Browsing by Author "Cartier, R."

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    Constraints on the Physical Properties of GW190814 through Simulations Based on DECam Follow-up Observations by the Dark Energy Survey
    (2020) Morgan, R.; Soares Santos, M.; Annis, J.; Herner, K.; Garcia, A.; Palmese, A.; Drlica Wagner, A.; Kessler, R.; Garcia Bellido, J.; Quirola Vásquez, Jonathan Alexander; Bachmann, T. G.; Sherman, N.; Allam, S.; Bechtol, K.; Bom, C. R.; Brout, D.; Butler, R. E.; Butner, M.; Cartier, R.; Chen, H.; Conselice, C.; Cook, E.; Davis, T. M.; Doctor, Z.; Farr, B.; Figueiredo, A. L.; Finley, D. A.; Foley, R. J.; Galarza, J. Y.; Gill, M. S. S.; Gruendl, R. A.; Holz, D. E.; Kuropatkin, N.; Lidman, C.; Lin, H.; Malik, U.; Mann, A. W.; Marriner, J.; Marshall, J. L.; Martinez Vazquez, C. E.; Meza, N.; Neilsen, E.; Nicolaou, C.; Olivares, E. F.; Paz Chinchon, F.; Points, S.; Rodriguez, O.; Sako, M.; Scolnic, D.; Smith, M.; Sobreira, F.; Tucker, D. L.; Vivas, A. K.
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    Early observations of the nearby Type Ia supernova SN 2015F
    (2017) Cartier, R.; Sullivan, M.; Firth, R. E.; Pignata, G.; Mazzali, P.; Maguire, K.; Childress, M. J.; Arcavi, I.; Ashall, C.; Bassett, B.; Crawford, S. M.; Frohmaier, C.; Galbany, L.; Gal-Yam, A.; Hosseinzadeh, G.; Howell, D. A.; Inserra, C.; Johansson, J.; Kasai, E. K.; McCully, C.; Prajs, S.; Prentice, S.; Schulze, S.; Smartt, S. J.; Smith, K. W.; Smith, M.; Valenti, S.; Young, D. R.
    We present photometry and time series spectroscopy of the nearby Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) SN 2015F over -16 d to +80 d relative to maximum light, obtained as part of the Public ESO Spectroscopic Survey of Transient Objects. SN 2015F is a slightly sub-luminous SN Ia with a decline rate of Delta m15(B) = 1.35 +/- 0.03 mag, placing it in the region between normal and SN 1991bg-like events. Our densely sampled photometric data place tight constraints on the epoch of first light and form of the early-time light curve. The spectra exhibit photospheric C II lambda 6580 absorption until -4 days, and high-velocity Ca II is particularly strong at <-10 d at expansion velocities of 23 000 km s(-1). At early times, our spectral modelling with SYN++ shows strong evidence for iron-peak elements ( Fe (II), Cr (II), Ti (II), and V-II) expanding at velocities > 14 000 km s(-1), suggesting mixing in the outermost layers of the SN ejecta. Although unusual in SN Ia spectra, including VII in the modelling significantly improves the spectral fits. Intriguingly, we detect an absorption feature at similar to 6800 angstrom that persists until maximum light. Our favoured explanation for this line is photospheric Al II, which has never been claimed before in SNe Ia, although detached high-velocity CII material could also be responsible. In both cases, the absorbing material seems to be confined to a relatively narrow region in velocity space. The nucleosynthesis of detectable amounts of Al II would argue against a low-metallicity white dwarf progenitor. We also show that this 6800 feature is weakly present in other normal SN Ia events and common in the SN 1991bg-like sub-class.
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    Final Moments. II. Observational Properties and Physical Modeling of Circumstellar-material-interacting Type II Supernovae
    (2024) Jacobson-Galan, W. V.; Dessart, L.; Davis, K. W.; Kilpatrick, C. D.; Margutti, R.; Foley, R. J.; Chornock, R.; Terreran, G.; Hiramatsu, D.; Newsome, M.; Padilla Gonzalez, E.; Pellegrino, C.; Howell, D. A.; Filippenko, A. V.; Anderson, J. P.; Angus, C. R.; Auchettl, K.; Bostroem, K. A.; Brink, T. G.; Cartier, R.; Coulter, D. A.; de Boer, T.; Drout, M. R.; Earl, N.; Ertini, K.; Farah, J. R.; Farias, D.; Gall, C.; Gao, H.; Gerlach, M. A.; Guo, F.; Haynie, A.; Hosseinzadeh, G.; Ibik, A. L.; Jha, S. W.; Jones, D. O.; Langeroodi, D.; Lebaron, N.; Magnier, E. A.; Piro, A. L.; Raimundo, S. I.; Rest, A.; Rest, S.; Rich, R. Michael; Rojas-Bravo, C.; Sears, H.; Taggart, K.; Villar, V. A.; Wainscoat, R. J.; Wang, X-f.; Wasserman, A. R.; Yan, S.; Yang, Y.; Zhang, J.; Zheng, W.
    We present ultraviolet/optical/near-infrared observations and modeling of Type II supernovae (SNe II) whose early time (delta(t) < 2 days) spectra show transient, narrow emission lines from shock ionization of confined (r < 10(15) cm) circumstellar material (CSM). The observed electron-scattering broadened line profiles (i.e., IIn-like) of H i, He i/ii, C iv, and N iii/iv/v from the CSM persist on a characteristic timescale (t(IIn)) that marks a transition to a lower-density CSM and the emergence of Doppler-broadened features from the fast-moving SN ejecta. Our sample, the largest to date, consists of 39 SNe with early time IIn-like features in addition to 35 "comparison" SNe with no evidence of early time IIn-like features, all with ultraviolet observations. The total sample includes 50 unpublished objects with a total of 474 previously unpublished spectra and 50 multiband light curves, collected primarily through the Young Supernova Experiment and Global Supernova Project collaborations. For all sample objects, we find a significant correlation between peak ultraviolet brightness and both t(II)n and the rise time, as well as evidence for enhanced peak luminosities in SNe II with IIn-like features. We quantify mass-loss rates and CSM density for the sample through the matching of peak multiband absolute magnitudes, rise times, t(IIn), and optical SN spectra with a grid of radiation hydrodynamics and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium radiative-transfer simulations. For our grid of models, all with the same underlying explosion, there is a trend between the duration of the electron-scattering broadened line profiles and inferred mass-loss rate: t(IIn) approximate to 3.8[M/ (0.01 M-circle dot yr(-1))] days.
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    Luminous Type II supernovae for their low expansion velocities
    (2020) Rodríguez, O.; Pignata, Giuliano; Anderson, J. P.; Moriya, T. J.; Clocchiatti, Alejandro; Förster, F.; Prieto, J. L.; Phillips, M. M.; Burns, C. R.; Contreras, C.; Folatelli, G.; Gutiérrez, C. P.; Hamuy, M.; Morrell, N. I.; Stritzinger, M. D.; Suntzeff, N. B.; Benetti, S.; Cappellaro, E.; Elias Rosa, N.; Pastorello, A.; Turatto, M.; Maza, J.; Antezana, R.; Cartier, R.; González, L.; Haislip, J. B.; Kouprianov, V.; López, P.; Marchi Lasch, S.; Reichart, D.
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    PERSISTENT C II ABSORPTION IN THE NORMAL TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA 2002fk
    (2014) Zelaya, P.; Clocchiatti, Alejandro; Cartier, R.; Hamuy, M.; Pignata, Giuliano; Foerster, F.; Folatelli, G.; Phillips, M.
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    Photometric and spectroscopic evolution of the interacting transient AT 2016jbu(Gaia16cfr)
    (2022) Brennan, S. J.; Fraser, M.; Johansson, J.; Pastorello, A.; Kotak, R.; Stevance, H. F.; Chen, T-W; Eldridge, J. J.; Bose, S.; Brown, P. J.; Callis, E.; Cartier, R.; Dennefeld, M.; Dong, Subo; Duffy, P.; Elias-Rosa, N.; Hosseinzadeh, G.; Hsiao, E.; Kuncarayakti, H.; Martin-Carrillo, A.; Monard, B.; Nyholm, A.; Pignata, G.; Sand, D.; Shappee, B. J.; Smartt, S. J.; Tucker, B. E.; Wyrzykowski, L.; Abbot, H.; Benetti, S.; Bento, J.; Blondin, S.; Chen, Ping; Delgado, A.; Galbany, L.; Gromadzki, M.; Gutierrez, C. P.; Hanlon, L.; Harrison, D. L.; Hiramatsu, D.; Hodgkin, S. T.; Holoien, T. W-S; Howell, D. A.; Inserra, C.; Kankare, E.; Kozlowski, S.; Muller-Bravo, T. E.; Maguire, K.; McCully, C.; Meintjes, P.; Morrell, N.; Nicholl, M.; O'Neill, D.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Poleski, R.; Prieto, J. L.; Rau, A.; Reichart, D. E.; Schweyer, T.; Shahbandeh, M.; Skowron, J.; Sollerman, J.; Soszynski, I; Stritzinger, M. D.; Szymanski, M.; Tartaglia, L.; Udalski, A.; Ulaczyk, K.; Young, D. R.; van Leeuwen, M.; van Soelen, B.
    We present the results from a high-cadence, multiwavelength observation campaign of AT 2016jbu (aka Gaia16cfr), an interacting transient. This data set complements the current literature by adding higher cadence as well as extended coverage of the light-curve evolution and late-time spectroscopic evolution. Photometric coverage reveals that AT 2016jbu underwent significant photometric variability followed by two luminous events, the latter of which reached an absolute magnitude of M-V similar to-18.5 mag. This is similar to the transient SN 2009ip whose nature is still debated. Spectra are dominated by narrow emission lines and show a blue continuum during the peak of the second event. AT 2016jbu shows signatures of a complex, non-homogeneous circumstellar material (CSM). We see slowly evolving asymmetric hydrogen line profiles, with velocities of 500 km s(-)(1) seen in narrow emission features from a slow-moving CSM, and up to 10 000 km s(-1) seen in broad absorption from some high-velocity material. Late-time spectra (similar to+1 yr) show a lack of forbidden emission lines expected from a core-collapse supernova and are dominated by strong emission from H, He I, and Ca II. Strong asymmetric emission features, a bumpy light curve, and continually evolving spectra suggest an inhibit nebular phase. We compare the evolution of H alpha among SN 2009ip-like transients and find possible evidence for orientation angle effects. The light-curve evolution of AT 2016jbu suggests similar, but not identical, circumstellar environments to other SN 2009ip-like transients.
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    Progenitor, environment, and modelling of the interacting transient AT 2016jbu (Gaia16cfr)
    (2022) Brennan, S. J.; Fraser, M.; Johansson, J.; Pastorello, A.; Kotak, R.; Stevance, H. F.; Chen, T-W; Eldridge, J. J.; Bose, S.; Brown, P. J.; Callis, E.; Cartier, R.; Dennefeld, M.; Dong, Subo; Duffy, P.; Elias-Rosa, N.; Hosseinzadeh, G.; Hsiao, E.; Kuncarayakti, H.; Martin-Carrillo, A.; Monard, B.; Pignata, G.; Sand, D.; Shappee, B. J.; Smartt, S. J.; Tucker, B. E.; Wyrzykowski, L.; Abbot, H.; Benetti, S.; Bento, J.; Blondin, S.; Chen, Ping; Delgado, A.; Galbany, L.; Gromadzki, M.; Gutierrez, C. P.; Hanlon, L.; Harrison, D. L.; Hiramatsu, D.; Hodgkin, S. T.; Holoien, T. W-S; Howell, D. A.; Inserra, C.; Kankare, E.; Kozlowski, S.; Muller-Bravo, T. E.; Maguire, K.; McCully, C.; Meintjes, P.; Morrell, N.; Nicholl, M.; O'Neill, D.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Poleski, R.; Prieto, J. L.; Rau, A.; Reichart, D. E.; Schweyer, T.; Shahbandeh, M.; Skowron, J.; Sollerman, J.; Soszynski, I; Stritzinger, M. D.; Szymanski, M.; Tartaglia, L.; Udalski, A.; Ulaczyk, K.; Young, D. R.; van Leeuwen, M.; van Soelen, B.
    We present the bolometric light curve, identification and analysis of the progenitor candidate, and preliminary modelling of AT 2016jbu (Gaia16cfr). We find a progenitor consistent with a similar to 22-25 M-circle dot yellow hypergiant surrounded by a dusty circumstellar shell, in agreement with what has been previously reported. We see evidence for significant photometric variability in the progenitor, as well as strong H alpha emission consistent with pre-existing circumstellar material. The age of the environment, as well as the resolved stellar population surrounding AT 2016jbu, supports a progenitor age of >10 Myr, consistent with a progenitor mass of similar to 22 M-circle dot. A joint analysis of the velocity evolution of AT 2016jbu and the photospheric radius inferred from the bolometric light curve shows the transient is consistent with two successive outbursts/explosions. The first outburst ejected material with velocity similar to 650 km s(-1), while the second, more energetic event ejected material at similar to 4500 km s(-1). Whether the latter is the core collapse of the progenitor remains uncertain. We place a limit on the ejected Ni-56 mass of <0.016 M-circle dot. Using the Binary Population And Spectral Synthesis (BPASS) code, we explore a wide range of possible progenitor systems and find that the majority of these are in binaries, some of which are undergoing mass transfer or common-envelope evolution immediately prior to explosion. Finally, we use the SuperNova Explosion Code (SNEC) to demonstrate that the low-energy explosions within some of these binary systems, together with sufficient circumstellar material, can reproduce the overall morphology of the light curve of AT 2016jbu.
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    SDSS1335+0728: The awakening of a ∼106 M⊙ black hole
    (2024) Sanchez-Saez, P.; Hernandez-Garcia, L.; Bernal, S.; Bayo, A.; Calistro Rivera, G.; Bauer, F. E.; Ricci, C.; Merloni, A.; Graham, M. J.; Cartier, R.; Arevalo, P.; Assef, R. J.; Concas, A.; Homan, D.; Krumpe, M.; Lira, P.; Malyali, A.; Martinez-Aldama, M. L.; Arancibia, A. M. Munoz; Rau, A.; Bruni, G.; Foerster, F.; Pavez-Herrera, M.; Tubin-Arenas, D.; Brightman, M.
    Context. The early-type galaxy SDSS J133519.91+072807.4 (hereafter SDSS1335+0728), which had exhibited no prior optical variations during the preceding two decades, began showing significant nuclear variability in the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) alert stream from December 2019 (as ZTF19acnskyy). This variability behaviour, coupled with the host-galaxy properties, suggests that SDSS1335+0728 hosts a similar to 106 M-circle dot black hole (BH) that is currently in the process of "turning on". Aims. We present a multi-wavelength photometric analysis and spectroscopic follow-up performed with the aim of better understanding the origin of the nuclear variations detected in SDSS1335+0728. Methods. We used archival photometry (from WISE, 2MASS, SDSS, GALEX, eROSITA) and spectroscopic data (from SDSS and LAMOST) to study the state of SDSS1335+0728 prior to December 2019, and new observations from Swift, SOAR/Goodman, VLT/X-shooter, and Keck/LRIS taken after its turn-on to characterise its current state. We analysed the variability of SDSS1335+0728 in the X-ray/UV/optical/mid-infrared range, modelled its spectral energy distribution prior to and after December 2019, and studied the evolution of its UV/optical spectra. Results. From our multi-wavelength photometric analysis, we find that: (a) since 2021, the UV flux (from Swift/UVOT observations) is four times brighter than the flux reported by GALEX in 2004; (b) since June 2022, the mid-infrared flux has risen more than two times, and the W1 - W2 WISE colour has become redder; and (c) since February 2024, the source has begun showing X-ray emission. From our spectroscopic follow-up, we see that (i) the narrow emission line ratios are now consistent with a more energetic ionising continuum; (ii) broad emission lines are not detected; and (iii) the [OIII] line increased its flux similar to 3.6 years after the first ZTF alert, which implies a relatively compact narrow-line-emitting region. Conclusions. We conclude that the variations observed in SDSS1335+0728 could be either explained by a similar to 106 M-circle dot AGN that is just turning on or by an exotic tidal disruption event (TDE). If the former is true, SDSS1335+0728 is one of the strongest cases of an AGN observed in the process of activating. If the latter were found to be the case, it would correspond to the longest and faintest TDE ever observed (or another class of still unknown nuclear transient). Future observations of SDSS1335+0728 are crucial to further understand its behaviour.
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    SOAR/Goodman Spectroscopic Assessment of Candidate Counterparts of the LIGO/Virgo Event GW190814*
    (2022) Tucker, D. L.; Wiesner, M. P.; Allam, S. S.; Soares-Santos, M.; Bom, C. R.; Butner, M.; Garcia, A.; Morgan, R.; Olivares E, F.; Palmese, A.; Santana-Silva, L.; Shrivastava, A.; Annis, J.; Garcia-Bellido, J.; Gill, M. S. S.; Herner, K.; Kilpatrick, C. D.; Makler, M.; Sherman, N.; Amara, A.; Lin, H.; Smith, M.; Swann, E.; Arcavi, I; Bachmann, T. G.; Bechtol, K.; Berlfein, F.; Briceno, C.; Brout, D.; Butler, R. E.; Cartier, R.; Casares, J.; Chen, H-Y; Conselice, C.; Contreras, C.; Cook, E.; Cooke, J.; Dage, K.; D'Andrea, C.; Davis, T. M.; de Carvalho, R.; Diehl, H. T.; Dietrich, J. P.; Doctor, Z.; Drlica-Wagner, A.; Drout, M.; Farr, B.; Finley, D. A.; Fishbach, M.; Foley, R. J.; Forster-Buron, F.; Fosalba, P.; Friedel, D.; Frieman, J.; Frohmaier, C.; Gruendl, R. A.; Hartley, W. G.; Hiramatsu, D.; Holz, D. E.; Howell, D. A.; Kawash, A.; Kessler, R.; Kuropatkin, N.; Lahav, O.; Lundgren, A.; Lundquist, M.; Malik, U.; Mann, A. W.; Marriner, J.; Marshall, J. L.; Martinez-Vazquez, C. E.; McCully, C.; Menanteau, F.; Meza, N.; Narayan, G.; Neilsen, E.; Nicolaou, C.; Nichol, R.; Paz-Chinchon, F.; Pereira, M. E. S.; Pineda, J.; Points, S.; Quirola-Vasquez, J.; Rembold, S.; Rest, A.; Rodriguez, O.; Romer, A. K.; Sako, M.; Salim, S.; Scolnic, D.; Smith, J. A.; Strader, J.; Sullivan, M.; Swanson, M. E. C.; Thomas, D.; Valenti, S.; Varga, T. N.; Walker, A. R.; Weller, J.; Wood, M. L.; Yanny, B.; Zenteno, A.; Aguena, M.; Andrade-Oliveira, F.; Bertin, E.; Brooks, D.; Burke, D. L.; Rosell, A. Carnero; Kind, M. Carrasco; Carretero, J.; Costanzi, M.; da Costa, L. N.; De Vicente, J.; Desai, S.; Everett, S.; Ferrero, I; Flaugher, B.; Gaztanaga, E.; Gerdes, D. W.; Gruen, D.; Gschwend, J.; Gutierrez, G.; Hinton, S. R.; Hollowood, D. L.; Honscheid, K.; James, D. J.; Kuehn, K.; Lima, M.; Maia, M. A. G.; Miquel, R.; Ogando, R. L. C.; Pieres, A.; Malagon, A. A. Plazas; Rodriguez-Monroy, M.; Sanchez, E.; Scarpine, V; Schubnell, M.; Serrano, S.; Sevilla-Noarbe, I; Suchyta, E.; Tarle, G.; To, C.; Zhang, Y.
    On 2019 August 14 at 21:10:39 UTC, the LIGO/Virgo Collaboration (LVC) detected a possible neutron star-black hole merger (NSBH), the first ever identified. An extensive search for an optical counterpart of this event, designated GW190814, was undertaken using the Dark Energy Camera on the 4 m Victor M. Blanco Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. Target of Opportunity interrupts were issued on eight separate nights to observe 11 candidates using the 4.1 m Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope's Goodman High Throughput Spectrograph in order to assess whether any of these transients was likely to be an optical counterpart of the possible NSBH merger. Here, we describe the process of observing with SOAR, the analysis of our spectra, our spectroscopic typing methodology, and our resultant conclusion that none of the candidates corresponded to the gravitational wave merger event but were all instead other transients. Finally, we describe the lessons learned from this effort. Application of these lessons will be critical for a successful community spectroscopic follow-up program for LVC observing run 4 (O4) and beyond.
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    The QUEST-La Silla AGN Variability Survey: Selection of AGN Candidates through Optical Variability
    (2019) Sanchez-Saez, P.; Lira, P.; Cartier, R.; Miranda, N.; Ho, L. C.; Arevalo, P.; Bauer, F. E.; Coppi, P.; Yovaniniz, C.
    We used data from the QUEST-La Silla Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) variability survey to construct light curves for 208,583 sources over similar to 70 deg(2), with a limiting magnitude r similar to 21. Each light curve has at least 40 epochs and a length of >= 200 days. We implemented a random forest algorithm to classify our objects as either AGN or non-AGN according to their variability features and optical colors, excluding morphology cuts. We tested three classifiers, one that only includes variability features (RF1), one that includes variability features and also r - i and i - z colors (RF2), and one that includes variability features and also g - r, r - i, and i - z colors (RF3). We obtained a sample of high-probability candidates (hp-AGN) for each classifier, with 5941 candidates for RF1, 5252 candidates for RF2, and 4482 candidates for RF3. We divided each sample according to their g - r colors, defining blue (g - r <= 0.6) and red subsamples (g - r > 0.6). We find that most of the candidates known from the literature belong to the blue subsample, which is not necessarily surprising given that, unlike many literature studies, we do not cut our sample to point-like objects. This means that we can select AGNs that have a significant contribution from redshifted starlight in their host galaxies. In order to test the efficiency of our technique, we performed spectroscopic follow-up, confirming the AGN nature of 44 among 54 observed sources (81.5% efficiency). From the campaign, we concluded that RF2 provides the purest sample of AGN candidates.