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J. S. Bloom

Publications and source records attributed to J. S. Bloom.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The ambiguous AT2022rze: Changing-look AGN mimicking a supernova in a merging galaxy system

AT2022rze is a luminous, ambiguous transient located South-East of the geometric center of its host galaxy at redshift z = 0.08. The host appears to be formed by a merging galaxy system. The observed characteristics of AT2022rze are reminiscent of active galactic nuclei (AGN), tidal disruption events (TDEs), and superluminous supernovae (SLSNe). The transient reached a peak absolute magnitude of -20.2 +- 0.2 mag, showing a sharp rise (trise,1/e = 27.5 +- 0.6 days) followed by a slow decline (tdec,1/e = 382.9 +- 0.6). Its bumpy light curve and narrow Balmer lines indicate the presence of gas (and dust). Its light curve shows rather red colors, indicating that the transient could be affected by significant host extinction. The spectra reveal coronal lines, indicative of high-energy (X-ray/UV) emission. Archival data reveal no prior activity at this location, disfavoring a steady-state AGN, although an optical spectrum obtained prior to the transient is consistent with an AGN classification of the host. Based on this, we conclude that the transient most likely represents a Changing-look AGN at the center of the smallest component of the merging system.

astro-ph.HE

ZTF-SEDm Type Ia supernova sample for Twins Embedding spectrophotometric standardisation

This paper has two aims: the first one is to build a large homogeneous spectrophotometric Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) sample, using 3069 spectra from the second Zwicky Transient Facility data release (ZTF DR2). Using this sample we reproduce, as the second objective of the paper, the Twins Embedding (TE) spectrophotometric standardisation method, which led to an exceptionally low value of 0.073 mag for the intrinsic scatter. We improve the flux-calibration accuracy of the SEDm SN Ia spectral sample using the ZTF photometric data, which are calibrated at the percent level. We then apply the three steps of the TE parameterisation to a subset of 783 ZTF SN spectra near maximum light, and analyse the resulting standardisation methods. The precision of the phase correction model, which is the first step of the TE, is estimated at 0.01 mag in g band, using ZTF data. Despite the challenge posed by the ZTF spectrum extraction pipeline, we apply a first standardisation in color based on the second step of the TE, the Read Between The Lines (RBTL). When considering the scatter due to the redshift error and the flux calibration error, we estimate a 0.129 mag Hubble residual scatter for this ZTF sample as an upper limit. As expected from the low spectral quality, the final TE standardisation based on three non-linear parameters did not improve the overall dispersion. We release 1897 flux calibrated spectra of 1607 SNe Ia with an estimated photometric accuracy of 0.07 mag. We further demonstrate the ability to apply a spectrophotometric standardisation with limited quality spectra. The RBTL standardisation is more efficient than that of SALT with one less parameter, and the resulting host steps are consistent with zero, making it less prone to astrophysical bias. For future spectroscopic surveys, a better spectral quality would enable the full TE standardisation to be computed. (Abridged)

astro-ph.CO

Sample of hydrogen-rich superluminous supernovae from the Zwicky Transient Facility

Hydrogen-rich superluminous supernovae (SLSNe II) are rare. The exact mechanism producing their extreme light curve peaks is not understood. Analysis of single events and small samples suggest that CSM interaction is the main responsible for their features. However, other mechanisms can not be discarded. Large sample analysis can provide clarification. We aim to characterize the light curves of a sample of 107 SLSNe II to provide valuable information that can be used to validate theoretical models. We analyze the gri light curves of SLSNe II obtained through ZTF. We study peak absolute magnitudes and characteristic timescales. When possible we compute g-r colors, pseudo-bolometric light curves, and estimate lower limits for their total radiated energy. We also study the luminosity distribution of our sample and estimate the percentage of them that would be observable by the LSST. Finally, we compare our sample to other H-rich SNe and to H-poor SLSNe I. SLSNe II are heterogeneous. Their median peak absolute magnitude is -20.3 mag in optical bands. Their rise can take from two weeks to over three months, and their decline from twenty days to over a year. We found no significant correlations between peak magnitude and timescales. SLSNe II tend to show fainter peaks, longer declines and redder colors than SLSNe I. We present the largest sample of SLSNe II light curves to date, comprising of 107 events. Their diversity could be explained by considering different CSM morphologies. Although, theoretical analysis is needed to explore alternative scenarios. Other luminous transients, such as Active Galactic Nuclei, Tidal Disruption Events or SNe Ia-CSM, can easily become contaminants. Thus, good multi-wavelength light curve coverage becomes paramount. LSST could miss 30 percent of the ZTF events in the its footprint in gri bands. Redder bands become important to construct complete samples.

astro-ph.HE

The Gravity Collective: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Electromagnetic Search for the Binary Neutron Star Merger GW190425

We present an ultraviolet-to-infrared search for the electromagnetic (EM) counterpart to GW190425, the second-ever binary neutron star (BNS) merger discovered by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration (LVK). GW190425 was more distant and had a larger localization area than GW170817, therefore we use a new tool teglon to redistribute the GW190425 localization probability in the context of galaxy catalogs within the final localization volume. We derive a 90th percentile area of 6,688 deg$^{2}$, a $\sim$1.5$\times$ improvement relative to the LIGO/Virgo map, and show how teglon provides an order of magnitude boost to the search efficiency of small ($\leq$1 deg$^{2}$) field-of-view instruments. We combine our data with all publicly reported imaging data, covering 9,078.59 deg$^2$ of unique area and 48.13% of the LIGO/Virgo-assigned localization probability, to calculate the most comprehensive kilonova, short gamma-ray burst (sGRB) afterglow, and model-independent constraints on the EM emission from a hypothetical counterpart to GW190425 to date under the assumption that no counterpart was found in these data. If the counterpart were similar to AT 2017gfo, there was a 28.4% chance that it would have been detected in the combined dataset. We are relatively insensitive to an on-axis sGRB, and rule out a generic transient with a similar peak luminosity and decline rate as AT 2017gfo to 30% confidence. Finally, across our new imaging and all publicly-reported data, we find 28 candidate optical counterparts that we cannot rule out as being associated with GW190425, finding that 4 such counterparts discovered within the localization volume and within 5 days of merger exhibit luminosities consistent with a kilonova.

astro-ph.HE

Resolving the explosion of supernova 2023ixf in Messier 101 within its complex circumstellar environment

Observing a supernova explosion shortly after it occurs can reveal important information about the physics of stellar explosions and the nature of the progenitor stars of supernovae (SNe). When a star with a well-defined edge explodes in vacuum, the first photons to escape from its surface appear as a brief shock-breakout flare. The duration of this flare can extend to at most a few hours even for nonspherical breakouts from supergiant stars, after which the explosion ejecta should expand and cool. Alternatively, for stars exploding within a distribution of sufficiently dense optically thick circumstellar material, the first photons escape from the material beyond the stellar edge, and the duration of the initial flare can extend to several days, during which the escaping emission indicates photospheric heating. The difficulty in detecting SN explosions promptly after the event has so far limited data regarding supergiant stellar explosions mostly to serendipitous observations that, owing to the lack of ultraviolet (UV) data, were unable to determine whether the early emission is heating or cooling, and hence the nature of the early explosion event. Here, we report observations of SN 2023ixf in the nearby galaxy M101, covering the early days of the event. Using UV spectroscopy from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) as well as a comprehensive set of additional multiwavelength observations, we trace the photometric and spectroscopic evolution of the event and are able to temporally resolve the emergence and evolution of the SN emission.

astro-ph.HE

Four new eclipsing accreting ultracompact white dwarf binaries found with the Zwicky Transient Facility

Context. Accreting ultracompact binaries contain a white dwarf that is accreting from a degenerate object and have orbital periods shorter than 65 minutes. Aims. The aims of this letter are to report the discovery and the orbital period of four new eclipsing accreting ultracompact binaries found using the Zwicky Transient Facility, and to discuss their photometric properties. Methods. We searched through a list of 4171 dwarf novae compiled using the Zwicky Transient Facility and used the Box Least Square method to search for periodic signals in the data. Results. We found four new eclipsing accreting ultracompact binaries with orbital periods between 25.9-56 minutes, one of which is previously published as an AM CVn, while the other three systems are new discoveries. The other two shorter period systems are likely also AM CVn systems, while the longest period system with a period of 56 minutes shows multiple super-outbursts observed in two years which is more consistent with it being a Helium-CV.

astro-ph.SR

Keck Infrared Transient Survey I: Survey Description and Data Release 1

We present the Keck Infrared Transient Survey (KITS), a NASA Key Strategic Mission Support program to obtain near-infrared (NIR) spectra of astrophysical transients of all types, and its first data release, consisting of 105 NIR spectra of 50 transients. Such a data set is essential as we enter a new era of IR astronomy with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman). NIR spectral templates will be essential to search JWST images for stellar explosions of the first stars and to plan an effective Roma} SN Ia cosmology survey, both key science objectives for mission success. Between 2022 February and 2023 July, we systematically obtained 274 NIR spectra of 146 astronomical transients, representing a significant increase in the number of available NIR spectra in the literature. The first data release includes data from the 2022A semester. We systematically observed three samples: a flux-limited sample that includes all transients $<$17 mag in a red optical band (usually ZTF r or ATLAS o bands); a volume-limited sample including all transients within redshift $z < 0.01$ ($D \approx 50$ Mpc); and an SN Ia sample targeting objects at phases and light-curve parameters that had scant existing NIR data in the literature. The flux-limited sample is 39% complete (60% excluding SNe Ia), while the volume-limited sample is 54% complete and is 79% complete to $z = 0.005$. All completeness numbers will rise with the inclusion of data from other telescopes in future data releases. Transient classes observed include common Type Ia and core-collapse supernovae, tidal disruption events (TDEs), luminous red novae, and the newly categorized hydrogen-free/helium-poor interacting Type Icn supernovae. We describe our observing procedures and data reduction using Pypeit, which requires minimal human interaction to ensure reproducibility.

astro-ph.SR

SN2020qlb: A hydrogen-poor superluminous supernova with well-characterized light curve undulations

SN\,2020qlb (ZTF20abobpcb) is a hydrogen-poor superluminous supernova (SLSN-I) that is among the most luminous (maximum M$_{g} = -22.25$ mag) and that has one of the longest rise times (77 days from explosion to maximum). We estimate the total radiated energy to be $>2.1\times10^{51}$ erg. SN\,2020qlb has a well-sampled light curve that exhibits clear near and post peak undulations, a phenomenon seen in other SLSNe, whose physical origin is still unknown. We discuss the potential power source of this immense explosion as well as the mechanisms behind its observed light curve undulations. We analyze photospheric spectra and compare them to other SLSNe-I. We constructed the bolometric light curve using photometry from a large data set of observations from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), Liverpool Telescope (LT), and Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and compare it with radioactive, circumstellar interaction and magnetar models. Model residuals and light curve polynomial fit residuals are analyzed to estimate the undulation timescale and amplitude. We also determine host galaxy properties based on imaging and spectroscopy data, including a detection of the [O III]$λ$4363, auroral line, allowing for a direct metallicity measurement. We rule out the Arnett $^{56}$Ni decay model for SN\,2020qlb's light curve due to unphysical parameter results. Our most favored power source is the magnetic dipole spin-down energy deposition of a magnetar. Two to three near peak oscillations, intriguingly similar to those of SN\,2015bn, were found in the magnetar model residuals with a timescale of $32\pm6$ days and an amplitude of 6$\%$ of peak luminosity. We rule out centrally located undulation sources due to timescale considerations; and we favor the result of ejecta interactions with circumstellar material (CSM) density fluctuations as the source of the undulations.

astro-ph.HE

The Hydrogen-Poor Superluminous Supernovae from the Zwicky Transient Facility Phase-I Survey: I. Light Curves and Measurements

During the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) Phase-I operation, 78 hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) were discovered in less than three years, making up the largest sample from a single survey. This paper (Paper I) presents the data, including the optical/ultraviolet light curves and classification spectra, while Paper II in this series will focus on the detailed analysis of the light curves and modeling. Our photometry is primarily taken by the ZTF in the $g,r,i$ bands, and with additional data from other ground-based facilities and Swift. The events of our sample cover a redshift range of $z = 0.06 - 0.67$, with a median and $1σ$ error (16\% and 84\% percentiles) $z_{\rm med} = 0.265^{+0.143}_{-0.135}$. The peak luminosity covers $-22.8\,{\rm mag} \leq M_{g,\rm peak} \leq -19.8$\,mag, with a median value of $-21.48^{+1.13}_{-0.61}$\,mag. Their light curves evolve slowly with the mean rest-frame rise time of $t_{\rm rise} = 41.9\pm17.8$\,days. The luminosity and time scale distributions suggest that low luminosity SLSNe-I with peak luminosity $\sim -20$\,mag or extremely fast rising events ($<10$\,days) exist but are rare. We confirm previous findings that slowly rising SLSNe-I also tend to fade slowly. The rest-frame color and temperature evolution show large scatters, suggesting that the SLSN-I population may have diverse spectral energy distributions. The peak rest-frame color shows a moderate correlation with the peak absolute magnitude, i.e. brighter SLSNe-I tend to have bluer colors. With optical and ultraviolet photometry, we construct bolometric luminosity and derive a bolometric correction relation generally applicable for converting $g,r$-band photometry to bolometric luminosity for SLSNe-I.

astro-ph.HE

The Hydrogen-Poor Superluminous Supernovae from the Zwicky Transient Facility Phase-I Survey: II. Light Curve Modeling and Characterization of Undulations

We present analysis of the light curves (LCs) of 77 hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) discovered during the Zwicky Transient Facility Phase-I operation. We find that the majority (67\%) of the sample can be fit equally well by both magnetar and ejecta-circumstellar medium (CSM) interaction plus $^{56}$Ni decay models. This implies that LCs alone can not unambiguously constrain the physical power sources for a SLSN-I. However, 23\% of the sample show inverted V-shape, steep declining LCs or features of long rise and fast post-peak decay, which are better described by the CSM+Ni model. The remaining 10\% of the sample favor the magnetar model. Moreover, our analysis shows that the LC undulations are quite common, with a fraction of $18-44\% $ in our gold sample. Among those strongly undulating events, about 62\% of them are found to be CSM-favored, implying that the undulations tend to occur in the CSM-favored events. Undulations show a wide range in energy and duration, with median values (and 1$σ$ errors) being as $1.7\%^{+1.5\%}_{-0.7\%}\,\rm E_{\rm rad,total}$ and $28.8^{+14.4}_{-9.1}$\,days, respectively. Our analysis of the undulation time scales suggests that intrinsic temporal variations of the central engine can explain half of the undulating events, while CSM interaction can account for the majority of the sample. Finally, all of the well-observed He-rich SLSNe-Ib have either strongly undulating LCs or the LCs are much better fit by the CSM+Ni model. These observations imply that their progenitor stars have not had enough time to lose all of the He-envelopes before supernova explosions, and H-poor CSM are likely to present in these events.

astro-ph.HE

GRB 191016A: The onset of the forward shock and evidence of late energy injection

We present optical and near-infrared photometric observations of GRB 191016 with the COATLI, DDOTI and RATIR ground-based telescopes over the first three nights. We present the temporal evolution of the optical afterglow and describe 5 different stages that were not completely characterized in previous works, mainly due to scarcity of data points to accurately fit the different components of the optical emission. After the end of the prompt gamma-ray emission, we observed the afterglow rise slowly in the optical and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths and peak at around T+1450s in all filters. This was followed by an early decay, a clear plateau from T+5000s to T+11000s, and then a regular late decay. We also present evidence of the jet break at later times, with a temporal index in good agreement with the temporal slope obtained from X-ray observations. Although many of the features observed in the optical light curves of GRBs are usually well explained by a reverse shock (RS) or forward shock(FS), the shallowness of the optical rise and enhanced peak emission in the GRB191016A afterglow is not well-fitted by only a FS or a RS. We propose a theoretical model which considers both of these components and combines an evolving FS with a later embedded RS and a subsequent late energy injection from the central engine activity. We use this model to successfully explain the temporal evolution of the light curves and discuss its implications on the fireball properties.

astro-ph.HE

The Broad Absorption Line Tidal Disruption Event iPTF15af: Optical and Ultraviolet Evolution

We present multi-wavelength observations of the tidal disruption event (TDE) iPTF15af, discovered by the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory (iPTF) survey at redshift $z=0.07897$. The optical and ultraviolet (UV) light curves of the transient show a slow decay over five months, in agreement with previous optically discovered TDEs. It also has a comparable black-body peak luminosity of $L_{\rm{peak}} \approx 1.5 \times 10^{44}$ erg/s. The inferred temperature from the optical and UV data shows a value of (3$-$5) $\times 10^4$ K. The transient is not detected in X-rays up to $L_X < 3 \times 10^{42}$erg/s within the first five months after discovery. The optical spectra exhibit two distinct broad emission lines in the He II region, and at later times also H$α$ emission. Additionally, emission from [N III] and [O III] is detected, likely produced by the Bowen fluorescence effect. UV spectra reveal broad emission and absorption lines associated with high-ionization states of N V, C IV, Si IV, and possibly P V. These features, analogous to those of broad absorption line quasars (BAL QSOs), require an absorber with column densities $N_{\rm{H}} > 10^{23}$ cm$^{-2}$. This optically thick gas would also explain the non-detection in soft X-rays. The profile of the absorption lines with the highest column density material at the largest velocity is opposite that of BAL QSOs. We suggest that radiation pressure generated by the TDE flare at early times could have provided the initial acceleration mechanism for this gas. Spectral UV line monitoring of future TDEs could test this proposal.

astro-ph.HE

The Case for a High-Redshift Origin of GRB100205A

The number of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) known to have occurred in the distant Universe (z greater than 5) is small (approx 15), however these events provide a powerful way of probing star formation at the onset of galaxy evolution. In this paper, we present the case for GRB100205A being a largely overlooked high-redshift event. While initially noted as a high-z candidate, this event and its host galaxy have not been explored in detail. By combining optical and near-infrared Gemini afterglow imaging (at t less than 1.3 days since burst) with deep late-time limits on host emission from the Hubble Space Telescope, we show that the most likely scenario is that GRB100205A arose in the redshift range 4-8. GRB100205A is an example of a burst whose afterglow, even at 1 hour post-burst, could only be identified by 8m class IR observations, and suggests that such observations of all optically dark bursts may be necessary to significantly enhance the number of high-redshift GRBs known.

astro-ph.HE

The volumetric rate of normal type Ia supernovae in the local universe discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory

We present the volumetric rate of normal type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF). Using strict data-quality cuts, and considering only periods when the PTF maintained a regular cadence, PTF discovered 90 SNe Ia at $z\le0.09$ in a well-controlled sample over three years of operation (2010-2012). We use this to calculate the volumetric rate of SN Ia events by comparing this sample to simulations of hundreds of millions of SN Ia light curves produced in statistically representative realisations of the PTF survey. This quantifies the recovery efficiency of each PTF SN Ia event, and thus the relative weighting of each event. From this, the volumetric SN Ia rate was found to be $r_v=2.43\pm0.29\,\text{(stat)}_{-0.19}^{+0.33}\text{(sys)}\times10^{-5}\,\text{SNe yr}^{-1}\,\text{Mpc}^{-3}\, h_{70}^{3}$. This represents the most precise local measurement of the SN Ia rate. We fit a simple SN Ia delay-time distribution model, $\propto\mathrm{t}^{-β}$, to our PTF rate measurement combined with a literature sample of rate measurements from surveys at higher-redshifts. We find $β{\sim}1$, consistent with a progenitor channel governed by the gravitational in-spiral of binary white dwarfs.

astro-ph.HE

A multi-wavelength analysis of a collection of short-duration GRBs observed between 2012-2015

We investigate the prompt emission and the afterglow properties of short duration gamma-ray burst (sGRB) 130603B and another eight sGRB events during 2012-2015, observed by several multi-wavelength facilities including the GTC 10.4m telescope. Prompt emission high energy data of the events were obtained by INTEGRAL/SPI/ACS, Swift/BAT and Fermi/GBM satellites. The prompt emission data by INTEGRAL in the energy range of 0.1-10 MeV for sGRB 130603B, sGRB 140606A, sGRB 140930B, sGRB 141212A and sGRB 151228A do not show any signature of the extended emission or precursor activity and their spectral and temporal properties are similar to those seen in case of other short bursts. For sGRB130603B, our new afterglow photometric data constraints the pre jet-break temporal decay due to denser temporal coverage. For sGRB 130603B, the afterglow light curve, containing both our new as well as previously published photometric data is broadly consistent with the ISM afterglow model. Modeling of the host galaxies of sGRB 130603B and sGRB 141212A using the LePHARE software supports a scenario in which the environment of the burst is undergoing moderate star formation activity. From the inclusion of our late-time data for 8 other sGRBs we are able to; place tight constraints on the non-detection of the afterglow, host galaxy or any underlying kilonova emission. Our late-time afterglow observations of the sGRB 170817A/GW170817 are also discussed and compared with the sub-set of sGRBs.

astro-ph.HE

Illuminating Gravitational Waves: A Concordant Picture of Photons from a Neutron Star Merger

Merging neutron stars offer an exquisite laboratory for simultaneously studying strong-field gravity and matter in extreme environments. We establish the physical association of an electromagnetic counterpart EM170817 to gravitational waves (GW170817) detected from merging neutron stars. By synthesizing a panchromatic dataset, we demonstrate that merging neutron stars are a long-sought production site forging heavy elements by r-process nucleosynthesis. The weak gamma-rays seen in EM170817 are dissimilar to classical short gamma-ray bursts with ultra-relativistic jets. Instead, we suggest that breakout of a wide-angle, mildly-relativistic cocoon engulfing the jet elegantly explains the low-luminosity gamma-rays, the high-luminosity ultraviolet-optical-infrared and the delayed radio/X-ray emission. We posit that all merging neutron stars may lead to a wide-angle cocoon breakout; sometimes accompanied by a successful jet and sometimes a choked jet.

astro-ph.HE

Photometric Observations of Supernova 2013cq Associated with GRB 130427A

We observed the afterglow of GRB 130427A with the RATIR instrument on the 1.5-m Harold L. Johnson telescope of the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional on Sierra San Pedro Mártir. Our homogenous $griZYJH$ photometry extends from the night of burst to three years later. We fit a model for the afterglow. There is a significant positive residual which matches the behavior of SN 1998bw in the $griZ$ filters; we suggest that this is a photometric signature of the supernova SN 2013cq associated with the GRB. The peak absolute magnitude of the supernova is $M_r=-18.43\pm0.11$.

astro-ph.HE

The host galaxies and explosion sites of long-duration gamma ray bursts: Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared imaging

We present the results of a Hubble Space Telescope WFC3/F160W SNAPSHOT sur- vey of the host galaxies of 39 long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) at z < 3. We have non-detections of hosts at the locations of 4 bursts. Sufficient accuracy to as- trometrically align optical afterglow images and determine the location of the LGRB within its host was possible for 31/35 detected hosts. In agreement with other work, we find the luminosity distribution of LGRB hosts is significantly fainter than that of a star formation rate-weighted field galaxy sample over the same redshift range, indicating LGRBs are not unbiasedly tracing the star formation rate. Morphologi- cally, the sample of LGRB hosts are dominated by spiral-like or irregular galaxies. We find evidence for evolution of the population of LGRB hosts towards lower-luminosity, higher concentrated hosts at lower redshifts. Their half-light radii are consistent with other LGRB host samples where measurements were made on rest-frame UV obser- vations. In agreement with recent work, we find their 80 per cent enclosed flux radii distribution to be more extended than previously thought, making them intermedi- ate between core-collapse supernova (CCSN) and super-luminous supernova (SLSN) hosts. The galactocentric projected-offset distribution confirms LGRBs as centrally concentrated, much more so than CCSNe and similar to SLSNe. LGRBs are strongly biased towards the brighter regions in their host light distributions, regardless of their offset. We find a correlation between the luminosity of the LGRB explosion site and the intrinsic column density, N_H , towards the burst.

astro-ph.GA