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Masaomi Tanaka

Publications and source records attributed to Masaomi Tanaka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A Type Ia Supernova Candidate at $z\sim4.3$: A Transient Interloper in the Search for $z\sim14$ Galaxies

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is opening a new window into the distant Universe by discovering galaxies and transients in the early Universe. We investigate a high-redshift transient candidate, beacon_1420-5253_4770. This object was initially identified as a high-redshift galaxy candidate at $z\sim14$. However, the source was not detected in epochs before and after the detection epoch, suggesting that the object is a transient source rather than a persistent galaxy. We classify the source by comparing the colors, magnitudes, light curves, and spectral energy distribution with various spectral templates of transients. Our analysis shows that the observed properties are consistent with a Type Ia supernova at $z\sim4.3$. Strong absorption by Fe-group elements seen in Type Ia supernova spectra can mimic the Lyman break used to detect high-redshift galaxies. At $z \sim 4.3$, corresponding to a cosmic age of only $\sim 1.5$ Gyr, our detection provides a direct probe of the delay time between star formation and supernova explosion. Our estimate of the event rate implies a minimum delay time shorter than 1 Gyr. We also discuss the implications of transient contamination for searches of galaxies in the early Universe.

astro-ph.HE

Evaluating KAGRA upgrade scenarios for multimessenger observations of binary neutron stars

Binary neutron star mergers are key targets for multimessenger astronomy, motivating future upgrades of gravitational-wave detectors. For KAGRA, both broadband sensitivity improvements that increase the binary neutron star detection range, and high-frequency optimizations targeting neutron-star physics are under consideration. We present a computationally efficient framework to evaluate the multimessenger performance of detector upgrades by combining Fisher-matrix estimates of localization area and localization volume with detector duty factors and binary neutron star merger rates. We apply this framework to proposed KAGRA upgrade scenarios within the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network. For identical sources, the high-frequency upgrade improves sky localization by about 20% compared with the broadband option. However, when detection rates are taken into account, the broadband upgrade yields a larger number of well-localized events. Despite its shorter binary neutron star range than the other detectors, the inclusion of KAGRA increases the number of events localized within $10^3$ Mpc$^3$ volume by about 60%. These results provide a quantitative framework for evaluating future detector upgrades from the perspective of multimessenger observations.

gr-qc

GRB 260310A/SN 2026fgk: Photometric and Spectroscopic Evolution of a Nearby GRB-Supernova and an Exceptionally Bright Afterglow at z=0.153

The association of broad-lined Type Ic supernovae with long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) has been known for 28 years. However, only about seventy gamma-ray burst supernovae (GRB-SNe) have been identified, of which only half have spectroscopic classifications. At $z=0.153$, GRB 260310A is the 12th spectroscopically confirmed GRB-SN discovered within 1 Gpc, offering a critical opportunity to follow one of these rare supernovae in detail. We present optical to near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy of GRB 260310A and SN 2026fgk out to 65 d after discovery. The optical afterglow is among the brightest ever observed from a GRB. Spectra obtained more than two weeks after the explosion reveal broad absorption features that securely identify SN 2026fgk as a Type Ic-BL supernova. Modeling of the multi-wavelength ($grizJK_s$) lightcurve shows that the supernova is approximately half the luminosity ($k_\textrm{98bw}=0.4-0.6$) of the canonical GRB-SN 1998bw. We derive a nickel mass of $M_\textrm{Ni}=0.4-0.5$ $M_\odot$ with a total ejected mass of $M_\textrm{ej}\approx4-6 $ $M_\odot$ and kinetic energy $E_\textrm{K}=(3-8)\times10^{51}$ erg. The GRB exploded at an extremely large offset of 15 kpc from its host galaxy. Long-slit spectra reveal a ``bridge'' of nebular emission extending along the galaxy's disk to the GRB location, which has a sub-solar metallicity ($\sim$\,$0.4Z_\odot$), compared to a near solar metallicity for the host galaxy. This indicates that the large offset arises from the galaxy's extended light profile rather than an isolated environment.

astro-ph.HE

SN 2024dy: Dust formation in a long-lived Type IIn supernova and constraints on the dust mass

Type~IIn supernovae (SNe) are a subclass of core-collapse SNe powered by interaction between the ejecta and the dense circumstellar material. Among them, long-lived Type~IIn events are characterized by luminous, long-duration light curves with high radiative energy. Several cases of long-lived type IIn SNe exhibit substantial dust emission at late times. However, well-observed examples remain limited, and the details of their dust formation mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we present photometric and spectroscopic observations of the Type~IIn SN~2024dy in ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared (NIR) wavelength for $500$ days. SN~2024dy reached a peak magnitude of $M_r=-19.2$~mag with a total radiation energy of $1.9\times10^{50}$~erg. A NIR excess emerged at late phases, and the spectral energy distribution modeling indicates the presence of carbon dust with temperatures of $1300$-$1800$~K and masses of about $10^{-5}\ M_\odot$. The spectra features were typical of long-lived Type~IIn SNe. The late time H$α$ profile exhibits a strong suppression of the red wing, providing evidence for newly formed dust. Our results suggest that the derived dust mass above may be underestimated due to optical depth effects. SN~2024dy provides an important observational case for understanding dust formation in Type~IIn SNe.

astro-ph.HE

Deep Optical Follow-up Observations to IceCube Cosmic Neutrinos: a case for IC230724A with Subaru/HSC and prospects with Rubin/LSST

IceCube has been detecting cosmic high-energy neutrinos for more than 10 years, but their major sources are still under debate. To identify them, IceCube is issuing neutrino alerts, which enable us to perform electromagnetic follow-up observations. In this paper, we present our Subaru/HSC deep optical follow-up observations down to 25.5 mag to a well-localized neutrino event, IceCube 230724A. We conduct a dedicated analysis with extensive evaluation of background rates and true positive rates adopting the blind analysis policy to identify or disfavor tidal disruption events (TDEs) as cosmic neutrino sources. Our analysis found no TDE candidate in the region of interest. Rubin/LSST survey will enable us to constrain their fractional contribution to the cosmic high-energy neutrino background, either $\lesssim 60\%$ or $\gtrsim30\%$ for non-detection and detection, respectively, if Rubin covers the error regions of 10 neutrino events.

astro-ph.HE

Non-LTE Ionization Modeling for Helium and Strontium in Neutron Star Merger Ejecta

The material ejected from a binary neutron star merger produces "kilonova," a radioactively powered emission at ultraviolet, optical, and infrared wavelengths. The early-phase spectra of the kilonova AT2017gfo, following the gravitational wave event GW170817, exhibit a strong absorption feature around $1\,\mathrm{μm}$. Helium (He) and strontium (Sr) have been proposed as the candidate elements contributing to this feature. However, due to the lack of consistent modeling including these two elements simultaneously, the exact contributions of each element to this feature remain unclear. In this study, we develop non-local thermodynamic equilibrium ionization models for He and Sr that take into account ionization by high-energy electrons, and estimate the abundances of each element required to reproduce the observed feature. Our modeling indicates that about $1\, \%$ of He or $1\mathrm{-}10\, \%$ of Sr in mass fraction are present in the ejecta moving at $v \sim 0.15 \, c$. This Sr mass fraction nicely agrees with the mass fraction in the solar $r$-process abundance. Based on comparison with nucleosynthesis calculations, our constraints suggest that $r$-process nucleosynthesis in GW170817 occurs at relatively low electron fraction ($Y_{\rm e} \lesssim 0.35$) and low entropy ($s \lesssim 30 \ k_B/\, \mathrm{nucleon}$) conditions. Interestingly, for $Y_{\rm e}$ $\lesssim 0.15$, the observed feature is reproduced by He with a mass fraction expected from $α$ decays of trans-Pb nuclei, which gives an indirect signature for the production of elements beyond the third $r$-process peak.

astro-ph.HE

An optical transient candidate of $\lesssim$ 2-second duration captured by wide-field video observations

Recent time-domain surveys have revealed rapid transients that evolve on timescales of $\lesssim 10$ days, expanding the transient population into the short-duration regime. The transient search on even shorter timescales, particularly those lasting only seconds or less, remains a largely unexplored frontier. Very short-duration optical transients could serve as potential counterparts to millisecond-duration fast radio bursts (FRBs), providing clues to their origins. However, the optical search for transients on such short timescales has been limited primarily by instrumental constraints. Here we report the discovery of an optical transient candidate (TMG20200322) with a duration of $\lesssim 2$~s by wide-field video observations in the direction of the Earth's shadow. TMG20200322 was detected in just two consecutive images of 1-second exposure time, with its shape becoming elongated in the second frame. PSF shape variability analysis of field stars reveals that such an elongated PSF cannot be explained by atmospheric fluctuations. We investigate the potential origins of TMG20200322 in two scenarios: meteoroid impact flashes on near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) and head-on meteors in the Earth's atmosphere. None of the scenarios provides a satisfactory explanation for this transient. We derive a sky-projected rate of the TMG20200322 event of $R_{\mathrm{trans}} = (3.4 \times 10^{-2})^{+0.13}_{-0.028}$~deg$^{-2}$~day$^{-1}$ and an upper limit on second-timescale transients with durations of $1~\mathrm{s} \leq τ\lesssim 15~\mathrm{s}$ of $R_{\mathrm{trans}} \lesssim 0.10$~deg$^{-2}$~day$^{-1}$ for the non-detection case. We highlight that continuous monitoring observations in the direction of the Earth's shadow could be a key strategy to unveil a new population of optical transients on timescales of seconds or less.

astro-ph.EP

Ultraviolet Signatures of Jet-Ejecta Interaction in Early Kilonovae: Prediction from Realistic Atomic Opacities

We investigate the signature of the jet-ejecta interaction in early kilonova (t < 1day) using detailed atomic opacities developed in Banerjee et al. (2020, 2024), appropriate for early times (t~1hour after merger). We explore jets with different powers and opening angles. We find that the presence of the jet shifts the spectral peak to longer wavelengths, with the strongest effect near the polar viewing angle. This occurs because the jet creates a thin, low-density outer layer ahead of the bulk ejecta. The opacity of this layer can be as high as kappa ~200 cm2/g, causing photons to escape from cooler, faster-moving outer layer rather than from the hot inner ejecta. The bolometric light curves likewise exhibit a clear imprint of the jet-ejecta interaction, showing suppressed early-time luminosity near polar viewing angles compared to the equatorial one, as the photosphere resides in this thin layer where radioactive heating is lower than in the bulk ejecta. These signatures are also evident in multi-color light curves, particularly in the ultraviolet and u-bands. In the Swift-UVW2 band at t~= 0.15 days for a source at 100 Mpc, the ultraviolet luminosities can reach ~ 19.5 mag if no jet is present, while the presence of the jet can make it fainter by ~ 2.5 mag. The strongest observational signature occurs in the UVEX-NUV, Swift-UVW2, and UVM2 bands, which remains detectable out to viewing angles of ~ 60 deg for t <=1 days. Rapid follow-up with future ultraviolet facilities, such as ULTRASAT and UVEX, will provide powerful probes of jet-ejecta interaction through early-time kilonova observations.

astro-ph.HE

Exploring highly-deformed ground states involving the second intruder orbit in Z>50 even-even nuclei

We present a systematic survey of even-even nuclei with $Z>50$ to identify where a very large prolate configuration driven by the second intruder orbit emerges. Within the energy density functional theory framework, we find in representative cases a pronounced prolate minimum at quadrupole deformation $β_2\approx$ 0.3--0.4. A characteristic feature of these minima is a local enhancement of the hexadecapole ($β_4$) component relative to nearby deformations, which is a clear fingerprint of the $β_2$--$β_4$ coupling expected for the second intruder orbit. Representative comparisons among three Skyrme interactions show a similar appearance of the highly deformed minimum and a local enhancement of $β_4$ at the prolate minimum, indicating qualitative robustness with respect to the interaction. The resulting maps highlight specific heavy nuclei where highly deformed ground states are anticipated.

nucl-th

J-GEM near-infrared follow-up observations of the gravitational wave event S240422ed

We report our near-infrared (NIR) follow-up observations of the gravitational wave (GW) event S240422ed using the Subaru Telescope/MOIRCS. S240422ed was initially classified as a black hole-neutron star merger with $>$ 99% probability of electromagnetic wave emission. We started follow-up observations 7.8 hours after the event. Over two nights, we observed 206 nearby galaxies in $Y$ and $K_{\rm s}$ bands down to about 21.4 and 21.1 AB mag (3$σ$), respectively. The total completeness of our survey based on galaxy $B$-band luminosity is 22%. As a result of our observations, five candidate counterparts were identified. We show that properties of these five objects are not consistent with kilonova such as AT2017gfo. Four objects are consistent with known classes of transients such as supernovae or dwarf nova outbursts. On the other hand, the nature of the remaining one object, which shows a red color and rapid decline, remains unclear. Although later analyses of GW signal reclassified S240422ed as likely terrestrial noise, our NIR observations provide valuable lessons for future NIR surveys for GW sources. We demonstrate that deep NIR follow-up observations as presented in this work would effectively constrain the presence of red kilonova even at 200 Mpc distance. We also discuss the importance of deep and wide NIR reference images and of understanding the properties and frequency of Galactic transients.

astro-ph.HE

Second-timescale Glints from Satellites and Space Debris Detected with Tomo-e Gozen

A search for second-timescale optical transients is one of the frontiers of time-domain astronomy. However, it has been pointed out that reflections of sunlight from Earth-orbiting objects can also produce second-timescale ``glints.'' We conducted wide-field observations at 2 frames per second using Tomo-e Gozen on the 1.05 m Kiso Schmidt telescope. We identified 1554 point-source glints that appeared in only one frame (0.5 sec). Their brightness ranges from 11 to 16 mag, with fainter glints being more numerous. These glints are likely caused by satellites and space debris in high-altitude orbits such as the geosynchronous Earth orbit or highly elliptical orbits. Many glints brighter than 14 mag are associated with known satellites or debris with large apogees ($>$ 30,000 km). In contrast, most fainter glints are not associated with cataloged objects and may be due to debris with sizes of 0.3--1 m. The event rate of second-timescale glints is estimated to be $4.7 \pm 0.2\ {\rm deg^{-2}\ hr^{-1}}$ (average) and $9.0 \pm 0.3\ {\rm deg^{-2}\ hr^{-1}}$ (near the equator) at 15.5 mag. Our results demonstrate that high-altitude debris can represent a significant foreground in searches for second-timescale optical transients. They also imply that deep surveys such as Rubin/LSST will detect many of these glints in single-exposure images.

astro-ph.EP

The First Search for Optical Transient as a Counterpart of a Month-timescale IceCube Neutrino Multiplet Event

Optical transients with timescale of months, such as supernovae (SNe) and tidal disruption events (TDEs), are candidates of high-energy neutrino sources. Multiple neutrino detections from the same direction within a month timescale provide a unique opportunity to identify such optical counterparts in the nearby Universe. In this work, we conduct archival search for the optical counterpart of an IceCube triplet event using the data of Zwicky Transient Facility. We develop a dedicated alert filtering system and validate the performance by following a blind analysis method. Applying this filtering system to the data after the detections of the IceCube triplet event, we find no transient candidates within the localization area. Assuming that the IceCube triplet event originates from an astrophysical source, we constrain parameters of optical transient, a peak luminosity and a decay timescale, using a simple signal model that is motivated by TDEs and superluminous SNe (SLSNe). Assuming the case with no time lag between neutrino detections and optical peak, almost entire parameter space of the known TDEs and SLSNe would be constrained. To give constraints on transients with a rapidly evolving light curve, quick follow-up observations for future neutrino multiplet events are crucial.

astro-ph.HE

On the Origin of Neutron-capture Elements in r-I and r-II Stars: A Differential-abundance Analysis

We present a strictly line-by-line differential analysis of a moderately $r$-process-enhanced star ($r$-I: HD~107752) with respect to a strongly $r$-process-enhanced star ($r$-II: CS~31082-0001) to investigate the possible common origin of their heavy-element nucleosynthesis with high-precision abundances. This study employs ESO data archive high-resolution and high signal-to-noise spectra taken with the UVES (VLT) spectrograph. Considering only the lines in common in both spectra, we estimate differential abundances of 16 light/Fe-peak elements and 15 neutron-capture elements. Abundances of O, Al, Pr, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and detection of Tm in HD~107752 are presented for the first time. We found three distinct features in the differential-abundance pattern. Nearly equal abundances of light elements up to Zn are present for both the stars, indicating a common origin for these elements; in addition to no noticable odd-even differential pattern. In the case of neutron-capture elements, the $r$-I star exhibits mildly depleted light $r$-process elements and more depleted heavier $r$-process elements relative to $r$-II star. We also show that among $r$-I and $r$-II stars, the ratio of lighter-to-heavier $r$-process elements (e.g. [(Sr,Y,Zr)/Eu]) exhibits a decreasing trend with respect to the overall $r$-process enhancement, forming a continuous sequence from $r$-I and $r$-II stars. Finally, we discuss the necessity of multiple sites for the formation of $r$-I stars.

astro-ph.SR

A Joint Search for the Electromagnetic Counterpart to the Gravitational-Wave Binary Black-Hole Merger Candidate S250328ae with the Dark Energy Camera and the Prime Focus Spectrograph

The first detection of an optical counterpart to a gravitational wave signal revealed that collaborative efforts between instruments with different specializations provide a unique opportunity to acquire impactful multi-messenger data. We present results of such a joint search with the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) and Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) for the optical counterpart of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA event S250328ae, a binary black hole merger candidate of high significance detected at a distance of 511$\pm$82 Mpc and localized within an area of 3 (15) square degrees at 50% (90%) confidence. We observed the 90% confidence area with DECam and identified 36 high-confidence transient candidates after image processing, candidate selection, and candidate vetting. We observed with PFS to obtain optical spectra of DECam candidates, Swift-XRT candidates, and potential host galaxies of S250328ae. In total, 3897 targets were observed by seven pointings covering ~50% of the 90% confidence area. After template fitting and visual inspection, we identified 12 SNe, 159 QSOs, 2975 galaxies, and 131 stars. With the joint observations of DECam and PFS, we found variability in 12 SNe, 139 QSOs, 37 galaxies, and 2 stars. We do not identify any confident optical counterparts, though the association is not ruled out for three variable candidates that are not observed by PFS and 6 QSO candidates without clear variability if the optical counterpart of S250328ae is faint. Despite the lack of confident optical counterparts, this paper serves as a framework for future collaborations between wide-field imagers and multi-object spectrographs to maximize multi-messenger analyses.

astro-ph.HE

A Common Origin of Normal Type Ia Supernovae Suggested by the Photometric Diversity

In recent years, with an increasing number of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) discovered soon after their explosions, a non-negligible fraction of SNe Ia with early-excess emissions (EExSNe Ia) have been confirmed. In this letter, we present a total of \textbf{67} early-phase normal SNe Ia from published papers and ongoing transient survey projects to systematically investigate their photometric behaviors from very early time. We found that EExSNe Ia in our sample have longer rise and brighter peak luminosities compared to those of non-EExSNe Ia. Moreover, EExSNe Ia commonly have ``red-bump" features in the early $B-V$ color while non-EExSNe Ia show blueward evolution from the very beginning. Here, we propose that the thin-helium double-detonation scenario can phenomenologically explain the photometric diversities of normal SNe Ia considering different white dwarf-He-shell mass combinations and the viewing-angle effect, implying a unified explosion mechanism of normal-type SNe Ia. To further testify the possible common origin of normal SNe Ia, systematical studies of multiband photometric and spectral properties of early-phase SNe Ia through the new generation wide-field time-domain survey facilities and global real-time follow-up networks are highly demanded.

astro-ph.HE

The $R$-Process Alliance: Enrichment of $r$-process Elements in a Simulated Milky Way-like Galaxy

We study the formation of stars with varying amounts of heavy elements synthesized by the rapid neutron-capture process ($r$-process) based on our detailed cosmological zoom-in simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy with an $N$-body/smoothed particle hydrodynamics code, ASURA. Most stars with no overabundance in $r$-process elements, as well as the strongly $r$-process enhanced $r$-II stars ([Eu/Fe] $>+0.7$), are formed in dwarf galaxies accreted by the Milky Way within the 6 Gyr after the Big Bang. In contrast, over half of the moderately enhanced $r$-I stars ($+0.3 <$ [Eu/Fe] $\leq +0.7$) are formed in the main in-situ disk after 6 Gyr. Our results suggest that the fraction of $r$-I and $r$-II stars formed in disrupted dwarf galaxies is larger the higher their [Eu/Fe] is. Accordingly, the most strongly enhanced $r$-III stars ([Eu/Fe] $> +2.0$) are formed in accreted components. These results suggest that non-$r$-process-enhanced stars and $r$-II stars are mainly formed in low-mass dwarf galaxies that hosted either none or a single neutron star merger, while the $r$-I stars tend to form in the well-mixed in-situ disk. We compare our findings with high-resolution spectroscopic observations of $r$-process-enhanced metal-poor stars in the halo and dwarf galaxies, including those collected by the R-Process Alliance. We conclude that observed [Eu/Fe] and [Eu/Mg] ratios can be employed in chemical tagging of the Milky Way's accretion history.

astro-ph.GA

Gamma-Ray Burst Jets in Circumstellar Material: Dynamics, Breakout, and Diversity of Transients

Recent observations indicate that stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae are often surrounded by dense circumstellar material (CSM). Motivated by this, we develop an analytic model to systematically study the dynamics of long gamma-ray burst (LGRB) jet propagation in various CSM environments. We derive a general expression for the jet head velocity ($β_{\rm h}$) and breakout time ($t_{\rm b}$) valid across Newtonian, relativistic, and intermediate regimes, accounting for a previously unrecognized dependence on $1 - β_{\rm h}$. Our results highlight a fundamental distinction between jet propagation in massive stars, where $β_{\rm h}\ll 1$, and in extended CSM, where $1-β_{\rm h}\ll 1$. We establish an analytic success/failure criterion for jets and express it in terms of jet and CSM parameters, revealing a strong dependence on CSM radius. To quantify the relativistic nature of the jet-cocoon system, we introduce the energy-weighted proper velocity $\overline{Γβ}$. We identify three possible jet outcomes-(a) successful jets ($\overline{Γβ} \sim 10-100$), (b) barely failed jets ($\overline{Γβ} \sim 1$), and (c) completely failed jets ($\overline{Γβ} \sim 0.1$)-and constrain their respective jet/CSM parameter spaces. We show that in (b) and (c), large CSM radii can result in luminous fast blue optical transients via cocoon cooling emission. This theoretical framework provides a basis for future observational and theoretical studies to understand the link between LGRBs, intermediate GRBs, low-luminosity LGRBs, and their environments.

astro-ph.HE

EP240414a: A Gamma-Ray Burst Jet Weakened by an Extended Circumstellar Material

The recent Einstein Probe (EP) event EP240414a exhibits several unusual observational features. Its prompt and afterglow emissions place it between long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) and low-luminosity GRBs (LLGRBs). The event is followed by a fast optical transient (AT 2024gsa), initially exhibiting a thermal-like spectrum but later evolving into an unusually red peak at $\sim 3-5$ days, which is difficult to explain with thermal emission. Using our generalized analytic framework for jet propagation in a circumstellar material (CSM; Hamidani et al. 2025), we explore a scenario in which a conventional LGRB jet is launched in a progenitor surrounded by a dense CSM. For a CSM of $\sim 0.03 M_\odot$ extending to $\sim 3\times 10^{13}$ cm, we find that the jet is significantly weakened before breaking out, becoming "barely failed", an intermediate state between successful (LGRB) and completely failed (LLGRB) jets. This scenario naturally explains EP240414a's multi-wavelength observations, with the early thermal component produced by cocoon cooling emission, and the red peak explained by non-thermal afterglow emission from the mildly relativistic barely failed jet (and its inner-cocoon). Our work demonstrates the important role of extended CSM in shaping GRB jets and illustrates how early multi-wavelength follow-up observations can reveal the physically diverse nature of jet-driven transients.

astro-ph.HE