arXiv subjects

I. Martí-Vidal

Publications and source records attributed to I. Martí-Vidal.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

The radio evolution of supernova SN$\,$2008iz in M$\,$82

We report on multi-frequency Very Large Array (VLA) and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) radio observations for a monitoring campaign of supernova SN$\,$2008iz in the nearby irregular galaxy M$\,$82. We fit two models to the data, a simple time power-law, S$\propto$ t$^β$, and a simplified Weiler model, yielding decline indices, $β$ of -1.22$\pm$0.07 (days 100-1500) and -1.41$\pm$0.02 (days 76-2167), respectively. The late-time radio light curve evolution shows flux-density flares at $\sim\,$970 and $\sim\,$1400 days which are a factor of $\sim\,$2 and $\sim\,$4 higher than the expected flux, respectively. The later flare, besides being brighter, does not show signs of decline at least from results examined so far (2014 January 23, day 2167). We derive the spectral index, $α$, S$\propto$ $ν^α$ for frequencies 1.4 to 43$\,$GHz for SN$\,$2008iz during the period from $\sim\,$430 to 2167 days after the supernova explosion. The value of $α$ shows no signs of evolution and remains steep $\approx$$-$1 throughout the period, unlike that of SN$\,$1993J which started flattening at $\sim\,$day 970. From the 4.8 and 8.4$\,$GHz VLBI images, the supernova expansion is seen to start with shell like structure that gets more and more asymmetric, then breaks up in the later epochs with bright structures dominating the southern part of the ring. This structural evolution differs significantly from SN$\,$1993J, which remains circularly symmetric over 4000 days after the explosion. The VLBI 4.8 and 8.4$\,$GHz images are used to derive a deceleration index, $m$, for SN$\,$2008iz, of 0.86$\,\pm\,$0.02, and the average expansion velocity between days 73 and 1400 as (12.1$\pm$0.2)$\times$10$^{3}\,$km$\,$s$^{-1}$.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

A Highly Magnetized Twin-Jet Base Pinpoints a Supermassive Black Hole

Supermassive black holes (SMBH) are essential for the production of jets in radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN). Theoretical models based on Blandford & Znajek extract the rotational energy from a Kerr black hole, which could be the case for NGC1052, to launch these jets. This requires magnetic fields of the order of $10^3\,$G to $10^4\,$G. We imaged the vicinity of the SMBH of the AGN NGC1052 with the Global Millimetre VLBI Array and found a bright and compact central feature, smaller than 1.9 light days (100 Schwarzschild radii) in radius. Interpreting this as a blend of the unresolved jet bases, we derive the magnetic field at 1 Schwarzschild radius to lie between 200 G and ~80000 G consistent with Blandford & Znajek models.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2015

Evidence for a chemically differentiated outflow in Mrk 231

Aims: Our goal is to study the chemical composition of the outflows of active galactic nuclei and starburst galaxies. Methods: We obtained high-resolution interferometric observations of HCN and HCO$^+$ $J=1\rightarrow0$ and $J=2\rightarrow1$ of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Mrk~231 with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer. We also use previously published observations of HCN and HCO$^+$ $J=1\rightarrow0$ and $J=3\rightarrow2$, and HNC $J=1\rightarrow0$ in the same source. Results: In the line wings of the HCN, HCO$^+$, and HNC emission, we find that these three molecular species exhibit features at distinct velocities which differ between the species. The features are not consistent with emission lines of other molecular species. Through radiative transfer modelling of the HCN and HCO$^+$ outflow emission we find an average abundance ratio $X(\mathrm{HCN})/X(\mathrm{HCO}^+)\gtrsim1000$. Assuming a clumpy outflow, modelling of the HCN and HCO$^+$ emission produces strongly inconsistent outflow masses. Conclusions: Both the anti-correlated outflow features of HCN and HCO$^+$ and the different outflow masses calculated from the radiative transfer models of the HCN and HCO$^+$ emission suggest that the outflow is chemically differentiated. The separation between HCN and HCO$^+$ could be an indicator of shock fronts present in the outflow, since the HCN/HCO$^+$ ratio is expected to be elevated in shocked regions. Our result shows that studies of the chemistry in large-scale galactic outflows can be used to better understand the physical properties of these outflows and their effects on the interstellar medium (ISM) in the galaxy.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2014

Subarcsecond international LOFAR radio images of the M82 nucleus at 118 MHz and 154 MHz

The nuclear starburst in the nearby galaxy M82 provides an excellent laboratory for understanding the physics of star formation. This galaxy has been extensively observed in the past, revealing tens of radio-bright compact objects embedded in a diffuse free-free absorbing medium. Our understanding of the structure and physics of this medium in M82 can be greatly improved by high-resolution images at low frequencies where the effects of free-free absorption are most prominent. The aims of this study are, firstly, to demonstrate imaging using international baselines of the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), and secondly, to constrain low-frequency spectra of compact and diffuse emission in the central starburst region of M82 via high-resolution radio imaging at low frequencies. The international LOFAR telescope was used to observe M82 at 110-126MHz and 146-162MHz. Images were obtained using standard techniques from very long baseline interferometry. images were obtained at each frequency range: one only using international baselines, and one only using the longest Dutch (remote) baselines. The 154MHz image obtained using international baselines is a new imaging record in terms of combined image resolution (0.3$"$) and sensitivity ($σ$=0.15mJy/beam) at low frequencies ($<327$MHz). We detected 16 objects at 154MHz, six of these also at 118MHz. Four weaker but resolved features are also found: a linear (50pc) filament and three other resolved objects, of which two show a clear shell structure. We do not detect any emission from either supernova 2008iz or from the radio transient source 43.78+59.3. The images obtained using remote baselines show diffuse emission, associated with the outflow in M82, with reduced brightness in the region of the edge-on star-forming disk.

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arXiv2014

Stacking of large interferometric data sets in the image- and uv-domain -- a comparative study

We present a new algorithm for stacking radio interferometric data in the uv-domain. The performance of uv-stacking is compared to the stacking of fully imaged data using simulated Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA) and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) deep extragalactic surveys. We find that image- and uv-stacking produce similar results, however, uv-stacking is typically the more robust method. An advantage of the uv-stacking algorithm is the availability of uv-data post stacking, which makes it possible to identify and remove problematic baselines. For deep VLA surveys uv-stacking yields a signal-to-noise ratio that is up to 20 per cent higher than image-stacking. Furthermore, we have investigated stacking of resolved sources with a simulated VLA data set where 1.5" (10-12 kpc at z ~ 1-4) sources are stacked. We find that uv-stacking, where a model is fitted directly to the visibilities, significantly improves the accuracy and robustness of the size estimates. While scientific motivation for this work is studying faint, high-z galaxies, the algorithm analysed here would also be applicable in other fields of astronomy. Stacking of radio interferometric data is also expected to play a big role for future surveys with telescopes such as LOFAR and Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2014

VLTI/AMBER observations of cold giant stars: atmospheric structures and fundamental parameters

The main goal of this research is to determine the angular size and the atmospheric structures of cool giant stars and to compare them with hydrostatic stellar model atmospheres, to estimate the fundamental parameters, and to obtain a better understanding of the circumstellar environment. We conducted spectro-interferometric observations of epsilon Oct, beta Peg, NU Pav, and psi Peg in the near-infrared K band (2.13-2.47 microm), and gamma Hya (1.9-2.47 microm) with the VLTI/AMBER instrument at medium spectral resolution. To obtain the fundamental parameters, we compared our data with hydrostatic atmosphere models (PHOENIX). We estimated the Rosseland angular diameters of epsilon Oct, beta Peg, NU Pav, psi Peg, and gamma Hya. Together with distances and bolometric fluxes, we estimated radii, effective temperatures, and luminosities of our targets. In the beta Peg visibility, we observed a molecular layer of CO with a size similar to that modeled with PHOENIX. However, there is an additional slope in absorption starting around 2.3 microm. This slope is possibly due to a shell of water that is not modeled with PHOENIX. The visibility of psi Peg shows a low increase in the CO bands, compatible with the modeling of the PHOENIX model. The visibility data of the other sources show no increase in molecular bands. The spectra and visibilities predicted by the PHOENIX atmospheres agree with the spectra and the visibilities observed in our stars (except for beta Peg). This indicates that the opacity of the molecular bands is adequately included in the model, and the atmospheres of our targets have an extension similar to the modeled atmospheres. The atmosphere of beta Peg is more extended than that predicted by the model. The targets are located close to the red limits of the evolutionary tracks of the STAREVOL model.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2014

The radio core structure of the luminous infrared galaxy NGC 4418

The galaxy NGC 4418 contains one of the most compact obscured nuclei within a luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) in the nearby Universe. This nucleus contains a rich molecular gas environment and an unusually high ratio of infrared to radio luminosity (q-factor). The compact nucleus is powered by either a compact starburst or an active galactic nucleus (AGN). The aim of this study is to constrain the nature of the nuclear region (starburst or AGN) within NGC 4418 via very-high-resolution radio imaging. Archival data from radio observations using the EVN and MERLIN interferometers are imaged. Sizes and flux densities are obtained by fitting Gaussian intensity distributions to the image. The average spectral index of the compact radio emission is estimated from measurements at 1.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz. The nuclear structure of NGC 4418 visible with EVN and MERLIN consists of eight compact (<49 mas i.e. <8 pc) features spread within a region of 250 mas, i.e. 41 pc. We derive an inverted spectral index $α\ge0.7$ ($S_ν\proptoν^α$) for the compact radio emission. Brightness temperatures $>10^{4.8}$ K indicate that these compact features cannot be HII-regions. The complex morphology and inverted spectrum of the eight detected compact features is evidence against the hypothesis that an AGN alone is powering the nucleus of NGC 4418. The compact features could be super star clusters (SSCs) with intense star formation, and their associated free-free absorption could then naturally explain both their inverted radio spectrum and the low radio to IR ratio of the nucleus. The required star formation area density is extreme, however, and close to the limit of what can be observed in a well-mixed thermal/non-thermal plasma produced by star-formation, and is also close to the limit of what can be physically sustained.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

The resolved structure of the extragalactic supernova remnant SNR 4449-1

We present very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of the milliarcsecond-scale radio structure of the supernova remnant SNR 4449$-$1 in the galaxy NGC 4449. This young and superluminous remnant was observed at 1.6 GHz ($λ= 18$\,cm) with the European VLBI Network. The observations confirm earlier identifications of this object with a supernova remnant (SNR) while revealing a somewhat different morphology compared with the structure reported by Bietenholz et al. from VLBI observations at 1.4 GHz. This difference is discussed here in the context of structural sensitivity of both observations. The 1.6 GHz image yields accurate estimates of the size (0.0422 arcsec $\times$ 0.0285 arcsec and 0.8 $\times$ 0.5 pc) and age ($\sim$55 yr) of SNR 4449$-$1. With a total flux of 6.1 $\pm$ 0.6 mJy measured in the VLBI image, the historical lightcurve of the source can be well represented by a power-law decay with a power index of $-$1.19 $\pm$ 0.07. The SNR exhibits a decline rate of the radio emission of 2.2$%$ $\pm$ 0.1$%$ yr$^{-1}$ and a radio luminosity of 1.74 $\times$ 10$^{35}$ erg s$^{-1}$.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Rapid Angular Expansion of the Ionized Core of CRL 618

CRL 618 is an object that exhibits characteristics of both AGB and post-AGB star. It also displays a spectacular array of bipolar lobes with a dense equatorial region, which makes it an excellent object to study the development of asymmetries in evolved stars. In the recent decades, an elliptical compact HII region located in the center of the nebula has been seen to be increasing in size and flux. This seems to be due to the ionization of the circumstellar envelope by the central star, and it would be indicating the beginning of the planetary nebula phase for CRL 618. We analyzed interferometric radio continuum data at ~5 and 22 GHz from observations carried out at seven epochs with the VLA. We traced the increase of the flux of the ionized region over a period of ~26 years. We measured the dimensions of the HII region directly from the brightness distribution images to determine the increase of its size over time. For one of the epochs we analyzed observations at six frequencies from which we estimated the electron density distribution. We carried out model calculations of the spectral energy distribution at two different epochs to corroborate our observational results. We found that the radio continuum flux and the size of the ionized region have been increasing monotonically in the last three decades. The size of the major axis of the HII region shows a dependance with frequency, which has been interpreted as a result of a gradient of the electron density in this direction. The growth of the HII region is due to the expansion of an ionized wind whose mass-loss rate increased continuously for a period of ~100 years until a few decades ago, when the mass-loss rate experienced a sudden decline. Our results indicate that the beginning of the ionization of the circumstellar envelope began around 1971, which marks the start of the planetary nebula phase of CRL 618.

astro-ph.SR↗