arXiv subjects

J. L. Prieto

Publications and source records attributed to J. L. Prieto.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

The Value-Added Catalog of ASAS-SN Eclipsing Binaries II: Properties of Extra-Physics Systems

Detached eclipsing binaries are the primary tool used to measure precise masses and radii of stars. In our previous paper estimating the parameters of more than 30,000 detached eclipsing binaries, we identified 766 eclipsing binaries with additional features in their All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) light curves. Here, we characterize these "extra-physics" systems, identifying eclipsing binaries with spotted stars, pulsating components, and candidate triple/quadruple systems. We use the Gaia, ATLAS, ZTF, and ASAS-SN variable star catalogs to consider possible blends. We use MIST isochrones and evolutionary tracks to identify systems with main sequence, subgiant, and giant primaries and highlight systems in sparsely populated regions of the color-magnitude diagram. We find that the orbital period distribution of spotted binaries is divided by evolutionary state and find 68 with X-ray detections. For the candidate triple/quadruples and pulsating systems, we calculate the extra orbital/pulsational period and identify systems with resonances. Finally, we highlight a number of exotic systems, including eclipsing CVs, subdwarfs, and binaries with disks.

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arXiv2022

The Galactic Nova Rate: Estimates from the ASAS-SN and Gaia Surveys

We present the first estimate of the Galactic nova rate based on optical transient surveys covering the entire sky. Using data from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) and \textit{Gaia} -- the only two all-sky surveys to report classical nova candidates -- we find 39 confirmed Galactic novae and 7 additional unconfirmed candidates discovered from 2019--2021, yielding a nova discovery rate of $\approx 14$ yr$^{-1}$. Using accurate Galactic stellar mass models, three-dimensional dust maps, and incorporating realistic nova light curves, we have built a sophisticated Galactic nova model that allows an estimate of the recovery fraction of Galactic novae from these surveys over this time period. The observing capabilities of each survey are distinct: the high cadence of ASAS-SN makes it sensitive to fast novae, while the broad observing filter and high spatial resolution of \textit{Gaia} make it more sensitive to highly reddened novae across the entire Galactic plane and bulge. Despite these differences, we find that ASAS-SN and \textit{Gaia} give consistent Galactic nova rates, with a final joint nova rate of $26 \pm 5$ yr$^{-1}$. This inferred nova rate is substantially lower than found by many other recent studies. Critically assessing the systematic uncertainties in the Galactic nova rate, we argue that the role of faint fast-fading novae has likely been overestimated, but that subtle details in the operation of transient alert pipelines can have large, sometimes unappreciated effects on transient recovery efficiency. Our predicted nova rate can be directly tested with forthcoming red/near-infrared transient surveys in the southern hemisphere.

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arXiv2022

The Value-Added Catalog of ASAS-SN Eclipsing Binaries: Parameters of Thirty Thousand Detached Systems

Detached eclipsing binaries are a fundamental tool for measuring the physical parameters of stars that are effectively evolving in isolation. Starting from more than 40,000 eclipsing binary candidates identified by the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN), we use PHOEBE to determine the sum of the fractional radii, the ratio of effective temperatures, the inclinations, and the eccentricities for 35,464 systems. We visually inspect all the light curve models to verify the model fits and examine the TESS light curves, when available, to select systems with evidence for additional physics, such as spots, mass transfer, and hierarchical triples. We examine the distributions of the eclipsing binary model parameters and the orbital parameters. We identify two groups in the sum of the fractional radii and effective temperature ratio parameter space that may distinguish systems approaching the semidetached limit. Combining Gaia EDR3 with extinction estimates from 3-dimensional dust maps, we examine the properties of the systems as a function of their absolute magnitude and evolutionary state. Finally, we present light curves of selected eclipsing binaries that may be of interest for follow-up studies.

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arXiv2022

The ASAS-SN Catalog of Variable Stars X: Discovery of 116,000 New Variable Stars Using g-band Photometry

The All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) is the first optical survey to monitor the entire sky, currently with a cadence of $\lesssim 24$ hours down to $g \lesssim 18.5$ mag. ASAS-SN has routinely operated since 2013, collecting $\sim$ 2,000 to over 7,500 epochs of $V$ and $g-$band observations per field to date. This work illustrates the first analysis of ASAS-SN's newer, deeper, higher cadence $g-$band data. From an input source list of ${\sim}55$ million isolated sources with $g<18$~mag, we identified $1.5\times10^6$ variable star candidates using a random forest classifier trained on features derived from $\textit{Gaia}$, 2MASS, and AllWISE. Using ASAS-SN $g-$band light curves, and an updated random forest classifier augmented with data from Citizen ASAS-SN, we classified the candidate variables into 8 broad variability types. We present a catalog of ${\sim}116,000$ new variable stars with high classification probabilities, including ${\sim}111,000$ periodic variables and ${\sim}5,000$ irregular variables. We also recovered ${\sim}263,000$ known variable stars.

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arXiv2022

Progenitor, environment, and modelling of the interacting transient, AT 2016jbu (Gaia16cfr)

We present the bolometric lightcurve, identification and analysis of the progenitor candidate, and preliminary modelling of AT2016jbu (Gaia16cfr). We find a progenitor consistent with a $\sim$22--25~$M_{\odot}$ 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$α$ emission consistent with pre-existing circumstellar material. The age of the environment as well as the resolved stellar population surrounding AT2016jbu, support a progenitor age of $>$10 Myr, consistent with a progenitor mass of $\sim$22~$M_{\odot}$. A joint analysis of the velocity evolution of AT2016jbu, and the photospheric radius inferred from the bolometric lightcurve shows the transient is consistent with two successive outbursts/explosions. The first outburst ejected material with velocity $\sim$650$kms^{-1}$, while the second, more energetic event, ejected material at $\sim$4500$kms^{-1}$. Whether the latter is the core-collapse of the progenitor remains uncertain. We place a limit on the ejected $^{56}$Ni mass of $<$0.016$M_{\odot}$. Using the 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 SNEC code to demonstrate that the low-energy explosion within some of these binary systems, together with sufficient CSM, can reproduce the overall morphology of the lightcurve of AT2016jbu.

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arXiv2022

Photometric and spectroscopic evolution of the interacting transient AT 2016jbu (Gaia16cfr)

We present the results from a high cadence, multi-wavelength observation campaign of AT 2016jbu (aka Gaia16cfr), an interacting transient. This dataset complements the current literature by adding higher cadence as well as extended coverage of the lightcurve 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$_V\sim$-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 500km$s^{-1}$ seen in narrow emission features from a slow moving CSM, and up to 10,000km$s^{-1}$ seen in broad absorption from some high velocity material. Late-time spectra ($\sim$+1 year) 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 lightcurve, and continually evolving spectra suggest an inhibit nebular phase. We compare the evolution of H$α$ 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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arXiv2022

To TDE or not to TDE: The luminous transient ASASSN-18jd with TDE-like and AGN-like qualities

We present the discovery of ASASSN-18jd (AT 2018bcb), a luminous optical/UV/X-ray transient located in the nucleus of the galaxy 2MASX J22434289--1659083 at $z=0.1192$. Over the year after discovery, Swift UVOT photometry shows the UV SED of the transient to be well modeled by a slowly shrinking blackbody with temperature $T \sim 2.5 \times 10^{4} \rm ~K$, a maximum observed luminosity of $L_\text{max} = 4.5^{+0.6}_{-0.3} \times 10^{44} \rm ~erg ~s^{-1}$, and a radiated energy of $E = 9.6^{+1.1}_{-0.6} \times 10^{51} \rm ~erg$. X-ray data from Swift XRT and XMM-Newton show a transient, variable X-ray flux with blackbody and power-law components that fade by nearly an order of magnitude over the following year. Optical spectra show strong, roughly constant broad Balmer emission as well as transient features attributable to He II, N III-V, O III, and coronal Fe. While ASASSN-18jd shares similarities with Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs), it is also similar to the newly-discovered nuclear transients seen in quiescent galaxies and faint Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs).

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arXiv2021

A Linear Relation Between the Color Stretch $s_{BV}$ and the Rising Color Slope $s_0^*(B-V)$ of Type Ia Supernovae

Using data from the Complete Nearby ($z_{host}<0.02$) sample of Type Ia Supernovae (CNIa0.02), we discover a linear relation between two parameters derived from the $B-V$ color curves of Type Ia supernovae: the "color stretch" $s_{BV}$ and the rising color slope $s_0^*(B-V)$ after the peak, and this relation applies to the full range of $s_{BV}$. The $s_{BV}$ parameter is known to be tightly correlated with the peak luminosity, and especially for "fast decliners" (dim Type Ia supernovae), and the luminosity correlation with $s_{BV}$ is markedly better than with the classic light-curve width parameters such as $Δ{m_{15}(B)}$. Thus our new linear relation can be used to infer peak luminosity from $s_0^*$. Unlike $s_{BV}$ (or $Δ{m_{15}}$), the measurement of $s_0^*(B-V)$ does not rely on the well-determined time of light-curve peak or color maximum, making it less demanding on the light-curve coverage than past approaches.

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arXiv2021

J01020100-7122208: an accreted evolved blue straggler that wasn't ejected from a supermassive black hole

J01020100-7122208 is a star whose origin and nature still challenges us. It was first believed to be a yellow super giant ejected from the Small Magellanic Cloud, but it was more recently claimed to be a red giant accelerated by the Milky Way's central black hole. In order to unveil its nature, we analysed photometric, astrometric and high resolution spectroscopic observations to estimate the orbit, age, and 16 elemental abundances. Our results show that this star has a retrograde and highly-eccentric orbit, $e=0.914_{-0.020}^{+0.016}$. Correspondingly, it likely crossed the Galactic disk at $550\;\mathrm{pc}$ from the Galactic centre. We obtained a spectroscopic mass and age of $1.09\pm0.10$ $M_\odot$ and $4.51\pm1.44$ Gyr respectively. Its chemical composition is similar to the abundance of other retrograde halo stars. We found that the star is enriched in europium, having [Eu/Fe] = 0.93 $\pm$ 0.24, and is more metal-poor than reported in the literature, with [Fe/H] = -1.30 $\pm$ 0.10. This information was used to conclude that J01020100-7122208 is likely not a star ejected from the central black of the Milky Way or from the Small Magellanic Cloud. Instead, we propose that it is simply a halo star which was likely accreted by the Milky Way in the distant past but its mass and age suggest it is probably an evolved blue straggler.

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arXiv2021

Citizen ASAS-SN Data Release I: Variable Star Classification Using Citizen Science

We present the first results from Citizen ASAS-SN, a citizen science project for the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) hosted on the Zooniverse platform. Citizen ASAS-SN utilizes the newer, deeper, higher cadence ASAS-SN $g$-band data and tasks volunteers to classify periodic variable star candidates based on their phased light curves. We started from 40,640 new variable candidates from an input list of ${\sim} 7.4$ million stars with $δ< -60^\circ$ and the volunteers identified 10,420 new discoveries which they classified as 4,234 pulsating variables, 3,132 rotational variables, 2,923 eclipsing binaries, and 131 variables flagged as Unknown. They classified known variable stars with an accuracy of 89% for pulsating variables, 81% for eclipsing binaries, and 49% for rotational variables. We examine user performance, agreement between users, and compare the citizen science classifications with our machine learning classifier updated for the $g$-band light curves. In general, user activity correlates with higher classification accuracy and higher user agreement. We used the user's "Junk" classifications to develop an effective machine learning classifier to separate real from false variables, and there is a clear path for using this "Junk" training set to significantly improve our primary machine learning classifier. We also illustrate the value of Citizen ASAS-SN for identifying unusual variables with several examples.

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arXiv2021

ASASSN-15hy: an under-luminous, red 03fg-like type Ia supernova

We present photometric and spectroscopic observations of the 03fg-like type Ia supernova (SN Ia) ASASSN-15hy from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near-infrared (NIR). ASASSN-15hy shares many of the hallmark characteristics of 03fg-like SNe Ia, previously referred to as "super-Chandrasekhar" SNe Ia. It is bright in the UV and NIR, lacks a clear i-band secondary maximum, shows a strong and persistent C II feature, and has a low Si II $λ$6355 velocity. However, some of its properties are also extreme among the subgroup. ASASSN-15hy is under-luminous (M$_{B,peak}=-19.14^{+0.11}_{-0.16}$ mag), red ($(B-V)_{Bmax}=0.18^{+0.01}_{-0.03}$ mag), yet slowly declining ($Δ{m_{15}}(B)=0.72 \pm 0.04$ mag). It has the most delayed onset of the i-band maximum of any 03fg-like SN. ASASSN-15hy lacks the prominent H-band break emission feature that is typically present during the first month past maximum in normal SNe Ia. Such events may be a potential problem for high-redshift SN Ia cosmology. ASASSN-15hy may be explained in the context of an explosion of a degenerate core inside a non-degenerate envelope. The explosion impacting the non-degenerate envelope with a large mass provides additional luminosity and low ejecta velocities. An initial deflagration burning phase is critical in reproducing the low $^{56}$Ni mass and luminosity, while the large core mass is essential in providing the large diffusion time scales required to produce the broad light curves. The model consists of a rapidly rotating 1.47 $M_{\odot}$ degenerate core and a 0.8 $M_{\odot}$ non-degenerate envelope. This "deflagration core-degenerate" scenario may result from the merger between a white dwarf and the degenerate core of an asymptotic giant branch star.

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arXiv2021

An Amusing Look at the Host of the Periodic Nuclear Transient ASASSN-14ko Reveals a Second AGN

We present Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) integral-field spectroscopy of ESO 253$-$G003, which hosts a known Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) and the periodic nuclear transient ASASSN-14ko, observed as part of the All-weather MUse Supernova Integral-field of Nearby Galaxies (AMUSING) survey. The MUSE observations reveal that the inner region hosts two AGN separated by $1.4\pm0.1~\rm{kpc}$ ($\approx 1.\!\!^{\prime\prime}7$). The brighter nucleus has asymmetric broad, permitted emission-line profiles and is associated with the archival AGN designation. The fainter nucleus does not have a broad emission-line component but exhibits other AGN characteristics, including $v_{\rm{FWHM}}\approx 700~\rm{km}~\rm{s}^{-1}$ forbidden line emission, $\log_{10}(\rm{[OIII]}/\rm{H}β) \approx 1.1$, and high excitation potential emission lines such as [Fe$~$VII]$~\lambda6086$ and He$~$II$~\lambda4686$. The host galaxy exhibits a disturbed morphology with large kpc-scale tidal features, potential outflows from both nuclei, and a likely superbubble. A circular relativistic disk model cannot reproduce the asymmetric broad emission-line profiles in the brighter nucleus, but two non-axisymmetric disk models provide good fits to the broad emission-line profiles: an elliptical disk model and a circular disk + spiral arm model. Implications for the periodic nuclear transient ASASSN-14ko are discussed.

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arXiv2021

ASASSN-21co: A detached eclipsing binary with an 11.9 year period

We use ASAS V-band and ASAS-SN g-band observations to model the long-period detached eclipsing binary ASASSN-21co. ASAS observations show an eclipse of depth V ~ 0.6 mag in April of 2009. ASAS-SN g-band observations from March of 2021 show an eclipse of similar duration and depth, suggesting an orbital period of 11.9 years. We combine the g-band observations with additional BVRI photometry taken during the eclipse to model the eclipse using PHOEBE. We find that the system is best described by two M giants with a ratio of secondary radius to primary radius of ~0.61. Optical spectra taken during the eclipse are consistent with at least one component of the binary being an M giant, and we find no temporal changes in the spectral features. The eclipse itself is asymmetric, showing an increase in brightness near mid-eclipse, likely due to rotational variability that is too low amplitude to be observed out-of-eclipse.

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arXiv2021

Nebular Halpha emission in SN Ia 2016jae

There is a wide consensus that type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) originate from the thermonuclear explosion of CO white dwarfs (WD), with the lack of hydrogen in the observed spectra as a distinctive feature. Here, we present SN 2016jae, which was classified as a Type Ia SN from a spectrum obtained soon after the discovery. The SN reached a B-band peak of -17.93 +- 0.34 mag, followed by a fast luminosity decline with sBV 0.56 +- 0.06 and inferred Dm15(B) of 1.88 +- 0.10 mag. Overall, the SN appears as a "transitional" event between "normal" SNe Ia and very dim SNe Ia such as 91bg-like SNe. Its peculiarity is that two late-time spectra taken at +84 and +142 days after the peak show a narrow line of Halpha (with full width at half-maximum of ~650 and 1000 kms-1, respectively). This is the third low-luminosity and fast-declining Type Ia SN after SN 2018cqj/ATLAS18qtd and SN 2018fhw/ASASSN-18tb, found in the 100IAS survey that shows resolved narrow Halpha line in emission in their nebular-phase spectra. We argue that the nebular Halpha emission originates in an expanding hydrogen-rich shell (with velocity < 1000 kms-1). The hydrogen shell velocity is too high to be produced during a common envelope phase, while it may be consistent with some material stripped from an H-rich companion star in a single-degenerate progenitor system. However, the derived mass of this stripped hydrogen is ~0.002-0.003 Msun, which is much less than that expected (>0.1 Msun) for standard models for these scenarios. Another plausible sequence of events is a weak SN ejecta interaction with a H-shell ejected by optically thick winds or a nova-like eruption on the C/O WD progenitor some years before the supernova explosion.

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arXiv2021

Galactic Extinction: How Many Novae Does it Hide and How Does it Affect the Galactic Nova Rate?

There is a longstanding discrepancy between the observed Galactic classical nova rate of $\sim 10$ yr$^{-1}$ and the predicted rate from Galactic models of $\sim 30$--50 yr$^{-1}$. One explanation for this discrepancy is that many novae are hidden by interstellar extinction, but the degree to which dust can obscure novae is poorly constrained. We use newly available all-sky three-dimensional dust maps to compare the brightness and spatial distribution of known novae to that predicted from relatively simple models in which novae trace Galactic stellar mass. We find that only half ($\sim 48$\%) of novae are expected to be easily detectable ($g \lesssim 15$) with current all-sky optical surveys such as the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN). This fraction is much lower than previously estimated, showing that dust does substantially affect nova detection in the optical. By comparing complementary survey results from ASAS-SN, OGLE-IV, and the Palomar Gattini IR-survey in the context of our modeling, we find a tentative Galactic nova rate of $\sim 40$ yr$^{-1}$, though this could decrease to as low as $\sim 30$ yr$^{-1}$ depending on the assumed distribution of novae within the Galaxy. These preliminary estimates will be improved in future work through more sophisticated modeling of nova detection in ASAS-SN and other surveys.

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arXiv2021

High Tide: A Systematic Search for Ellipsoidal Variables in ASAS-SN

The majority of non-merging stellar mass black holes are discovered by observing high energy emission from accretion processes. Here we pursue the large, but still mostly unstudied population of non-interacting black holes and neutron stars by searching for the tidally-induced ellipsoidal variability of their stellar companions. We start from a sample of about 200,000 rotational variables, semi-regular variables, and eclipsing binary stars from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN). We use a $χ^2$ ratio test followed by visual inspection to identify 369 candidates for ellipsoidal variability. We also discuss how to combine the amplitude of the variability with mass and radius estimates for observed stars to calculate a minimum companion mass, identifying the most promising candidates for high mass companions.

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arXiv2021

The ASAS-SN Catalog of Variable Stars IX: The Spectroscopic Properties of Galactic Variable Stars

The All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) provides long baseline (${\sim}4$ yrs) $V-$band light curves for sources brighter than V$\lesssim17$ mag across the whole sky. We produced V-band light curves for a total of ${\sim}61.5$ million sources and systematically searched these sources for variability. We identified ${\sim} 426,000$ variables, including ${\sim} 219,000$ new discoveries. Most (${\sim}74\%$) of our discoveries are in the Southern hemisphere. Here we use spectroscopic information from LAMOST, GALAH, RAVE, and APOGEE to study the physical and chemical properties of these variables. We find that metal-poor eclipsing binaries have orbital periods that are shorter than metal-rich systems at fixed temperature. We identified rotational variables on the main-sequence, red giant branch and the red clump. A substantial fraction (${\gtrsim}80\%$) of the rotating giants have large $v_{\rm rot}$ or large NUV excesses also indicative of fast rotation. The rotational variables have unusual abundances suggestive of analysis problems. Semi-regular variables tend to be lower metallicity ($\rm [Fe/H]{\sim}-0.5$) than most giant stars. We find that the APOGEE DR16 temperatures of oxygen-rich semi-regular variables are strongly correlated with the $W_{RP}-W_{JK}$ color index for $\rm T_{eff}\lesssim3800$ K. Using abundance measurements from APOGEE DR16, we find evidence for Mg and N enrichment in the semi-regular variables. We find that the Aluminum abundances of the semi-regular variables are strongly correlated with the pulsation period, where the variables with $\rm P\gtrsim 60$ days are significantly depleted in Al.

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arXiv2021

A Unicorn in Monoceros: the $3M_\odot$ dark companion to the bright, nearby red giant V723 Mon is a non-interacting, mass-gap black hole candidate

We report the discovery of the closest known black hole candidate as a binary companion to V723 Mon. V723 Mon is a nearby ($d\sim460\,\rm pc$), bright ($V\simeq8.3$~mag), evolved ($T_{\rm eff, giant}\simeq4440$~K, and $L_{\rm giant}\simeq173~L_\odot$) red giant in a high mass function, $f(M)=1.72\pm 0.01~M_\odot$, nearly circular binary ($P=59.9$ d, $e\simeq 0$). V723 Mon is a known variable star, previously classified as an eclipsing binary, but its All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS), Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT), and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) light curves are those of a nearly edge-on ellipsoidal variable. Detailed models of the light curves constrained by the period, radial velocities and stellar temperature give an inclination of $87.0^\circ{}^{+1.7^{\circ}}_{-1.4^{\circ}} $, a mass ratio of $q\simeq0.33\pm0.02$, a companion mass of $M_{\rm comp}=3.04\pm0.06~M_\odot$, a stellar radius of $R_{\rm giant}=24.9\pm0.7~R_\odot$, and a giant mass of $M_{\rm giant}=1.00\pm0.07~ M_\odot$. We identify a likely non-stellar, diffuse veiling component with contributions in the $B$ and $V$-band of ${\sim}63\%$ and ${\sim}24\%$, respectively. The SED and the absence of continuum eclipses imply that the companion mass must be dominated by a compact object. We do observe eclipses of the Balmer lines when the dark companion passes behind the giant, but their velocity spreads are low compared to observed accretion disks. The X-ray luminosity of the system is $L_{\rm X}\simeq7.6\times10^{29}~\rm ergs~s^{-1}$, corresponding to $L/L_{\rm edd}{\sim}10^{-9}$. The simplest explanation for the massive companion is a single compact object, most likely a black hole in the "mass gap".

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