arXiv subjects

M. A. Tucker

Publications and source records attributed to M. A. Tucker.

39 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

No Stripped Companion Material in the Nebular Spectrum of the "Two-Component" Type Ia Supernova ASASSN-18bt

We analyze a KeckI/LRIS nebular spectrum taken 268 days after $B$-band maximum of ASASSN-18bt (SN~2018oh), a Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) observed by {\it K2} at the time of explosion. ASASSN-18bt exhibited a two-component rise to peak brightness, possibly the signature of an interaction between the SN ejecta and a large ($\gtrsim 20~R_\odot$) nearby, non-degenerate companion. We search for emission signatures of stripped material from a non-degenerate companion in the nebular spectrum and find no evidence for any unbound material. We place an upper limit of $< 0.006~M_\odot$ on the amount of stripped/ablated H-rich material that could go undetected in our spectrum, effectively ruling out all hydrogen-rich donor stars. Additionally, we place a more tentative upper limit on HeI emission in the observed spectrum of $\lesssim 0.02~M_\odot$ which also rules out helium star companions. Our deep limits rule out a non-degenerate companion as the explanation for the early-time feature in ASASSN-18bt.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

ASASSN-18ey: The Rise of a New Black-Hole X-ray Binary

We present the discovery of ASASSN-18ey (MAXI J1820+070), a new black hole low-mass X-ray binary discovered by the All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN). A week after ASAS-SN discovered ASASSN-18ey as an optical transient, it was detected as an X-ray transient by MAXI/GCS. Here, we analyze ASAS-SN and Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) pre-outburst optical light curves, finding evidence of intrinsic variability for several years prior to the outburst. While there was no long-term rise leading to outburst, as has been seen in several other systems, the start of the outburst in the optical preceded that in the X-rays by $7.20\pm0.97~\rm days$. We analyze the spectroscopic evolution of ASASSN-18ey from pre-maximum to $> 100~\rm days$ post-maximum. The spectra of ASASSN-18ey exhibit broad, asymmetric, double-peaked H$α$ emission. The Bowen blend ($λ\approx 4650$Å) in the post-maximum spectra shows highly variable double-peaked profiles, likely arising from irradiation of the companion by the accretion disk, typical of low-mass X-ray binaries. The optical and X-ray luminosities of ASASSN-18ey are consistent with black hole low-mass X-ray binaries, both in outburst and quiescence.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

The first 48: Discovery and progenitor constraints on the Type Ia supernova 2013gy

We present an early-phase $g$-band light curve and visual-wavelength spectra of the normal Type Ia supernova (SN) 2013gy. The light curve is constructed by determining the appropriate S-corrections to transform KAIT natural-system $B$- and $V$-band photometry and Carnegie Supernova Project natural-system $g$-band photometry to the Pan-STARRS1 $g$-band natural photometric system. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo calculation provides a best-fit single power-law function to the first ten epochs of photometry described by an exponent of $2.16^{+0.06}_{-0.06}$ and a time of first light of MJD 56629.4$^{+0.1}_{-0.1}$, which is $1.93^{+0.12}_{-0.13}$ days (i.e., $<48$~hr) before the discovery date (2013 December 4.84 UT) and $-19.10^{+0.12}_{-0.13}$ days before the time of $B$-band maximum (MJD 56648.5$\pm0.1$). The estimate of the time of first light is consistent with the explosion time inferred from the evolution of the Si II $λ$6355 Doppler velocity. Furthermore, discovery photometry and previous nondetection limits enable us to constrain the companion radius down to $R_c \leq 4\,R_{\odot}$. In addition to our early-time constraints, we use a deep +235 day nebular-phase spectrum from Magellan/IMACS to place a stripped H-mass limit of $< 0.018\,M_{\odot}$. Combined, these limits effectively rule out H-rich nondegenerate companions.

astro-ph.HE↗