuclear gas dynamics demonstrate the power of JWST and its high-sensitivity integral-field spectroscopic capability to resolve feedback processes around supermassive black holes in the dusty cores of nearby luminous infrared galaxies.
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