arXiv subjects

Brian J. Williams

Publications and source records attributed to Brian J. Williams.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

JWST Spectra Indicate a Large Mass of Postshock Dust Formed by SN 2010jl

We present new JWST mid-IR spectra and ground-based optical spectra of the lingering source at the position of SN 2010jl, which was a relatively nearby superluminous Type IIn supernova having strong interaction with circumstellar material (CSM). Early-time data showed evidence of dust, interpreted as either pre-existing CSM dust, or as newly formed dust in the SN ejecta and post-shock region. At 13 yr post explosion, JWST reveals a strong MIR excess from warm dust, with broad features at 10-15 $μ$m. Our analysis reveals a minimum dust mass of $>$0.11 $M_{\odot}$, and a more likely value of 0.2 $M_{\odot}$ or more because the dust is optically thick. This is among the largest masses of SN-produced dust yet measured without far-IR/submm data, and greatly exceeds SN 2010jl's dust mass inferred around 2-3 yr post-explosion. Ground-based optical spectra confirm the presence of a young massive cluster at the SN position, and confirm that blueshifted line profiles persisting until the latest epochs arise from dust formed in the post-shock region. The warmest dust emitting in the MIR is likely to be the same post-shock dust causing the blueshift. The JWST spectrum also reveals silicate absorption, which may arise from cool SN ejecta dust along the line of sight to the receding shock. The large mass of post-shock dust in SN 2010jl suggests that strong CSM interaction promotes efficient dust production, where the new post-shock dust will survive. If strongly interacting SNe are common in the early Universe, this may contribute significantly to dust seen in infant galaxies.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

XRISM Observation of the Supernova Remnant N103B: Velocity Structure and Thermal Properties

We present the first analysis of the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) observation of the supernova remnant (SNR) N103B. We fit the X-ray spectrum taken with the Resolve microcalorimeter, which captured emission lines from the predominantly ejecta elements Si, S, Ar, Ca, Cr, Mn, and Fe. Notably, our fits require a previously unidentified high-temperature, highly-ionized, Fe-dominated plasma component with particularly high Cr and Mn abundances, matching a feature also present in the recent XRISM analysis of the SNR N132D. We find that all ejecta in N103B exhibits significant line broadening arising mostly from thermal Doppler broadening: increasing from $σ_{\rm th}\sim1700$ km s$^{-1}$ for intermediate-mass element (IME: Si, S, Ar, and Ca) ejecta to $\sim$2800 km s$^{-1}$ for Fe-rich ejecta. These velocities correspond to reverse shock velocities of $\sim$3500 and $\sim$5900 km s$^{-1}$, respectively, in the ejecta frame of rest. Finally, we find that the IMEs are redshifted with a bulk velocity of $\sim$360 km s$^{-1}$ while the Fe-dominated components are split: one redshifted at $\sim$1560 km s$^{-1}$ and the other blueshifted at $\sim$1020 km s$^{-1}$. Our results provide further support for the double-ring structure of N103B as it expands into the bipolar winds of a non-degenerate companion and highlight the strength of high-resolution spectroscopic observations of SNRs.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

XRISM finds the Changing-Look AGN NGC 1365 in an extended low state: A dense, highly ionized outflow obscures the central source

We present the first XRISM/Resolve observations of the active galactic nucleus, NGC 1365, obtained in 2024 February and July. NGC 1365 is known for rapid transitions between Compton-thick and Compton-thin states, along with strong absorption from a highly ionized wind. During our observations, the source is found in a persistent low-flux state, characterized by a decrease in hard-X-ray luminosity and significant line-of-sight obscuration. In this state, XRISM/Resolve reveals clear Fe\,\textsc{xxv} and Fe\,\textsc{xxvi} absorption lines together with, for the first time in this source, corresponding emission lines. These features may arise either from reemission from a photoionized wind (P Cygni profile) or from collisionally ionized gas associated with outflow-driven shocks in the interstellar medium. We estimate the wind launch radius to be approximately $10^{16}~\mathrm{cm}$ ($\sim 10^4 R_{\mathrm{g}}$), consistent with the location of the X-ray broad-line region. We also resolve a broadened Fe K$α$ line by $σ\sim 1300$ km s$^{-1}$ placing it at similar scales to the wind, consistent with radii inferred from disk-broadening models and the variability of the Fe K$α$ broad line. The similarity of the Fe K$α$ profile to the H$β$ wing and broad Pa$α$ width indicates that the X-ray-emitting region is likely cospatial with the optical/IR broad-line region and originates from the same gas.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Chandra Large Project Observations of the Supernova Remnant N132D: Measuring the Expansion of the Forward Shock

We present results from the Chandra X-ray Observatory Large Project (878 ks in 28 observations) of the Large Magellanic Cloud supernova remnant N132D. We measure the expansion of the forward shock in the bright southern rim to be $0.\!^{\prime\prime}10 \pm 0.\!^{\prime\prime}02$ over the $\sim14.5$ yr baseline, which corresponds to a velocity of $1620\pm400~\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$ after accounting for several instrumental effects. We measure an expansion of $0.\!^{\prime\prime}23 \pm 0.\!^{\prime\prime}02$ and a shock velocity of $3840\pm260~\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$ for two features in an apparent blowout region in the northeast. The emission-measure-weighted average temperature inferred from X-ray spectral fits to regions in the southern rim is $0.95\pm0.17$ keV, consistent with the electron temperature implied by the shock velocity after accounting for Coulomb equilibration and adiabatic expansion. In contrast, the emission-measure-weighted average temperature for the northeast region is $0.77\pm0.04$ keV, which is significantly lower than the value inferred from the shock velocity. We fit 1-D evolutionary models for the shock in the southern rim and northeast region, using the measured radius and propagation velocity into a constant density and power-law profile circumstellar medium. We find good agreement with the age of $\sim2500$ years derived from optical expansion measurements for explosion energies of $1.5-3.0 \times 10^{51}\,\mathrm{erg}$, ejecta masses of $2-6 \,\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$ and ambient medium densities of $\sim0.33-0.66$ $\mathrm{amu~cm}^{-3}$ in the south and $\sim0.01-0.02$ $\mathrm{amu~cm}^{-3}$ in the northeast assuming a constant density medium. These results are consistent with previous studies that suggested the progenitor of N132D was an energetic supernova that exploded into a pre-existing cavity.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Evidence for Charge Exchange Emission in Supernova Remnant N132D from XRISM/Resolve Observations

XRISM has delivered one of its first light observations on N132D, the X-ray brightest supernova remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Utilizing 193 ks of high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy data, we conduct a comprehensive search for charge exchange emission. By incorporating a charge exchange model into our spectral analysis, we observe an improvement in the fits of two weak features at 2.41 keV and 2.63 keV. These features, with a combined significance of 99.6%, are consistent with transitions from highly ionized silicon ions in high Rydberg states, which are unique indicators of charge exchange. Our analysis constrains the charge exchange flux to no more than 4% of the total source flux within the 1.7-3.0 keV band, and places an upper limit on the charge exchange interaction velocity at 450 km/s. This result supports ongoing shock-cloud interactions within N132D and highlights the unique capabilities of XRISM to probe the complex physical processes at play.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

JWST/MIRI detects the dusty SN1993J about 30 years after explosion

Core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) have long been considered to contribute significantly to the cosmic dust budget. New dust cools quickly and is therefore detectable at mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths. However, before the era of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), direct observational evidence for dust condensation was found in only a handful of nearby CCSNe, and dust masses (~10$^{-2}-10^{-3} M_{\odot}$, generally limited to <5 yr and to >500K temperatures) have been 2-3 orders of magnitude smaller than either theoretical predictions or dust amounts found by far-IR/submm observations of Galactic SN remnants and in the very nearby SN 1987A. The combined angular resolution and mid-IR sensitivity of JWST finally allow us to reveal hidden cool (~100-200K) dust reservoirs in extragalactic SNe beyond SN 1987A. Our team received JWST/MIRI time for studying a larger sample of CCSNe to fill the currently existing gap in their dust formation histories. The first observed target of this program is the well-known Type IIb SN~1993J appeared in M81. We generated its spectral energy distribution (SED) from the current JWST/MIRI F770W, F1000W, F1500W, and F2100W fluxes. We fit single- and two-component silicate and carbonaceous dust models to the SED. We found that SN 1993J still contains a significant amount (~0.01 $M_{\odot}$) of dust ~30 yr after explosion. Comparing these results to those of the analysis of earlier {Spitzer Space Telescope data, we see a similar amount of dust now that was detected ~15-20 yr ago, but at a lower temperature. We also find residual background emission near the SN site (after point-spread-function subtraction on the JWST/MIRI images) that may plausibly be attributed to an IR echo from more distant interstellar dust grains heated by the SN shock-breakout luminosity or ongoing star formation in the local environment.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Bayesian Event Categorization Matrix Approach for Explosion Monitoring

Current efforts to correctly categorize natural events from suspected explosion sources with data that is collected by ground- or space-based sensors presents historical challenges that remain unaddressed by the Event Categorization Matrix (ECM) model. Smaller historical events (lower yield explosions) often include only sparse observations among few modalities and can therefore lack a complete set of discriminants. The covariance structures can also vary significantly between such observations of event (source-type) categories. Both obstacles are problematic for the ``classic'' Event Categorization Matrix model. Our work addresses this gap and presents a Bayesian update to the previous Event Categorization Matrix model, termed the Bayesian Event Categorization Matrix model, which can be trained on partial observations and does not rely on a pooled covariance structure. We further augment the Event Categorization Matrix model with Bayesian Decision Theory so that false negative or false positive rates of an event categorization can be reduced in an intuitive manner. To demonstrate improved categorization rates for the Bayesian Event Categorization Matrix model, we compare an array of Bayesian and classic models with multiple performance metrics using Monte Carlo experiments. We use both synthetic and real data. Our Bayesian models show consistent gains in overall accuracy and a lower false negative rates relative to the classic Event Categorization Matrix model. We propose future avenues to improve Bayesian Event Categorization Matrix models for further improving decision-making and predictive capability.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2024

Comparing the three-dimensional morphological asymmetries in the ejecta of Kepler and Tycho in X-rays

Recent simulations have shown that asymmetries in the ejecta distribution of supernova remnants (SNRs) may be a reflection of asymmetries left over from the initial supernova explosion. Thus, SNR studies provide a vital means for testing and constraining model predictions in relation to the distribution of heavy elements, which are key to improving our understanding of the explosion mechanisms in Type Ia supernovae. The use of a novel blind source separation method applied to the megasecond X-ray observations of the historic Kepler and Tycho supernova remnants has revealed maps of the ejecta distribution. These maps are endowed with an unprecedented level of detail and clear separations from the continuum emission. Our method also provides a three-dimensional (3D) view of the ejecta by individually disentangling red- and blueshifted spectral components associated with images of the Si, S, Ar, Ca, and Fe emission. This approach provides insights into the morphology of the ejecta distribution in those two remnants. Those mappings have allowed us to thoroughly investigate the asymmetries in the intermediate-mass elements and Fe distribution in two Type Ia supernova remnants. We also compared the results with the core-collapse Cassiopeia A remnant, which we had studied previously. The images obtained confirm, as expected for Type Ia SNRs, that the Fe distribution is mostly closer to the core than that of intermediate-mass elements. They also highlight peculiar features in the ejecta distribution, such as the Fe-rich southeastern knot in Tycho.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Missing Titanium in the Asymmetric Supernova Remnant W49B

The progenitor of the W49B supernova remnant is still under debate. One of the candidates is a jet-driven core-collapse supernova. In such a highly asymmetric explosion, a strong $α$-rich freezeout is expected in local high entropy regions, which should enrich elements synthesized by the capture of $α$-particles such as $^{44}$Ti and $^{48}$Cr (decaying to $^{44}$Ca and $^{48}$Ti, respectively). In the present work, in order to infer the progenitor of the W49B remnant, we constrain the amount of stable Ti ($^{48}$Ti) synthesized, using the {\it Suzaku} observation. We found no firm evidence for the Ti line and set the upper limit of $M_{\rm Ti}/M_{\rm Fe} < 8.2 \times$ 10$^{-4}$ (99\% limit using Xspec) and $M_{\rm Ti}/M_{\rm Fe} < 1.9 \times$ 10$^{-3}$ (99\% limit using SPEX), and thus excluded almost all hypernova/jet-driven supernova models. Our results, as complemented by some previous studies, suggest that a Type Ia supernova from a near-$M_{\rm Ch}$ (Chandrasekhar mass) white dwarf is the most favorable candidate for the origin of W49B. Future observations with X-ray calorimeter missions, such as XRISM, will give us a stronger constraint on the progenitor.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Mapping thermal emission in the synchrotron-dominated SNRs 330.2+1.0, 3C58, and RX J1713.7-3946

Since the discovery of synchrotron X-ray emission from the shell of the supernova remnant (SNR) SN 1006, multiple observations from Chandra and XMM-Newton have shown that many young SNRs produce synchrotron emission in X-rays. Among those, a few peculiar SNRs have their X-ray emission largely dominated by synchrotron radiation, showing no or only faint traces of thermal emission. In this paper, we report our mapping of the thermal emission in three emblematic synchrotron-dominated SNRs: G330.2+1.0, 3C58, and RX J1713.7-3946. We used a blind source separation method able to retrieve faint components from X-ray data in the form of Chandra and XMM-Newton observations. The thermal candidates disentangled by the algorithm were then used to select regions of extraction. We then analyzed the extracted spectra to assess their physical nature. We conclude that the components retrieved by the algorithm indeed represent the spatial distribution of the thermal emission in G330.2+1.0 and 3C58, and a likely thermal candidate in RX J1713.7-3946. Our findings confirm and expand on past studies.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Overview of the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS)

The Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) is a Probe-class concept that will build on the legacy of the Chandra X-ray Observatory by providing low-background, arcsecond-resolution imaging in the 0.3-10 keV band across a 450 arcminute$^2$ field of view, with an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity. AXIS utilizes breakthroughs in the construction of lightweight segmented X-ray optics using single-crystal silicon, and developments in the fabrication of large-format, small-pixel, high readout rate CCD detectors with good spectral resolution, allowing a robust and cost-effective design. Further, AXIS will be responsive to target-of-opportunity alerts and, with onboard transient detection, will be a powerful facility for studying the time-varying X-ray universe, following on from the legacy of the Neil Gehrels (Swift) X-ray observatory that revolutionized studies of the transient X-ray Universe. In this paper, we present an overview of AXIS, highlighting the prime science objectives driving the AXIS concept and how the observatory design will achieve these objectives.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2023

Examining Neutrino-Matter Interactions in the Cassiopeia A Supernova

Neutrino interactions with stellar material are widely believed to be fundamental to the explosion of massive stars. However, this important process has remained difficult to confirm observationally. We propose a new method to verify it using X-ray observations of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. The elemental composition in its Fe-rich ejecta that could have been produced at the innermost region of the supernova, where neutrinos are expected to interact, allows us to examine the presence of neutrino interactions. Here we demonstrate that the amount of Mn produced without neutrino nucleosynthesis processes (i.e., the $ν$- and $ν$p-process) is too small to explain the Mn/Fe mass ratio we measure (0.14--0.67\%). This result supports the operation of significant neutrino interactions in the Cassiopeia A supernova. If the observed Mn/Fe mass ratio purely reflects the production at the innermost region of the supernova, this would be the first robust confirmation of neutrino-matter interactions in an individual supernova. We further show that the Mn/Fe mass ratio has the potential to constrain supernova neutrino parameters (i.e., total neutrino luminosity, neutrino temperature). Future spatially-resolved, high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy will allow us to investigate the details of neutrino-supernova astrophysics through its signatures in elemental composition not only in Cassiopeia A but also in other remnants.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

A broadband X-ray imaging spectroscopy in the 2030s: the FORCE mission

In this multi-messenger astronomy era, all the observational probes are improving their sensitivities and overall performance. The Focusing on Relativistic universe and Cosmic Evolution (FORCE) mission, the product of a JAXA/NASA collaboration, will reach a 10 times higher sensitivity in the hard X-ray band ($E >$ 10~keV) in comparison with any previous hard X-ray missions, and provide simultaneous soft X-ray coverage. FORCE aims to be launched in the early 2030s, providing a perfect hard X-ray complement to the ESA flagship mission Athena. FORCE will be the most powerful X-ray probe for discovering obscured/hidden black holes and studying high energy particle acceleration in our Universe and will address how relativistic processes in the universe are realized and how these affect cosmic evolution. FORCE, which will operate over 1--79 keV, is equipped with two identical pairs of supermirrors and wideband X-ray imagers. The mirror and imager are connected by a high mechanical stiffness extensible optical bench with alignment monitor systems with a focal length of 12~m. A light-weight silicon mirror with multi-layer coating realizes a high angular resolution of $<15''$ in half-power diameter in the broad bandpass. The imager is a hybrid of a brand-new SOI-CMOS silicon-pixel detector and a CdTe detector responsible for the softer and harder energy bands, respectively. FORCE will play an essential role in the multi-messenger astronomy in the 2030s with its broadband X-ray sensitivity.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Rapid Expansion of the Young Type Ia Supernova Remnant 0519-69.0: More Evidence for a Circumstellar Shell

The nature of Type Ia supernovae remains controversial. The youngest remnants of Ia supernovae hold clues to the explosion and to the immediate surroundings. We present a third epoch of Chandra observations of the $\sim600$-year-old Type Ia remnant 0519-69.0 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, extending the time baseline to 21 years from the initial 2000 observations. We find rapid expansion of X-ray emitting material, with an average velocity of 4760 km s$^{-1}$. At the distance of the LMC this corresponds to an undecelerated age of 750 years, with the true age somewhat smaller. We also find that the bright ring of emission has expanded by 1.3\%, corresponding to a velocity of 1900 km s$^{-1}$ and an undecelerated age of 1600 years. The high velocity of the peripheral X-rays, contrasted with the modest expansion of the main X-ray shell, provides further evidence for a massive shell of circumstellar material.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

The X-ray synchrotron rims in Cassiopeia A narrow with energy

Some young supernova remnants exhibit thin filaments of X-ray synchrotron radiation coinciding with the forward shock due to accelerated electrons interacting with the local magnetic field. The two main models accounting for the radial brightness evolution of these filaments differ in their prediction of the narrowing (or not) of the filaments with increasing photon energy. In this paper, we report our observation of such a narrowing of the synchrotron filaments in Cassiopeia A at X-ray energies, and how this finding could help in understanding the mechanisms at stake in their formation. We used a new blind source separation method on the 1 Ms Chandra observation of Cassiopeia A, in order to obtain detailed and unpolluted images of the synchrotron emission in three energy bands. We then extracted the profiles of several filaments at the forward shock and the reverse shock to estimate and compare their widths. We find that there is indeed a narrowing with energy of the synchrotron filaments both at the forward and at the reverse shocks in Cassiopeia A. The energy dependency of this narrowing seems stronger at high energy, which is indicative of a damping effect, confirmed by radio observations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Supernova remnants: Types and evolution

Although only a small fraction of stars end their lives as supernovae, all supernovae leave behind a supernova remnant (SNR), an expanding shock wave that interacts with the surrounding medium, heating the gas and seeding the cosmos with elements forged in the progenitor In this chapter, we introduce the basic properties of galactic and extragalactic SNRs (Section 2). We summarize how SNRs evolve throughout their life cycles over the course of ~10^6 yrs (Section 3). We discuss the various morphological types of SNRs and discuss the emission processes at various wavelengths.(Section 4).

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

An X-ray Proper Motion Study of the LMC SNR 0509-67.5

We present a third epoch of Chandra observations of the Type Ia Large Magellanic Cloud Supernova remnant (SNR) 0509-67.5. With these new observations from 2020, the baseline for proper motion measurements of the expansion has grown to 20 years (from the earliest Chandra observations in 2000). We report here the results of these new expansion measurements. The lack of nearby bright point sources renders absolute image alignment difficult. However, we are able to measure the average expansion of the diameter of the remnant along several projection directions. We find that the remnant is expanding with an average velocity of 6120 (4900 -- 7360) km s$^{-1}$. This high shock velocity is consistent with previous works, and also consistent with the inference that 0509-67.5 is expanding into a very low density surrounding medium. At the distance of the LMC, this velocity corresponds to an undecelerated age of 600 yrs, with the real age somewhat smaller.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Evidence for a Dense, Inhomogeneous Circumstellar Medium in the Type Ia SNR 0519-69.0

We perform an expansion study of the Balmer dominated outer shock of the SNR 0519$-$69.0 in the LMC by using a combination of new HST WFC3 imagery obtained in 2020 and archival ACS images from 2010 and 2011. Thanks to the very long time baseline, our proper motion measurements are of unprecedented accuracy. We find a wide range of shock velocities, with the fastest shocks averaging 5280 km/s and the slowest grouping of shocks averaging just 1670 km/s. We compare the H_alpha images from HST with X-ray images from Chandra and mid-IR images from Spitzer, finding a clear anti-correlation between the brightness of the remnant in a particular location and the velocity of the blast wave at that location, supporting the idea that the bright knots of X-ray and IR emission result from an interaction with a dense inhomogeneous circumstellar medium. We find no evidence for X-ray emission, thermal or nonthermal, associated with the fastest shocks, as expected if the fastest velocities are the result of the blast wave encountering the lower density ambient medium of the LMC. We derive an age of the remnant of 670 +/- 70 yr, consistent with results derived from previous investigations.

astro-ph.GA↗