arXiv subjects

Gitika Rameshan

Publications and source records attributed to Gitika Rameshan.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Two years of shock interaction tracing three phases of evolution: the explosion of a Type IIn supernova, SN 2019vxm

We present multi-wavelength photometric and optical spectroscopic observations of the long-lived interacting supernova SN 2019vxm, spanning more than two years after the explosion. SN 2019vxm is a slowly rising (rise time ~ 45.9 days in the R-band), slowly declining supernova reaching an R-band peak absolute magnitude of ~-20.3 mag. The SN light curve post-maximum shows a shallow decline, followed by a secondary, steeper decline in the optical (0.01 mag/day), with late-time IR brightening. The total radiated luminosity is 5x10^50 erg, placing it among the energetic class of its type. We estimated a CSM mass of 3-8 M_sun through light-curve modeling (independent of the CSM density profile) and by comparison with theoretical models. We estimate a minimum ejecta mass of ~ 3.88 M_sun from the broad H-alpha component, consistent with the ejecta mass obtained from the light curve models. The solely interaction-dominated initial epochs are later accompanied by photon-scattering signatures, leading to asymmetric line profiles with symmetric wings. The late phase, characterized by enhanced brightness at longer wavelengths and a stronger asymmetric line profile with the red side flux strongly suppressed, indicates the influence of pre-existing or newly formed dust with temperatures ~ 1500 K at ~4x10^16 cm. Even in the late phases, no nebular lines are present in the spectra, indicating dense or obscured ejecta.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Subluminous Type IIP SN 2024abfl as a Result of a Significantly Low-energy Fe-core Collapse

We present extensive, well-sampled multiwavelength photometric and low-resolution optical spectroscopic observations of the low-luminosity Type IIP supernova SN 2024abfl. SN 2024abfl is found to be at the faintest end of Type IIP supernovae with unprecedented flat (0.1 mag/ 100 day) plateau evolution and a mid-plateau absolute magnitude of Mv~-13.8 mag, placing it among one of the faintest Type IIP supernovae discovered to date. SN 2024abfl is adjacent to SN 2018zd in the same host NGC~2146. Using various SN distance measurement probes, we provide independent estimates of the debated distance to the host NGC 2146 (7-9 Mpc). Spectral evolution of SN 2024abfl is found to be similar to other SNe spectra of this subclass but with very narrow line profiles, indicating moderately low expansion velocities of the ejecta. Detailed 1-D hydrodynamical modeling suggests a compact progenitor with an upper limit of 10 Msun, fairly consistent with the directly detected progenitor estimates. It exploded with very low-energy 0.05 foe or less with a very low nickel mass of 0.003 Msun, consistent with the observed parameters. These parameters provide important constraints on the nature of low-energy core-collapse explosions. We discuss possible progenitor scenarios and compare SN 2024abfl with other low-luminosity Type IIP supernovae.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

A 14-year-old Mystery: The Peculiar Case of the Engine-driven SN 2012ap

We present late-time ($\delta t > 3000$ d) optical (Keck), X-ray (Chandra and NuSTAR), and radio (VLA, ALMA, and the uGMRT) observations of the Type Ic-BL SN 2012ap. Previous studies of this SN suggested that it stands out as a key example of a weak engine-driven explosion due to the lack of gamma-ray burst detection and a mildly relativistic ejecta. Recently, radio sky surveys revealed the rebrightening of the radio emission from this SN, highlighting the possibilities of a density enhancement at large radii or the existence of an off-axis relativistic jet. While the late-time optical spectra does not exhibit the broad emission lines seen in other interacting SNe, our analysis of the broadband radio and X-ray emission implies that both scenarios are plausible. If a density enhancement is responsible for the radio rebrightening, it has to result from a change in the mass-loss rate and/or wind velocity, possibly due to the transition of the progenitor from a red supergiant to a Wolf-Rayet star. If the late-time radio component is a result of an off-axis relativistic jet, we find that an energetic narrow jet viewed at $\theta_{\rm obs} \geq 80^{\circ}$ is needed. In this scenario, SN 2012ap is not a result of a weak engine-driven explosion, and, instead, it is similar to other GRBs. However, radio rebrightenings of Type Ic-BL SNe are not enough on their own to determine the existence of off-axis jets and our planned VLBA observation will help reveal the true nature of this SN.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

On the properties of X-ray corona in Seyfert 1 galaxies

We carried out a uniform and systematic analysis of a sample of 112 nearby bright Seyfert 1 type AGN, the observations of which were carried out by the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) between August 2013 and May 2022. The main goal of this analysis is to investigate the nature of the X-ray corona in Seyfert 1 galaxies. By fitting a physical model to the {\it NuSTAR} spectra, we were able to constrain the high-energy cut-off ($\rm{E_{cut}}$) for 73 sources in our sample. To estimate the temperature of the corona ($\rm{kT_{e}}$) in our sample of 112 sources, we used the Comptonization model to fit their spectra. We could constrain $\rm{kT_{e}}$ in 42 sources. We found a strong positive correlation between $\rm{E_{cut}}$ and $\rm{kT_{e}}$ with most of the sources lying above the empirical approximation of $\rm{E_{cut}}$ = 2$-$3 $\rm{kT_{e}}$. We investigated for possible correlations between various properties of the corona obtained from physical model fits to the observed spectra and between various coronal parameters and physical properties of the sources such as Eddington ratio and black hole mass. We found (a) a strong correlation between $\rm{E_{cut}}$ and the photon index and (b) a significant negative correlation between $\rm{kT_{e}}$ and the optical depth. From detailed statistical analysis of the correlation of coronal parameters with the Eddington ratio and black hole mass, we found no significant correlation. The correlations observed in this study indicate that an optically thin corona is needed to sustain a hotter corona with a steeper spectrum.

astro-ph.HE↗