arXiv subjects

Arlin P. S. Crotts

Publications and source records attributed to Arlin P. S. Crotts.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Metals and Dust in Intermediate-redshift Damped Ly-alpha Galaxies

We report spectroscopic observations with the Multiple Mirror Telescope for 11 damped Lyman-alpha absorbers (DLAs) or strong DLA candidates at 0.1 < z < 1.5, including several absorbers discovered in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. In particular, we have measured absorption lines of Zn II, Cr II, Ni II, Fe II, Mn II, Ti II, Ca II, and Si II. These measurements have doubled the sample of Zn and Cr measurements at z < 1. The average relative abundance patterns in these objects are very similar to those found for high-redshift DLAs reported in the literature. Our observations suggest that the dust content, as determined by [Cr/Zn], does not show much change with redshift. We also examine the sample for correlation of [Cr/Zn] with estimates of the quasar reddening. Our data suggest that the global mean metallicity of DLAs, as measured by the gas phase abundance of Zn, at best shows a weak evolution with redshift over the range 0.4 < z <3.9.

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arXiv2004

Evidence of Halo Microlensing in M31

We report results from intensive monitoring of two fields on either side of M31,emphasizing microlensing involving stars and masses in M31. These results stem from the three-year VATT/Columbia survey of variability on 3d to 2m timescales. Observations were conducted intensively from 1997-1999, with baselines 1995-now,at the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, MDM 1.3-meter, and Isaac Newton telescopes, totaling about 200 epochs. The two fields cover 560 square arcmin total, along the minor axis on either side of M31. Candidate microlensing events are subject to tests to distinguish microlenses from variable stars. Fourprobable microlensing events total, compared to carefully computed event rate and efficiency models, indicate a marginally significant microlensing activity above expectations for the stellar lenses alone in M31 (and the Galaxy) acting as lenses. Maximum likelihood analyses of the event distribution in timescale and across the face of M31 indicates a microlensing dark matter halo fraction consistent with that seen in our Galaxy towards the LMC (Alcock et al. 2000). For a nearly singular isothermal sphere model, we find a microlensing halo mass fraction f=0.29 +0.30/-0.13 of total dark matter, and a poorly constrained lensing component mass 0.02 to 1.5 solar mass, 1 sigma limits). This study is the prototype for a larger one approaching completion; between them there is significant evidence for asymmetry in the distribution of microlensing events across the face of M31, and a large population of halo microlensing objects. (Abridged)

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arXiv2003

First Microlensing Events From The MEGA Survey Of M31

We present the first M31 candidate microlensing events from the Microlensing Exploration of the Galaxy and Andromeda (MEGA) survey. MEGA uses several telescopes to detect microlensing towards the nearby Andromeda galaxy, M31, in order to establish whether massive compact objects are a significant contribution to the mass budget of the dark halo of M31. The results presented here are based on observations with the Isaac Newton Telescope on La Palma, during the 1999/00 and 2000/01 observing seasons. In this data set, 14 variable sources consistent with microlensing have been detected, 12 of which are new and 2 have been reported previously by the POINT-AGAPE group. A preliminary analysis of the spatial and timescale distributions of the candidate events support their microlensing nature. We compare the spatial distributions of the candidate events and of long-period variable stars, assuming the chances of finding a long-period variable and a microlensing event are comparable. The spatial distribution of our candidate microlensing events is more far/near side asymmetric than expected from the detected long-period variable distribution. The current analysis is preliminary and the asymmetry not highly significant, but the spatial distribution of candidate microlenses is suggestive of the presence of a microlensing halo.

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arXiv2003

Towards Constraints on Dark Energy from Absorption Spectra of Close Quasar Pairs

A comparison between the line of sight power spectrum of absorption in the Lyman-alpha forest and the cross power spectrum between the absorption in neighboring lines of sight offers an evolution-free means to constrain the cosmological constant, or dark energy. Using cosmological simulations, we consider a maximum likelihood method to obtain constraints from this comparison. In our method, measurements of the auto and cross spectra from observations are compared with those from a multi-parameter grid of simulated models of the intergalactic medium. We then marginalize over nuisance parameters to obtain constraints on the cosmological constant. Redshift space distortions due to peculiar velocities and thermal broadening, a potential difficulty in applying this test, are explicitly modeled in our simulations. To illustrate our method, we measure the cross spectrum from a new sample of five close quasar pairs, with separations of 0.5 to 3 arcmin. We attempt to obtain a constraint on Omega_Lambda, but find only weak constraints. An Einstein-de-Sitter cosmology is, however, disfavored by the data at a ~ 2 sigma confidence level. We consider the power of future observations, paying particular attention to the effects of spectral resolution and shot-noise. We find that ~ 50 moderate resolution, FWHM ~ 150 km/s, close separation (~ 30-120 arcsec) pairs should allow a (2 sigma) constraint on Omega_Lambda at the level of 15%, if other modeling parameters are determined through other means. We find that there is a sizeable gain from observing very close, ~ 30 arcsec, separation pairs provided they are observed with high spectral resolution. A sample of ~ 10 such pairs gives similar constraints to the 50 moderate resolution pairs mentioned above.

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arXiv2002

Multiple Light Echoes from Supernova 1993J

Using the technique of PSF-matched image subtraction, we have analyzed archival HST/WFPC2 data to reveal details of at least two light-echo structures, including some unknown before now, around SN 1993J in the galaxy M81. In particular, we see one partial sheet of material 81 pc in front of the SN and tilted ~60 deg relative to the disk plane of M81, and another 220 pc in front of the SN, roughly parallel to the disk. The inferred echoing material is consistent with the HI surface density detected in this region of M81's disk; however, these data imply a fragmented covering factor for the echoing structures. We discuss prospects for future (roughly annual) visits by HST to image these and yet undiscovered echoes in the interstellar and circumstellar environment of SN 1993J.

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arXiv2002

Evolution and Geometry of Hot Spots in Supernova Remnant 1987A

We present ground-based near-infrared imaging and {\em HST} optical imaging and spectroscopy of the interaction between the ejecta of SN 1987A and its equatorial circumstellar ring. This interaction has made a transition, from emission originating in just a few ``hot spots'' at restricted locations in position angle around the ring, to a collision producing optical emission over a nearly continuous distribution, with few breaks larger than 45 degrees. The centroids of the first three spots are measured to move at 2000-3000 km/s, which we interpret as a lower limit of the velocity of the forward blast front. Multi-wavelength light curves of the spots show that they do not evolve uniformly, and change significantly on timescales as short as one month; in particular the first spot shows a significant break in its lightcurve. Implications of observed delays between spots appearances are discussed, which leads to a generalized model of hot spot evolution, and suggests that the early appearance of the first hot spot is explained by its inward radial position and a fairly uniform forward blast wave, rather than extraordinary physical circumstances. Data further suggest that the forward blast is reaching the bulk of the inner ring material to the east, the density of which appears higher than elsewhere in the ring. We study the ring geometry, finding evidence suggestive of an intrinsic ellipticity of 0.95, and find lower and upper distance limits of 47.9 +/- 0.92 kpc and 54.4 +/- 2.1 kpc, respectively.

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arXiv2000

QSOs and Absorption Line Systems Surrounding the Hubble Deep Field

We have imaged a 45x45 sq. arcmin. area centered on the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) in UBVRI passbands, down to respective limiting magnitudes of approximately 21.5, 22.5, 22.2, 22.2, and 21.2. The principal goals of the survey are to identify QSOs and to map structure traced by luminous galaxies and QSO absorption line systems in a wide volume containing the HDF. We have selected QSO candidates from color space, and identified 4 QSOs and 2 narrow emission-line galaxies (NELGs) which have not previously been discovered, bringing the total number of known QSOs in the area to 19. The bright z=1.305 QSO only 12 arcmin. away from the HDF raises the northern HDF to nearly the same status as the HDF-S, which was selected to be proximate to a bright QSO. About half of the QSO candidates remain for spectroscopic verification. Absorption line spectroscopy has been obtained for 3 bright QSOs in the field, using the Keck 10m, ARC 3.5m, and MDM 2.4m telescopes. Five heavy-element absorption line systems have been identified, 4 of which overlap the well-explored redshift range covered by deep galaxy redshift surveys towards the HDF. The two absorbers at z=0.5565 and z=0.5621 occur at the same redshift as the second most populated redshift peak in the galaxy distribution, but each is more than 7Mpc/h (comoving, Omega_M=1, Omega_L=0) away from the HDF line of sight in the transverse dimension. This supports more indirect evidence that the galaxy redshift peaks are contained within large sheet-like structures which traverse the HDF, and may be precursors to large-scale ``pancake'' structures seen in the present-day galaxy distribution.

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arXiv1999

The Structure of the Circumstellar Envelope of SN 1987A

The volume around the SN 1987A contains a variety of structures, not just the three rings glowing in recombination lines. Many of these are revealed by light echoes, so are mapped in three dimensions by our optical imaging of the SN environs. The rings reside in a bipolar nebula containing them at its waist and crowns, and which is itself contained in a larger, diffuse nebula with a detectable equatorial overdensity. This diffuse nebula terminates in a denser wall which likely marks the inner edge of a bubble blown by the progenitor's main sequence wind. Along with mapping these structures, we measure spectroscopically the velocity of the gas, revealing, for instance, kinematic ages for the inner and outer rings in close agreement with each other. The presence of these structures, their ages and morphologies must be included in models explaining the evolution of the progenitor star and its mass loss envelope.

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arXiv1999

SN 1987A's Circumstellar Envelope, II: Kinematics of the Three Rings and the Diffuse Nebula

We present several different measurements of the velocities of structures within the circumstellar envelope of SN 1987A, including the inner, equatorial ring (ER), outer rings (ORs), and the diffuse nebulosity at radii < 5 pc, based on CTIO 4m and HST data. A comparison of STIS and WFPC2 [N II]6583 loci for the rings show that the ER is expanding in radius at 10.5+-0.3 km/s, with the northern OR expanding along the line of sight at about 26 km/s, and for the southern OR, about 23 km/s. Similar results are found with CTIO 4m data. Accounting for inclination, the best fit to all data show both ORs with an expansion from the SN of 26 km/s. The ratio of the ER to OR velocities is nearly equal to the ratio of ER to OR radii, so the rings are roughly homologous, all having kinematic ages corresponding to about 20,000 yr before the SN explosion. This makes previously reported, large compositional differences between the ER and ORs difficult to understand. Additionally, a grid of longslit 4m/echelle spectra centered on the SN shows two velocity components over a region roughly coextensive with the outer circumstellar envelope extending about 5 pc (20 arcsec) from the SN. One component is blueshifted and the other redshifted from the SN centroid by about 10 km/s each. These features may represent a bipolar flow expanding from the SN, in which the ORs are propelled 10-15 km/s faster than that of the surrounding envelope into which they propogate. The kinematic timescale for the entire nebula is at least about 350,000 yr. The kinematics of these various structures constrain possible models for the evolution of the progenitor and its formation of a mass loss nebula.

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arXiv1997

Optical Light Curves of the Type Ia Supernovae 1990N and 1991T

We present UBVRI light curves for the bright Type Ia supernovae SN 1990N in NGC 4639 and SN 1991T in NGC 4527 based on photometry gathered in the course of the Calan/Tololo supernova program. Both objects have well-sampled light curves starting several days before maximum light and spanning well through the exponential tail. These data supercede the preliminary photometry published by Leibundgut et al (1991) and Phillips et al (1992). The host galaxies for these supernovae have (or will have) accurate distances based on the Cepheid period-luminosity relationship. The photometric data in this paper provide template curves for the study of general population of Type Ia supernova and accurate photometric indices needed for the Cepheid-supernova distance scale.

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arXiv1996

VATT/Columbia Microlensing Survey of M31 and the Galaxy

We describe the results and outline the methods used in a search for microlensing events affecting stars in the outer bulge and inner disk of M31, due both to masses in M31 and the Galaxy. These observations, from 1994 and 1995 on the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope and KPNO 4m, rule out masses over much of the range from ~10e-7 M_sol to 0.08 M_sol as the primary constituents of the mass of M31 and the Galaxy towards this field. Furthermore we find six candidate events consistent with microlensing due to masses of about 1 M_sol, but we suspect that some of these may be cases where long-period red supergiant variables may be mistaken for microlensing events. Coverage from anticipated data should be helpful in determining if these sources maintain a constant baseline, and therefore are best described by microlensing events. We analyzed our data using the new technique of "difference image photometry" (also called "pixel lensing"). A brief overview of this technique is included in the Appendix I. This contribution summarizes two other recent papers (Tomaney & Crotts 1996, Crotts & Tomaney 1996).

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arXiv1996

Expanding the Realm of Microlensing Surveys with Difference Image Photometry

We present a new technique for monitoring microlensing activity even in highly crowded fields, and use this technique to place limits on low-mass MACHOs in the haloes of M31 and the Galaxy. Unlike present Galactic microlensing surveys, we employ a technique in which a large fraction of the stellar sample is compressed into a single CCD field, rather than spread out in a way requiring many different telescope pointings. We implement the suggestion by Crotts (1992) that crowded fields can be monitored by searching for changes in flux of variable objects by subtracting images of the same field, taken in time sequence, positionally registered, photometrically normalized, then subtracted from one another (or a sequence average). The present work tackles the most difficult part of this task, the adjustment of the point spread function among images in the sequence so that seeing variations play an insignificant role in determining the residual after subtraction. The interesting signal following this process consists of positive and negative point sources due to variable sources. The measurement of changes in flux determined in this way we dub "difference image photometry" (also called "pixel lensing" [Gould 1996]). - The matching of the image point spread function (PSF) is accomplished by a division of PSFs in Fourier space to produce a convolution kernel, in a manner explored for other reasons by Phillips & Davis (1995). In practice, we find the application of this method is difficult in a typical telescope and wide field imaging camera due to a subtle interplay between the spatial variation of the PSF associated with the optical design and the inevitable time variability of the telescope focus. Such effects lead to complexities...(abstract continues)

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arXiv1996

Results from a Survey of Gravitational Microlensing towards M31

We describe the results of a search for microlensing events affecting stars in the outer bulge and inner disk of M31, due both to masses in M31 and the Galaxy. These observations, from 1994 and 1995 on the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope and KPNO 4m, are sufficient to rule out masses in the range of ~0.003 M_sol to 0.08 M_sol as the primary consistuents of the mass of M31 towards this field. Furthermore we find six candidate events consistent with microlensing due to masses of about 1 M_sol, but we suspect that some of these may be cases where long-period red supergiant variables may be mistaken for microlensing events. Coverage from anticipated data should be helpful in determining if these sources maintain a constant baseline, and therefore are best described by microlensing events.

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arXiv1995

The Size and Nature of Lyman alpha Forest Clouds Probed by QSO Pairs and Groups

We describe a robust Bayesian statistical method for determining Lyman alpha forest cloud sizes in spherical and in thin disk geometries, using absorption in adjacent sightlines toward closely separated QSO pairs and groups, apply this method to the available data, and discuss implications of our results for models of Ly alpha clouds. Under the assumption of a population of uniform- size and unclustered clouds, the data from Q1343+2640A/B give a 99% confidence lower and upper bounds 61 0.4 A threshold on all linelists, we find a trend of larger inferred cloud radius with larger proper separation of QSO pairs, significant at the 3.4 sigma level. This indicates that the idealization of unclustered, uniform-sized clouds does not accurately describe the Ly alpha cloud population.

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arXiv1994

Spectroscopy of the Double Quasars Q1343+264 Ab: II. the Relationship between Galaxies Ans QSO C~IV Absorption Lines -

We present spectra of QSOs 1343+266 A B, covering Ly-beta to C~IV emission at 2Å~resolution, and find further evidence that this system is not gravitationally lensed. We see, however, a large number of Ly-alpha and some C~IV absorption features common to both spectra. The frequency of C~IV lines in common indicates that these absorbers have a radius close to the sightline separation, $39~h^{-1}$kpc ($q_o=0.5$), implying a spatial number density of these absorbers the same as current day $L>0.3L_*$ galaxies. Furthermore, the velocity mismatch for C~IV systems indicates absorber masses in the range $10^{11}~M_{\odot} < M < 10^{12}~M_{\odot}$. These results confirm that typical galaxies cause QSO C~IV-line absorption. A complete line-list of metal-lines and the Ly-alpha forest is presented

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arXiv1994

Spectroscopy of the Double Quasars Q1343+266AB: I. a New Determination of the Size of Lyman-Alpha Forest Absorbers

We have obtained spectroscopy of Q 1343+266 AB, a pair of quasars at redshift z = 2.03 with a projected separation of 9.5 arcseconds. This system is well-suited for probing the Ly-alpha forest, since the two component spectra show several Ly-alpha lines in common and several others not. Using Bayesian statistics, under the idealization of uniform-radius spherical absorbers, we find that the Ly-alpha cloud radius at $z \approx 1.8$ lies in the range $40\hkpc < R < 280 \hkpc$ with $98\%$ confidence in a $(Ω_o, Λ_o) = (1, 0)$ model universe, where $h =(H_o / 100 km s^{-1} Mpc^{-1})$. The median value of R is 90 h^-1 kpc. \ These numbers scale up by a factor 1.44 for $(Ω_o, Λ_o) =(0.1, 0)$; and by a factor 1.85 for (0.1, 0.9). Pressure-confined and freely-expanding Ly-alpha cloud models in which the absorbers formed in a significantly more compressed state at $z \gg 2$ are contradicted by these new data, as are models involving stably-confined gas concentrations in photoionization equilibrium within minihalos of cold dark matter. The comoving density of Ly-alpha forest objects at $z\sim 2$ is $\sim 0.3 h (R/100 kpc)^{-2} Mpc^{-3}$ in a (1,0) model universe. This suggests a possible identification of Ly-alpha clouds with the unvirialized, collapsing progenitors of the faint, blue galaxies at $z\sim 1$.

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