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Michael Rupen

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Rupen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Project management of the Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector

The Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD) is a new drift-scan radio interferometer operating from 300-1500 MHz, optimized for 21cm intensity mapping, 21cm galaxy detection, pulsars, and transient detection and localization. The full instrument will feature a core array of 512 six-meter dishes, plus two 64-dish outriggers at several thousand kilometer baselines. The project is nearing completion of the first 64-dish sub array, which will enable commissioning activities to begin in parallel with the remaining construction. In this presentation, we discuss the project management framework that has enabled us to navigate the logistical challenges of a fixed-budget, fixed-timeline research infrastructure project through a period of significant global economic and technological volatility.

astro-ph.IM

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

The Next Generation Very Large Array

The next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) is a transformational radio observatory being designed by the U.S. National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). It will provide order of magnitude improvements in sensitivity, resolution, and uv coverage over the current Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) at ~1.2-50 GHz and extend the frequency range up to 70-115 GHz. This document is a white paper written by members of the Canadian community for the 2020 Long Range Plan panel, which will be making recommendations on Canada's future directions in astronomy. Since Canadians have been historically major users of the VLA and have been valued partners with NRAO for ALMA, Canada's participation in ngVLA is welcome. Canadians have been actually involved in ngVLA discussions for the past five years, and have played leadership roles in the ngVLA Science and Technical Advisory Councils. Canadian technologies are also very attractive for the ngVLA, in particular our designs for radio antennas, receivers, correlates, and data archives, and our industrial capacities to realize them. Indeed, the Canadian designs for the ngVLA antennas and correlator/beamformer are presently the baseline models for the project. Given the size of Canada's radio community and earlier use of the VLA (and ALMA), we recommend Canadian participation in the ngVLA at the 7% level. Such participation would be significant enough to allow Canadian leadership in gVLA's construction and usage. Canada's participation in ngVLA should not preclude its participation in SKA; access to both facilities is necessary to meet Canada's radio astronomy needs. Indeed, ngVLA will fill the gap between those radio frequencies observable with the SKA and ALMA at high sensitivities and resolutions. Canada's partnership in ngVLA will give it access to cutting-edge facilities together covering approximately three orders of magnitude in frequency.

astro-ph.IM

LRP2020: Astrostatistics in Canada

(Abridged from Executive Summary) This white paper focuses on the interdisciplinary fields of astrostatistics and astroinformatics, in which modern statistical and computational methods are applied to and developed for astronomical data. Astrostatistics and astroinformatics have grown dramatically in the past ten years, with international organizations, societies, conferences, workshops, and summer schools becoming the norm. Canada's formal role in astrostatistics and astroinformatics has been relatively limited, but there is a great opportunity and necessity for growth in this area. We conducted a survey of astronomers in Canada to gain information on the training mechanisms through which we learn statistical methods and to identify areas for improvement. In general, the results of our survey indicate that while astronomers see statistical methods as critically important for their research, they lack focused training in this area and wish they had received more formal training during all stages of education and professional development. These findings inform our recommendations for the LRP2020 on how to increase interdisciplinary connections between astronomy and statistics at the institutional, national, and international levels over the next ten years. We recommend specific, actionable ways to increase these connections, and discuss how interdisciplinary work can benefit not only research but also astronomy's role in training Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) in Canada.

astro-ph.IM

Development Plans for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)

(abridged) The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) was the top-ranked priority for a new ground-based facility in the 2000 Canadian Long Range Plan. Ten years later, at the time of LRP2010, ALMA construction was well underway, with first science observations anticipated for 2011. In the past 8 years, ALMA has proved itself to be a high-impact, high-demand observatory, with record numbers of proposals submitted to the annual calls and large numbers of highly cited scientific papers across fields from protoplanetary disks to high-redshift galaxies and quasars. The LRP2010 ALMA white paper laid out 8 specific metrics that could be used to judge the success of Canada's participation in ALMA. Among these metrics were publications (number; impact), collaborations (international; multi-wavelength), and student training. To call out one particular metric, Canadians are making excellent use of ALMA in training graduate students and postdocs: as of June 2018, 12 of 23 Canadian first-author papers were led by a graduate student, and a further 4 papers were led by postdocs. All 8 metrics argue for Canada's involvement in ALMA over the past decade to be judged a success. The successful achievement of these wide-ranging goals argues strongly for Canada's continuing participation in ALMA over the next decade and beyond. Looking forward, our community needs to: (1) maintain Canadian access to ALMA and our competitiveness in using ALMA; (2) preserve full Canadian funding for our share of ALMA operations; (3) identify components of ALMA development in which Canada can play a significant role, including stimulating expertise in submillimetre instrumentation to capitalize on future opportunities; and (4) keep Canadians fully trained and engaged in ALMA, as new capabilities become available, reaching the widest possible community of potential users.

astro-ph.IM

T CrB: Radio Observations During the 2016--2017 "Super-Active" State

We obtained radio observations of the symbiotic binary and known recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis following a period of increased activity in the optical and X-ray bands. A comparison of our observations with those made prior to 2015 indicates that the system is in a state of higher emission in the radio as well. The spectral energy distributions are consistent with optically thick thermal bremsstrahlung emission from a photoionized source. Our observations indicate that the system was in a state of increased ionization in the companion wind, possibly driven by an increase in accretion rate, with the radio photosphere located well outside the binary system.

astro-ph.HE

A Radio Continuum Study of Dwarf Galaxies: 6 cm imaging of Little Things

In this paper we examine to what extent the radio continuum can be used as an extinction free probe of star formation in dwarf galaxies. To that aim we observe $40$ nearby dwarf galaxies with the Very Large Array at 6 cm ($4$-$8$ GHz) in C-configuration. We obtained images with $3$-$8^{\prime\prime}$ resolution and noise levels of $3$-$15{\rm \,μJy\,beam^{-1}}$. We detected emission associated with $22$ of the $40$ dwarf galaxies, $8$ of which are new detections. The general picture is that of an interstellar medium largely devoid of radio continuum emission, interspersed by isolated pockets of emission associated with star formation. We find an average thermal fraction of $\sim 50$-$70$% and an average magnetic field strength of $\sim 5$-$8\,{\rm μG}$, only slightly lower than that found in larger, spiral galaxies. At 100 pc scales, we find surprisingly high values for the average magnetic field strength of up to 50$\,{\rm μG}$. We find that dwarf galaxies follow the theoretical predictions of the radio continuum-star formation rate relation within regions of significant radio continuum emission but that the non-thermal radio continuum is suppressed relative to the star formation rate when considering the entire optical disk. We examine the far-infrared-star formation rate relation for our sample and find that the far-infrared is suppressed compared to the expected star formation rate. We discuss explanations for these observed relations and the impact of our findings on the radio continuum-far-infrared relation. We conclude that radio continuum emission at centimetre wavelengths has the promise of being a largely extinction-free star formation rate indicator. We find that star formation rates of gas rich, low mass galaxies can be estimated with an uncertainty of $\pm 0.2$ dex between the values of $2 \times 10^{-4}$ and $0.1 {\rm M_\odot\,yr^{-1}}$.

astro-ph.GA

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

Next Generation Very Large Array Memo No. 9 Science Working Group 4: Time Domain, Fundamental Physics, and Cosmology

We report here on key science topics for the Next Generation Very Large Array in the areas of time domain, fundamental physics, and cosmology. Key science cases considered are pulsars in orbit around the Galactic Center massive black hole, Sagittarius A*, electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational waves, and astrometric cosmology. These areas all have the potential for ground-breaking and transformative discovery. Numerous other topics were discussed during the preparation of this report and some of those discussions are summarized here, as well. There is no doubt that further investigation of the science case will reveal rich and compelling opportunities.

astro-ph.HE

Thermal radio emission from novae & symbiotics with the Square Kilometre Array

The thermal radio emission of novae during outburst enables us to derive fundamental quantities such as the ejected mass, kinetic energy, and density profile of the ejecta. Recent observations with newly-upgraded facilities such as the VLA and e-MERLIN are just beginning to reveal the incredibly complex processes of mass ejection in novae (ejections appear to often proceed in multiple phases and over prolonged timescales). Symbiotic stars can also exhibit outbursts, which are sometimes accompanied by the expulsion of material in jets. However, unlike novae, the long-term thermal radio emission of symbiotics originates in the wind of the giant secondary star, which is irradiated by the hot white dwarf. The effect of the white dwarf on the giant's wind is strongly time variable, and the physical mechanism driving these variations remains a mystery (possibilities include accretion instabilities and time-variable nuclear burning on the white dwarf's surface). The exquisite sensitivity of SKA1 will enable us to survey novae throughout the Galaxy, unveiling statistically complete populations. With SKA2 it will be possible to carry out similar studies in the Magellanic Clouds. This will enable high-quality tests of the theory behind accretion and mass loss from accreting white dwarfs, with significant implications for determining their possible role as Type Ia supernova progenitors. Observations with SKA1-MID in particular, over a broad range of frequencies, but with emphasis on the higher frequencies, will provide an unparalleled view of the physical processes driving mass ejection and resulting in the diversity of novae, whilst also determining the accretion processes and rates in symbiotic stars.

astro-ph.SR

A Millisecond Interferometric Search for Fast Radio Bursts with the Very Large Array

We report on the first millisecond timescale radio interferometric search for the new class of transient known as fast radio bursts (FRBs). We used the Very Large Array (VLA) for a 166-hour, millisecond imaging campaign to detect and precisely localize an FRB. We observed at 1.4 GHz and produced visibilities with 5 ms time resolution over 256 MHz of bandwidth. Dedispersed images were searched for transients with dispersion measures from 0 to 3000 pc/cm3. No transients were detected in observations of high Galactic latitude fields taken from September 2013 though October 2014. Observations of a known pulsar show that images typically had a thermal-noise limited sensitivity of 120 mJy/beam (8 sigma; Stokes I) in 5 ms and could detect and localize transients over a wide field of view. Our nondetection limits the FRB rate to less than 7e4/sky/day (95% confidence) above a fluence limit of 1.2 Jy-ms. Assuming a Euclidean flux distribution, the VLA rate limit is inconsistent with the published rate of Thornton et al. We recalculate previously published rates with a homogeneous consideration of the effects of primary beam attenuation, dispersion, pulse width, and sky brightness. This revises the FRB rate downward and shows that the VLA observations had a roughly 60% chance of detecting a typical FRB and that a 95% confidence constraint would require roughly 500 hours of similar VLA observing. Our survey also limits the repetition rate of an FRB to 2 times less than any known repeating millisecond radio transient.

astro-ph.HE

The Rate of Gas Accretion onto Black Holes Drives Jet Velocity

Accreting black holes are observed to launch relativistic, collimated jets of matter and radiation. In some sources, discrete ejections have been detected with highly relativistic velocities. These particular sources typically have very high mass accretion rates, while sources lower knot velocities are predominantly associated with black holes with relatively low mass accretion rates. We quantify this behavior by examining knot velocity with respect to X-ray luminosity, a proxy for mass accretion rate onto the black hole. We find a positive correlation between the mass-scaled X-ray luminosity and jet knot velocity. In addition, we find evidence that the jet velocity is also a function of polar angle, supporting the "spine-sheath" model of jet production. Our results reveal a fundamental aspect of how accretion shapes mechanical feedback from black holes into their host environments.

astro-ph.HE

First Detection of Thermal Radio Emission from Solar-Type Stars with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array

We present the first detections of thermal radio emission from the atmospheres of solar-type stars τ Cet, η Cas A, and 40 Eri A. These stars all resemble the Sun in age and level of magnetic activity, as indicated by X-ray luminosity and chromospheric emission in calcium-II H and K lines. We observed these stars with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array with sensitivities of a few μJy at combinations of 10.0, 15.0, and 34.5 GHz. τ Cet, η Cas A, and 40 Eri A are all detected at 34.5 GHz with signal-to-noise ratios of 6.5, 5.2, and 4.5, respectively. 15.0-GHz upper limits imply a rising spectral index greater than 1.0 for τ Cet and 1.6 for η Cas A, at the 95% confidence level. The measured 34.5-GHz flux densities correspond to stellar disk-averaged brightness temperatures of roughly 10,000 K, similar to the solar brightness temperature at the same frequency. We explain this emission as optically- thick thermal free-free emission from the chromosphere, with possible contributions from coronal gyroresonance emission above active regions and coronal free-free emission. These and similar quality data on other nearby solar-type stars, when combined with ALMA observations, will enable the construction of temperature profiles of their chromospheres and lower transition regions.

astro-ph.SR

Multiwavelength Observations of the SS 433 Jets

We present observations of the SS 433 jets using the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer with contemporaneous optical and VLBA observations. The X-ray and optical emission line regions are found to be related but not coincident as the optical line emission persists for days while the X-ray emission lines fade in less than 5000 s. The line Doppler shifts from the optical and X-ray lines match well, indicating that they are less than 3e14 cm apart. The jet Doppler shifts show aperiodic variations that could result from shocks in interactions with the local environment. These perturbations are consistent with a change in jet direction but not jet speed. The proper motions of the radio knots match the kinematic model only if the distance to SS 433 is 4.5 +/- 0.2 kpc. Observations during eclipse show that the occulted emission is very hard, seen only above 2 keV and rising to comprise >50% of the flux at 8 keV. The soft X-ray emission lines from the jet are not blocked, constraining the jet length to >~ 2e12 cm. The base jet density is in the range 1e(10-13)/cm^3, in contrast to our previous estimate based on the Si XIII triplet, which is likely to have been affected by UV de-excitation. There is a clear overabundance of Ni by a factor of about 10 relative to the solar value, which may have resulted from an unusual supernova that formed the compact object.

astro-ph.HE

Radio Emission from SN 1994I in NGC 5194 (M 51) - The Best Studied Type Ib/c Radio Supernova

We present the results of detailed monitoring of the radio emission from the Type Ic supernova SN 1994I from 3 days after optical discovery on 1994 March 31 until eight years later at age 2927 days on 2002 April 05. The data were mainly obtained using the Very Large Array at the five wavelengths, 1.3, 2.0, 3.6, 6.2, and 21 cm, and from the Cambridge 5 km Ryle Telescope at 2.0 cm. Two additional measurements were obtained at millimeter wavelengths. This data set represents the most complete, multifrequency radio observations ever obtained for a Type Ib/c supernova. The radio emission evolves regularly in both time and frequency and is well described by established SN emission/absorption models. It is the first radio supernova with sufficient data to show that it is clearly dominated by the effects of synchrotron self-absorption at early times.

astro-ph.CO

Deep Radio Continuum Imaging of the Dwarf Irregular Galaxy IC10: Tracing Star Formation and Magnetic Fields

We exploit the vastly increased sensitivity of the Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA) to study the radio continuum and polarization properties of the post-starburst, dwarf irregular galaxy IC10 at 6 cm, at a linear resolution of ~50 pc. We find close agreement between radio continuum and Halpha emission, from the brightest HII regions to the weaker emission in the disk. A quantitative analysis shows a strictly linear correlation, where the thermal component contributes 50% to the total radio emission, the remainder being due to a non-thermal component with a surprisingly steep radio spectral index of between -0.7 and -1.0 suggesting substantial radiation losses of the cosmic-ray electrons. We confirm and clearly resolve polarized emission at the 10-20% level associated with a non-thermal superbubble, where the ordered magnetic field is possibly enhanced due to the compression of the expanding bubble. A fraction of the cosmic-ray electrons has likely escaped because the measured radio emission is a factor of 3 lower than what is suggested by the Halpha inferred SFR.

astro-ph.CO

EVLA Nova Project Observations of the Classical Nova V1723 Aquilae

We present radio light curves and spectra of the classical nova V1723 Aql obtained with the Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA). This is the first paper to showcase results from the EVLA Nova Project, which comprises a team of observers and theorists utilizing the greatly enhanced sensitivity and frequency coverage of EVLA radio observations, along with observations at other wavelengths, to reach a deeper understanding of the energetics, morphology, and temporal characteristics of nova explosions. Our observations of V1723 Aql span 1-37 GHz in frequency, and we report on data from 14-175 days following the time of the nova explosion. The broad frequency coverage and frequent monitoring show that the radio behavior of V1723 Aql does not follow the classic Hubble-flow model of homologous spherically expanding thermal ejecta. The spectra are always at least partially optically thin, and the flux rises on faster timescales than can be reproduced with linear expansion. Therefore, any description of the underlying physical processes must go beyond this simple picture. The unusual spectral properties and light curve evolution might be explained by multiple emitting regions or shocked material. Indeed, X-ray observations from Swift reveal that shocks are likely present.

astro-ph.HE

A Distinctive Disk-Jet Coupling in the Seyfert-1 AGN NGC 4051

We report on the results of a simultaneous monitoring campaign employing eight Chandra X-ray (0.5-10 keV) and six VLA/EVLA (8.4 GHz) radio observations of NGC 4051 over seven months. Evidence for compact jets is observed in the 8.4 GHz radio band; This builds on mounting evidence that jet production may be prevalent even in radio-quiet Seyferts. Assuming comparatively negligible local diffuse emission in the nucleus, the results also demonstrate an inverse correlation of L_radio proportional to L_X-ray ^(-0.72+/-0.04) . Current research linking the mass of supermassive black holes and stellar-mass black holes in the "low/hard" state to X-ray luminosities and radio luminosities suggest a "fundamental plane of accretion onto black holes" that has a positive correlation of L_radio proportional to L_X-ray^(0.67+/-0.12) . Our simultaneous results differ from this relation by more than 11 sigma, indicating that a separate mode of accretion and ejection may operate in this system. A review of the literature shows that the inverse correlation seen in NGC 4051 is seen in three other black hole systems, all of which accrete at near 10% of their Eddington luminosity, perhaps suggesting a distinct mode of disk-jet coupling at high Eddington fractions. We discuss our results in the context of disk and jets in black holes and accretion across the black hole mass scale.

astro-ph.HE