SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Michael Bietenholz

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Bietenholz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Old and Bright: The Remarkable Radio Brightening of the Engine-driven SN 2012au Several Years After Explosion Signals the Birth of a PWN

We present the results from an extensive broad-band (radio to X-rays) observing campaign of the engine-driven Type Ib SN 2012au in the first 13 years of evolution. The early-time ($δt\leq{190}$ d) radio and X-ray evolution is well-described by conventional models of a forward shock interacting with a wind-like circumstellar medium ($ρ_{\rm{CSM}}\propto{r}^{-2}$). However, starting at $δ{t}\approx{6.7}$ yr, we detect a significant radio re-brightening. This late-time emission is dominated by a luminous component characterized by a broad and rapidly evolving spectral peak and a shallow optically thin spectral slope, $F_ν\proptoν^{-0.31\pm0.02}$. These properties imply a compact emitting region ($R\lesssim{10}^{16}$ cm) expanding at a remarkably slow velocity ($\lesssim{500}$ km/s) into a high-density environment ($\geq{10}^4 \rm{cm}^{-3}$), accompanied by a hard electron power-law index $p\approx{1.6}$. No soft or hard X-ray emission is detected at any epoch, indicating that high-energy radiation is either strongly absorbed or intrinsically absent. In the context of aspherical shock-CSM interaction models, these observations imply extreme properties of the CSM (geometry, density, total mass) that lack clear astrophysical motivation. Instead, we show that the emergence of radiation from a newborn Pulsar Wind Nebula (PWN) naturally explains the radio spectral evolution and high-energy limits, where the emission is governed by the adiabatic expansion of a relic pair plasma. We conclude that SN 2012au represents the most compelling candidate for a young, newborn PWN discovered to date, a scenario that can be directly tested with pending Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations.

astro-ph.HE

A 14-year-old Mystery: The Peculiar Case of the Engine-driven SN 2012ap

We present late-time ($δt > 3000$ d) optical (Keck), X-ray (Chandra and NuSTAR), and radio (VLA, ALMA, and the uGMRT) observations of the Type Ic-BL SN 2012ap. Previous studies of this SN suggested that it stands out as a key example of a weak engine-driven explosion due to the lack of gamma-ray burst detection and a mildly relativistic ejecta. Recently, radio sky surveys revealed the rebrightening of the radio emission from this SN, highlighting the possibilities of a density enhancement at large radii or the existence of an off-axis relativistic jet. While the late-time optical spectra does not exhibit the broad emission lines seen in other interacting SNe, our analysis of the broadband radio and X-ray emission implies that both scenarios are plausible. If a density enhancement is responsible for the radio rebrightening, it has to result from a change in the mass-loss rate and/or wind velocity, possibly due to the transition of the progenitor from a red supergiant to a Wolf-Rayet star. If the late-time radio component is a result of an off-axis relativistic jet, we find that an energetic narrow jet viewed at $θ_{\rm obs} \geq 80^{\circ}$ is needed. In this scenario, SN 2012ap is not a result of a weak engine-driven explosion, and, instead, it is similar to other GRBs. However, radio rebrightenings of Type Ic-BL SNe are not enough on their own to determine the existence of off-axis jets and our planned VLBA observation will help reveal the true nature of this SN.

astro-ph.HE

The Multi-Wavelength Context of Delayed Radio Emission in TDEs: Evidence for Accretion-Driven Outflows

Recent observations presented in Cendes et al. (2024a) show that optically selected tidal disruption events (TDEs) commonly produce delayed radio emission that can peak years post-disruption. Here, we explore the multi-wavelength properties of a sample of radio-observed optically selected TDEs to shed light on the physical process(es) responsible for the late-rising radio emission. We combine new late-time X-ray observations with archival optical, UV, X-ray, and radio data to conclude that a diversity of accretion-driven outflows may power delayed radio emission in TDEs. Our analysis suggests that some late radio outflows may be launched by a delayed phase of super-Eddington accretion onto the central supermassive black hole (SMBH), while others may result from a state transition to a ``low-hard'' radiatively inefficient accretion flow or the deceleration of an off-axis relativistic jet. We find that TDEs with delayed radio emission are less likely to exhibit helium emission lines at early times ($p=0.002$) and may have larger optical/UV photospheric radii ($p=0.026$) than other TDEs, possibly also indicating that the onset of SMBH accretion is delayed in these systems. Our results have implications for our understanding of state changes in SMBH accretion flows, the circularization timescale for TDE debris, and the prevalence of off-axis jets in TDEs, and motivate systematic, long-term monitoring of these unique transients. The objects in our sample with the brightest radio emission are also detected in the VLA Sky Survey (VLASS), demonstrating that all-sky radio surveys can play an important role in discovering unexpected properties of the TDE population.

astro-ph.HE

The SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey compact source catalogue

We present a catalogue of compact sources detected in the SARAO MeerKAT 1.3 GHz Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS). We extract 510599 compact sources, with areas less than five 8" beams, from the survey maps covering the regions $252°< l < 358^°$ and $2°< l < 61°$ at $|b| \leq 1.5^°$, which have an angular resolution of 8" and a sensitivity of $\sim$ 10-30 $μ$Jy beam$^{-1}$. In this paper, we describe the source identification and characterisation methods, present the quality assurance of the catalogue, explore the nature of the catalogue sources, and present initial science highlights. We limit our catalogue to sources with a signal-to-noise ratio $\geq 5$, as the catalogue is $\sim$90 per cent complete, and has a false positive rate of less than 1 per cent at this threshold. The bulk of the catalogue sources are previously unknown to the literature, with the majority of unknown sources at sub-mJy levels. Initial science highlights from the catalogue include the detection of 213 radio quiet WISE HII region candidates, previously undetected in radio continuum studies. We show images that compare the SMGPS compact sources to CORNISH ultracompact HII regions, thus highlighting the sensitivity and unprecedented uv-coverage of the SMGPS, and the potential synergy of the SMGPS with other surveys.

astro-ph.GA

The First 4 Years of SN 1993J Revisited: Geometric $m$-ring Modeling of the Radio Shell with Closure Quantities Only

SN 1993J is the best-studied radio supernova, with observations using very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) spanning from within weeks of explosion through nearly three decades of ejecta evolution. Imaging and modeling techniques have revealed an expanding shell-like ejecta structure, with a width well-constrained after ~1000 days. In this work, we present a re-analysis of the first ~1700 days of SN 1993J evolution, using a new VLBI analysis technique with somewhat intrinsically higher angular resolution and compare our results with those from previous conventional techniques. We adopt the m-ring model, with potentially somewhat higher angular resolution, but only as a phenomenological alternative to the physically-motivated spherical shell model used in past analyses and shape the profile to approximately match that of the shell. We use closure quantities only, providing calibration insensitive constraints on ejecta geometry and largely independent comparisons with previous results from the same data sets. Using this approach we find the ejecta expanding with a power-law exponent $ω=0.80\pm0.01$ averaged for the time from 175 to 1693 days, consistent with shell-fitting analyses. For the first time, we report estimates of the ejecta width at t < 1000 days -- as early as 264 days post-explosion -- finding a mean fractional width with standard deviation of $0.24 \pm 0.04$ (of the radius) with no significant evolution. We present a fit of the azimuthal brightness modulation over time with the maximum of a horseshoe pattern rotating from east to south-southwest from 175 to 1000 d and then evolving to a more complex behavior, quantifying previous results from images only. The constraints on the angular brightness modulation and width over time and ~700 days earlier than existing analyses provide an avenue to test more advanced simulations of the explosion and interaction mechanisms.

astro-ph.HE

The stellar population in the SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey

We report on optically selected stellar candidates of SARAO MeerKAT 1.3 GHz radio continuum survey sources of the Galactic plane. Stellar counterparts to radio sources are selected by cross-matching the MeerKAT source positions with \textit{Gaia} DR3, using two approaches. The first approach evaluated the probability of chance alignments between the radio survey and \textit{Gaia} sources and used AllWISE infrared colour-colour information to select potential stellar candidates. The second approach utilized a Monte Carlo method to evaluate the cross-matching reliability probability, based on populations of known radio-emitting stars. From the combined approaches, we found 629 potential stellar counterparts, of which 169 have existing SIMBAD classifications, making it the largest Galactic plane radio-optical crossmatch sample to date. A colour-magnitude analysis of the sample revealed a diverse population of stellar objects, ranging from massive OB stars, main-sequence stars, giants, young stellar objects, emission line stars, red dwarfs and white dwarfs. Some of the proposed optical counterparts include chromospherically/coronally active stars, for example RS CVn binaries, BY Dra systems, YSOs and flare stars, which typically exhibit radio emission. Based on Gaia's low-resolution spectroscopy, some of the stars show strong H$α$ emission, indicating they are magnetically active, consistent with them being radio emitters. While MeerKAT's sensitivity and survey speed make it ideal for detecting faint radio sources, its angular resolution limits accurate counterpart identification for crowded fields such as the Galactic Plane. Higher frequency, and, thereby, better spatial resolution, radio observations plus circular polarization would be required to strengthen the associations.

astro-ph.SR

The SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey filamentary source catalogue

We present a catalogue of filamentary structures identified in the SARAO (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory) MeerKAT 1.3 GHz Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS). We extract 933 filaments across the survey area, 803 of which (~86%) are associated with extended radio structures (e.g. supernova remnants and HII regions), whilst 130 (~14%) are largely isolated. We classify filaments as thermal or non-thermal via their associated mid-infrared emission and find 77/130 (~59%) of the isolated sources are likely to be non-thermal, and are therefore excellent candidates for the first isolated, non-thermal radio filaments observed outside of the Galactic Centre (GC). Comparing the morphological properties of these non-thermal candidates to the non-thermal filaments observed towards the GC we find the GC filaments are on the whole angularly narrower and shorter than those across the SMGPS, potentially an effect of distance. The SMGPS filaments have flux densities similar to those of the GC, however the distribution of the latter extends to higher flux densities. If the SMGPS filaments were closer than the GC population, it would imply a more energetic population of cosmic ray electrons in the GC. We find the filament position angles in the SMGPS are uniformly distributed, implying that the local magnetic field traced by the filaments does not follow the large-scale Galactic field. Finally, although we have clearly shown that filaments are not unique to the GC, the GC nevertheless has the highest density of filaments in the Milky Way.

astro-ph.GA

Dinosaur in a Haystack : X-ray View of the Entrails of SN 2023ixf and the Radio Afterglow of Its Interaction with the Medium Spawned by the Progenitor Star (Paper 1)

We present the results from our extensive hard-to-soft X-ray (NuSTAR, Swift-XRT, XMM-Newton, Chandra) and meter-to-mm wave radio (GMRT, VLA, NOEMA) monitoring campaign of the very nearby (d $=6.9$ Mpc) Type II SN2023ixf spanning $\approx$ 4--165 d post-explosion. This unprecedented dataset enables inferences on the explosion's circumstellar medium (CSM) density and geometry. Specifically, we find that the luminous X-ray emission is well modeled by thermal free-free radiation from the forward shock with rapidly decreasing photo-electric absorption with time. The radio spectrum is dominated by synchrotron radiation from the same shock, and the NOEMA detection of high-frequency radio emission may indicate a new component consistent with the secondary origin. Similar to the X-rays, the level of free-free absorption affecting the radio spectrum rapidly decreases with time as a consequence of the shock propagation into the dense CSM. While the X-ray and the radio modeling independently support the presence of a dense medium corresponding to an \emph{effective} mass-loss rate $\dot{M} \approx 10^{-4}\, \rm M_{\odot}\,yr^{-1}$ at $R = (0.4-14) \times 10^{15}$ (for $v_{\rm w}=\rm 25 \,km\,s^{-1}$), our study points at a complex CSM density structure with asymmetries and clumps. The inferred densities are $\approx$10--100 times those of typical red supergiants, indicating an extreme mass-loss phase of the progenitor in the $\approx$200 years preceding core collapse, which leads to the most X-ray luminous Type II SN and the one with the most delayed emergence of radio emission. These results add to the picture of the complex mass-loss history of massive stars on the verge of collapse and demonstrate the need for panchromatic campaigns to fully map their intricate environments.

astro-ph.HE

The Peculiar Radio Evolution of the Tidal Disruption Event ASASSN-19bt

We present detailed radio observations of the tidal disruption event (TDE) ASASSN-19bt/AT2019ahk, obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and the MeerKAT radio telescopes, spanning 40 to 1464 days after the onset of the optical flare. We find that ASASSN-19bt displays unusual radio evolution compared to other TDEs, as the peak brightness of its radio emission increases rapidly until 457 days post-optical discovery and then plateaus. Using a generalized approach to standard equipartition techniques, we estimate the energy and corresponding physical parameters for two possible emission geometries: a non-relativistic spherical outflow and a relativistic outflow observed from an arbitrary viewing angle. We find that the non-relativistic solution implies a continuous energy rise in the outflow from $E\sim10^{46}$ erg to $E\sim10^{49}$ erg with $β\approx 0.05$, while the off-axis relativistic jet solution instead suggests $E\approx10^{52}$ erg with $Γ\sim10$ erg at late times in the maximally off-axis case. We find that neither model provides a holistic explanation for the origin and evolution of the radio emission, emphasizing the need for more complex models. ASASSN-19bt joins the population of TDEs that display unusual radio emission at late times. Conducting long-term radio observations of these TDEs, especially during the later phases, will be crucial for understanding how these types of radio emission in TDEs are produced.

astro-ph.HE

Radio observations of the tidal disruption event AT2020opy: a luminous non-relativistic outflow encountering a dense circumnuclear medium

Tidal disruption events (TDEs) occur when a star passes too close to a supermassive black hole and is destroyed by tidal gravitational forces. Radio observations of TDEs trace synchrotron emission from outflowing material that may be ejected from the inner regions of the accretion flow around the SMBH or by the tidal debris stream. Radio detections of tidal disruption events are rare, but provide crucial information about the launching of jets and outflows from supermassive black holes and the circumnuclear environment in galaxies. Here we present the radio detection of the TDE AT2020opy, including three epochs of radio observations taken with the Karl G. Jansky's Very Large Array (VLA), MeerKAT, and upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio telescope. AT2020opy is the most distant thermal TDE with radio emission reported to date, and from modelling the evolving synchrotron spectra we deduce that the host galaxy has a more dense circumnuclear medium than other thermal TDEs detected in the radio band. Based on an equipartition analysis of the synchrotron spectral properties of the event, we conclude that the radio-emitting outflow was likely launched approximately at the time of, or just after, the initial optical flare. We find no evidence for relativistic motion of the outflow. The high luminosity of this event supports that a dense circumnuclear medium of the host galaxy produces brighter radio emission that rises to a peak more quickly than in galaxies with lower central densities.

astro-ph.HE

A Mildly Relativistic Outflow Launched Two Years after Disruption in the Tidal Disruption Event AT2018hyz

We present late-time radio/millimeter (as well as optical/UV and X-ray) detections of the tidal disruption event (TDE) AT2018hyz, spanning $970 - 1300$ d after optical discovery. In conjunction with earlier deeper limits, including at $\approx 700$ d, our observations reveal rapidly rising emission at $0.8-240$ GHz, steeper than $F_ν\propto t^5$ relative to the time of optical discovery. Such a steep rise cannot be explained in any reasonable scenario of an outflow launched at the time of disruption (e.g., off-axis jet, sudden increase in the ambient density), and instead points to a delayed launch. Our multi-frequency data allow us to directly determine the radius and energy of the radio-emitting outflow, showing that it was launched $\approx 750$ d after optical discovery. The outflow velocity is mildly relativistic, with $β\approx 0.25$ and $\approx 0.6$ for a spherical and a $10^\circ$ jet geometry, respectively, and the minimum kinetic energy is $E_K\approx 5.8\times 10^{49}$ and $\approx 6.3\times 10^{49}$ erg, respectively. This is the first definitive evidence for the production of a delayed mildly-relativistic outflow in a TDE; a comparison to the recently-published radio light curve of ASASSN-15oi suggests that the final re-brightening observed in that event (at a single frequency and time) may be due to a similar outflow with a comparable velocity and energy. Finally, we note that the energy and velocity of the delayed outflow in AT2018hyz are intermediate between those of past non-relativistic TDEs (e.g., ASASSN-14li, AT2019dsg) and the relativistic TDE Sw\,J1644+57. We suggest that such delayed outflows may be common in TDEs.

astro-ph.HE

Radio and X-ray observations of the luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient AT2020xnd

We present deep X-ray and radio observations of the Fast Blue Optical Transient (FBOT) AT2020xnd/ZTF20acigmel at $z=0.2433$ from $13$d to $269$d after explosion. AT2020xnd belongs to the category of optically luminous FBOTs with similarities to the archetypal event AT2018cow. AT2020xnd shows luminous radio emission reaching $L_ν\approx8\times10^{29}$ergs$^{-1}$Hz$^{-1}$ at 20GHz and $75$d post explosion, accompanied by luminous and rapidly fading soft X-ray emission peaking at $L_{X}\approx6\times10^{42}$ergs$^{-1}$. Interpreting the radio emission in the context of synchrotron radiation from the explosion's shock interaction with the environment we find that AT2020xnd launched a high-velocity outflow ($v\sim$0.1-0.2$c$) propagating into a dense circumstellar medium (effective $\dot M\approx10^{-3}M_{\rm{sol}}$yr$^{-1}$ for an assumed wind velocity of $v_w=1000$kms$^{-1}$). Similar to AT2018cow, the detected X-ray emission is in excess compared to the extrapolated synchrotron spectrum and constitutes a different emission component, possibly powered by accretion onto a newly formed black hole or neutron star. These properties make AT2020xnd a high-redshift analog to AT2018cow, and establish AT2020xnd as the fourth member of the class of optically-luminous FBOTs with luminous multi-wavelength counterparts.

astro-ph.HE

Six years of luminous X-ray emission from the strongly interacting type-Ib SN 2014C captured by Chandra and NuSTAR

We present the first coordinated soft and hard 0.3-80 keV X-ray campaign of the extragalactic supernova SN 2014C in the first $\sim$2307 d of its evolution. SN 2014C initially appeared to be an ordinary type Ib explosion but evolved into a strongly-interacting hydrogen-rich type IIn SN over $\sim1 \rm{yr}$. We observed signatures of interaction with a dense medium across the X-ray spectrum, which revealed the presence of a $\sim 1-2 \rm{M}_{\odot}$ shell of material at $\sim6\times10^{16} \rm{cm}$ from the progenitor. This finding challenges current understanding of hydrogen-poor core-collapse progenitor evolution. Potential scenarios to interpret these observations include (i) the ejection of the hydrogen envelope by the progenitor star in the centuries prior to the explosion; (ii) interaction of the fast Wolf-Rayet (WR) star wind with the slow, dense wind of the Red Super Giant (RSG) phase, with an anomalously short WR phase.

astro-ph.HE

Canada and the SKA from 2020-2030

This white paper submitted for the 2020 Canadian Long-Range Planning process (LRP2020) presents the prospects for Canada and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) from 2020-2030, focussing on the first phase of the project (SKA1) scheduled to begin construction early in the next decade. SKA1 will make transformational advances in our understanding of the Universe across a wide range of fields, and Canadians are poised to play leadership roles in several. Canadian key SKA technologies will ensure a good return on capital investment in addition to strong scientific returns, positioning Canadian astronomy for future opportunities well beyond 2030. We therefore advocate for Canada's continued scientific and technological engagement in the SKA from 2020-2030 through participation in the construction and operations phases of SKA1.

astro-ph.IM

Discrete Knot Ejection from the Jet in a Nearby Low Luminosity Active Galactic Nucleus, M81*

Observational constraints of relativistic jets from black holes has largely come from the most powerful and extended jets\cite{Jorstad05,Asada14}, leaving the nature of the low luminosity jets a mystery\cite{Falcke04}. M81* is one of the nearest low-luminosity jets, which underwent an extremely large radio flare in 2011, allowing us to study compact core emission with unprecedented sensitivity and linear resolution. Utilizing a multi-wavelength campaign, we were able to track the flare as it re-brightened and became optically thick. Simultaneous X-ray observations indicated the radio re-brightening was preceded by a low energy X-ray flare at least $t_{\rm delay}>12\ {\rm days}$ prior. Associating the time delay between the two bands as the cooling time in a synchrotron flare\cite{Urry97,Bai03}, we find the magnetic field strength was $1.9<B<9.2\ {\rm G}$, which is consistent with magnetic field estimate from spectral-energy distribution modeling\cite{Kellerman81}, $B<10.2\ {\rm G}$. In addition, VLBA observations at 23 GHz clearly illustrate a discrete knot moving mildly relativistically at $v_{\rm app}/c=0.51\pm0.17$ associated with the initial radio flare. The observations indicate radial jet motions for the first time in M81*. This has profound implications for jet production, as it means radial motion can be observed in even the lowest-luminosity AGN, but at slower velocities and smaller radial extents ($\approx10^4\ R_{\rm G}$).

astro-ph.HE

Radio and X-rays From SN 2013df Enlighten Progenitors of Type IIb Supernovae

We present radio and X-ray observations of the nearby Type IIb Supernova 2013df in NGC4414 from 10 to 250 days after the explosion. The radio emission showed a peculiar soft-to-hard spectral evolution. We present a model in which inverse Compton cooling of synchrotron emitting electrons can account for the observed spectral and light curve evolution. A significant mass loss rate, $\dot{M} \approx 8 \times 10^{-5}\,\rm M_{\odot}/yr$ for a wind velocity of 10 km/s, is estimated from the detailed modeling of radio and X-ray emission, which are primarily due to synchrotron and bremsstrahlung, respectively. We show that SN 2013df is similar to SN 1993J in various ways. The shock wave speed of SN 2013df was found to be average among the radio supernovae; $v_{sh}/c \sim 0.07$. We did not find any significant deviation from smooth decline in the light curve of SN 2013df. One of the main results of our self-consistent multiband modeling is the significant deviation from energy equipartition between magnetic fields and relativistic electrons behind the shock. We estimate $ε_{e} = 200 ε_{B}$. In general for Type IIb SNe, we find that the presence of bright optical cooling envelope emission is linked with free-free radio absorption and bright thermal X-ray emission. This finding suggests that more extended progenitors, similar to that of SN 2013df, suffer from substantial mass loss in the years before the supernova.

astro-ph.HE

A Missing-Link in the Supernova-GRB Connection: The Case of SN 2012ap

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are characterized by ultra-relativistic outflows, while supernovae are generally characterized by non-relativistic ejecta. GRB afterglows decelerate rapidly usually within days, because their low-mass ejecta rapidly sweep up a comparatively larger mass of circumstellar material. However supernovae, with heavy ejecta, can be in nearly free expansion for centuries. Supernovae were thought to have non-relativistic outflows except for few relativistic ones accompanied by GRBs. This clear division was blurred by SN 2009bb, the first supernova with a relativistic outflow without an observed GRB. Yet the ejecta from SN 2009bb was baryon loaded, and in nearly-free expansion for a year, unlike GRBs. We report the first supernova discovered without a GRB, but with rapidly decelerating mildly relativistic ejecta, SN 2012ap. We discovered a bright and rapidly evolving radio counterpart driven by the circumstellar interaction of the relativistic ejecta. However, we did not find any coincident GRB with an isotropic fluence of more than a sixth of the fluence from GRB 980425. This shows for the first time that central engines in type Ic supernovae, even without an observed GRB, can produce both relativistic and rapidly decelerating outflows like GRBs.

astro-ph.HE

Very Long Baseline Interferometry with the SKA

Adding VLBI capability to the SKA arrays will greatly broaden the science of the SKA, and is feasible within the current specifications. SKA-VLBI can be initially implemented by providing phased-array outputs for SKA1-MID and SKA1-SUR and using these extremely sensitive stations with other radio telescopes, and in SKA2 by realising a distributed configuration providing baselines up to thousands of km, merging it with existing VLBI networks. The motivation for and the possible realization of SKA-VLBI is described in this paper.

astro-ph.IM