arXiv subjects

Nikhil Sarin

Publications and source records attributed to Nikhil Sarin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Multimessenger astrophysics drives the case for an Australian Gravitational-Wave observatory

The next generation of an international network of gravitational-wave observatories is now in the advanced planning stages. With Australia's substantial history of contributions in this field, its history of scientific mega-projects like the Square Kilometer Array, and its unique geographic location and conditions, it is ideally placed to host an observatory in the global network. It has already been demonstrated that a gravitational wave detector in Australia plays an important role in minimizing the sky localization uncertainty of gravitational wave events. We study a particular science case for an Australian observatory, focusing on its potential contributions to multimessenger astronomy. We demonstrate that an observatory in Australia can enable the detection of up to eight multimessenger gravitational-wave plus kilonova events per year, with localisations better than $1-10°^2$ in both second- and third-generation networks. We show that, in a global network of XG observatories, an Australian observatory with 2G sensitivity would still enable significant advances in multimessenger science. The full case for an Australian observatory must be considered in a much broader context; however, this work indicates it could make substantial contributions to multimessenger astrophysics.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

The (missing) gamma-ray counterparts to EP events

While the connection of Fast X-ray Transients (FXTs) detected by Einstein Probe (EP) with Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs) is increasingly compelling, most lack gamma-ray counterparts, leaving their relation to GRBs unclear. We performed a systematic search for gamma-ray counterparts to the 72 transients detected by EP in its first year, using targeted searches in Fermi/GBM and Fermi/LAT data, complemented by SVOM/GRM, SVOM/ECLAIRs, Swift/BAT and Konus-Wind. For the visible events without a gamma-ray counterpart, we derived simultaneous $3σ$ flux upper limits in the 10-1000 keV and the 0.1-1 GeV band. We find that 23 events (32%) have a gamma-ray counterpart (seven sub-threshold), while 49 events (68%) have none, despite most being visible. For events with a gamma-ray counterpart, the X-ray flux over the gamma-ray $T_{\rm 90}$ is systematically higher than over the full X-ray duration, with flux ratios $1 \lesssim F_{\rm [10-1000\,keV]}/F_{\rm [0.5-4\,keV]} \lesssim 100$, suggesting that gamma-rays are preferentially detected during the brightest X-ray phases. For events without gamma-ray counterpart, the most stringent Fermi/GBM upper limits imply $E_{\rm peak} \lesssim 30$-100 keV and, for the 14 events with measured redshifts, $L_{\rm iso}\lesssim 10^{48}-9\times10^{51}$ erg/s. If classical GRB correlations hold in this regime, these lower energetics imply lower bulk Lorentz factors ($Γ_0 \lesssim 100$), as confirmed in a few cases by afterglow constraints. No significant GeV emission was detected by Fermi/LAT, yielding $1 \lesssim F_{0.1-1\,{\rm GeV}}/F_{0.5-4\,{\rm keV}} \lesssim 10$, placing the first constraints on a potential synchrotron self-Compton component for this new population. Although individual origins remain uncertain, many EP FXTs could be compatible with the GRB population, extending it toward lower $E_{\rm peak}$, luminosities, and bulk Lorentz factors.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Can we constrain the binary neutron star merger time from kilonova light curves?

The joint observation of gravitational waves (GWs) from a binary neutron star (BNS) merger (GW170817), together with a short Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova (KN, AT2017gfo), marked the birth of multimessenger astronomy with GWs, and demonstrated the informative power of multimessenger observations. More BNS merger and KN detections are expected , thanks to the increasing sensitivity of GW detectors and the advent of new electromagnetic facilities such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. However, the association between a BNS merger and a KN might not be trivial: the detection of a KN might not coincide with the onset of the EM emission, making it difficult to define a temporal window to assess the coincidence with a GW event. In this work we investigate the possibility to constrain the BNS merger time from KN light curves, exploring different observing conditions and with focus on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. We used different KN models and different inference frameworks to simulate and fit KN light curves. We explored different cadences and wavelength coverages for observations, to investigate how the different observing conditions can affect the capability to recover the BNS merger time. The tests performed also include real data related to AT2017gfo, plus a few GRBs that have been associated to possible KN candidates. We find that, under realistic observing conditions with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the BNS merger time can be recovered with a precision of 5.5 days (90\% CI) with a best-case scenario with an accuracy of 0.18 day and a precision of 0.74 day (90 \% CI). Results can slightly improve (by $\sim$ 5 \%) if the source redshift is available. Upper limits near the merger time can also improve the results, reducing the width of the posterior by $\sim60$ \%. The BNS merger time estimate could also benefit from EM follow-up observations with other telescopes.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

SN 2023iop: An Extreme 1987A-like Supernova and the Death of Very Massive Stars

Supernova (SN) 1987A showed that some hydrogen-rich core-collapse supernovae (SNe) rise slowly to peak, defining a distinct subclass. Wide-field surveys have uncovered more extreme members, such as OGLE-2014-SN-73, SN 2020faa, and SN 2023vbw, that challenge neutrino-driven explosion models. We present ultraviolet-to-infrared, radio, X-ray, and spectropolarimetric observations of SN 2023iop at $z = 0.1020$, the most extreme 87A-like event to date. It rose for $\gtrsim88$ rest-frame days to $M_r \approx -20.1$ mag, also placing it among the hydrogen-rich superluminous SNe, and radiated $\gtrsim4\times10^{50}$ erg. Its spectra resemble those of typical Type II SNe and remain photospheric at $\sim330$ days post-maximum. Continuum polarization of 0.8-1.0% indicates an aspherical system. Hydrogen-rich pair-instability supernova (PISN) models of a $190~M_\odot$ star reproduce the light-curve up to 150 days after peak, but not the late-time emission. A late-time spectrum shows a feature near 7300 Å, tentatively identified as [Ni II] $λ$7378. The implied $\approx0.02~M_\odot$ of stable $^{58}$Ni is reached only in the most massive PISN models. The low-mass host galaxy ($\sim10^{8.2}~M_\odot$) is consistent with a metal-poor progenitor as required by the PISN channel. Fallback accretion reproduces the light-curve morphology, but not the colors. We consider a pair-instability explosion the most plausible scenario, with the late-time light-curve excess powered by circumstellar interaction, which shows no signatures in the spectra. SN 2023iop shows that the most luminous 87A-like events occupy an underexplored region of massive-star evolution.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

ASKAP Monitoring of the Rubin Deep Drilling Fields

In the past decade, time domain astronomy surveys across the multi-messenger spectrum have developed "alert streams" which circulate observational information in real-time to the wider astronomical community. Despite this being standard practice for optical, gamma-ray and gravitational wave time domain astronomy for several years now, this kind of infrastructure has not yet been deployed at-scale for radio telescopes. We are conducting a long-term monitoring program that targets the Rubin Deep Drilling Fields using the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP). The primary goal of this program is to provide serendipitous radio observations of all objects of interest in these fields, and circulate that information in as close to real-time as possible. In this manuscript we outline the survey plans and status, the infrastructure we have developed to disseminate this information and an initial data release comprising 5 months of ASKAP observations of each field (although only 3 months overlaps with Rubin) conducted on an approximately 10 day cadence with a noise level of $\sim 60\,μ$Jy. As part of this data release, we present updated high-cadence radio light curves to the tidal disruption event AT2018hyz and the supernova SN2024abfo along with the discovery of two new radio variables, a possible tidal disruption event ASKAP J095711.5+051205 and an in-progress extreme scattering event ASKAP J005026.4-422958. The scientific results from this program along with the infrastructure developed to acquire them will lay the foundation for the integration of future radio imaging surveys into the broader multi-messenger alert stream, leading the way for major facilities such as the Schmidt Observatory System and the SKA.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Gas absorption of soft X-rays strongly impacts the redshift distribution of dark Fast X-ray Transients

The progenitors of many Fast X-ray Transients (FXTs) and those of $γ$-ray bursts (GRBs) are strongly linked. Given that "dark" GRBs are typically found to be events suffering from enhanced extinction in the host galaxy, we investigate the nature of "dark" FXTs. However, unlike $γ$-rays, soft X-rays are strongly affected by absorption, implying that dark FXTs discovered by Einstein Probe's Wide-field X-ray Telescope (EP-WXT) have to be emitted at energies $>$2--3 keV restframe hence at a redshift $z\gtrsim2$. To illustrate this we present two dark FXTs, EP241103a and EP260409a, discovered by EP-WXT. For EP241103a, the high extinction precluded the detection of the optical counterpart, while for a probable source redshift of $\sim2.5$, the rest-frame X-ray photons are not severely affected. For EP260409a no counterpart is detected in the optical, but we do detect a near-infrared counterpart. A plausible scenario for EP260409a is that it lies at a redshift $z \gtrsim 4$. Additionally, we conduct simulations of FXTs observed with EP-WXT, showing that the detected counts for absorbed events ($N_{\mathrm{H}}\gtrsim10^{22}$~cm$^{-2}$) strongly decrease at low redshifts, hindering their detection. These results support the theoretical prediction that dark FXTs have an intermediate to high redshift and a different selection function from those of dark GRBs.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

From mass-loss histories to lightcurves: a generalised framework for interaction-powered transients

We introduce a fast ($\sim 1$--$50$ ms) and generalised public framework for modelling interaction-powered transients. The framework solves the thin-shell equations of motion for ejecta colliding with circumstellar material (CSM), and supports arbitrary CSM density and velocity profiles, including steady winds, eruptions, and complex time-variable mass-loss histories. For optical/UV lightcurves, we implement two luminosity treatments: a one-zone mode based on the thin-shell shock power, and a finite-shell transport mode that evolves trapped radiation, photon diffusion, shock emergence, and post-emergence cooling for finite, static CSM shells. In a benchmark comparison, the transport calculation and an optional time-dependent shock-efficiency prescription reproduce the main qualitative and quantitative features of a one-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamical simulation. We use the same shock solution to post-process radio synchrotron and thermal bremsstrahlung X-ray predictions, enabling self-consistent multi-wavelength diagnostics. We show that the assumed CSM velocity structure can significantly affect inferred parameters even when the density profile at explosion is identical, and that aspherical CSM can mimic multiple spherical shells in bolometric lightcurves. We demonstrate the framework through recovery of a synthetic time-variable mass-loss history and applications to six transients: the Type IIn SN~2010jl, the rapidly evolving stripped-envelope SN~2023xgo, the Type Ia-CSM SN~2020aeuh, the hydrogen-poor superluminous SN~2015bn, the eruptive LBV-like transient SN~2009ip, and the long-duration interacting event iPTF14hls. The inferred CSM structures span steady or enhanced winds, thermonuclear interaction, eruptive density enhancements, and highly structured pre-supernova mass loss, illustrating the framework's utility for inference on upcoming samples of interacting transients.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Signatures of $^{56}$Ni Mixing and Neutron-rich Ejecta in Supernovae

Supernova lightcurves are often interpreted with one-zone radioactive-decay models that ignore a key variable that can affect interpretation and inferred parameters: the distribution of radioactive material. Using a multi-shell model, we explore the impact of $^{56}$Ni mixing in supernovae and r-process material in collapsars. Moving $^{56}$Ni outward reduces the overlying diffusion column, producing faster and brighter rises at fixed $\Mni$, $\Mej$, and $\Ek$, and changes the tail through local gamma-ray leakage. A fast, bright rise is not, by itself, evidence for low ejecta mass or a requirement for engine power, with significant overlap between highly mixed and engine-powered lightcurves. One-zone fits to mixed bolometric light curves produce visually good fits but biased parameters. At fixed opacity, outward mixing is absorbed mainly by low inferred $\Mej$ and high inferred $f_{\rm Ni}$, while $\Mni$ remains stable. If opacity is free, the fully mixed case is recovered with $κ^{\rm fit}/κ^{\rm input}\simeq0.24$. These shifts affect inferred explosion energies and progenitor mappings, and amplified in photometric fits. Exploring collapsar r-process enrichment, we find that the signature is not always a NIR excess and depends sensitively on the nickel-powered background, radial placement, angular distribution, and viewing angle of neutron-rich ejecta. In our setup, spherical models often show optical suppression and delayed colour evolution. Our disk-wind models suggest that fast-rising on-axis GRB-SNe are poor r-process targets for equatorially confined neutron-rich winds, and become constraining only if the r-process material reaches latitudes $\gtrsim 30^\circ$ from the equatorial plane.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Lightcurve Modelling of 2,205 ZTF DR2 Type~Ia Supernovae: Implications for SN Ia Physics and Cosmology

We fit the multi-band light curves of 2,205 Type Ia supernovae (SNe~Ia) from the Zwicky Transient Facility DR2 with a one-zone radioactive decay model with a phenomenological addition to include Fe recombination physics. We find a strong correlation between inferred nickel mass and SALT2 stretch, which our simplified modelling links to longer diffusion times in more massive ejecta, offering a physical basis for the brighter-slower relation. SNe~Ia in low-mass hosts ($\log_{10}(M_*/M_\odot) < 10$) produce $\approx 12\%$ more $^{56}$Ni than those in high-mass hosts, linking the host-galaxy mass step to ejecta properties and hinting at metallicity or age-dependent burning efficiencies. A pseudo-bolometric comparison provides lower limits on the nickel masses, highlighting their sensitivity to SED-level assumptions. Injection-and-recovery tests with realistic ZTF sampling and the same model recover the nickel scale but show significant sensitivity to distance and opacity assumptions; individual-event point estimates are therefore model-dependent. Accounting for selection biases and broad individual-event posteriors, hierarchical modelling of 902 SNe ($z \leq 0.06$) gives Gaussian population distributions with $μ_{\rm ej} = 1.26 \pm 0.01~M_\odot$ ($σ_{\rm ej} = 0.33 \pm 0.01~M_\odot$) and $μ_{\rm Ni} = 0.64 \pm 0.06~M_\odot$ ($σ_{\rm Ni} = 0.42 \pm 0.02~M_\odot$). This work provides a step towards physical characterization of the local SN~Ia population while quantifying diversity and environmental dependencies relevant to progenitor physics and precision cosmology.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Follow-up of SN 2025wny II: Superluminous Supernova Physics at Cosmic Noon

SN 2025wny is a gravitationally lensed, hydrogen-poor superluminous supernova (SLSN-I) at z = 2.015. To date, it is the most extensively observed high-redshift core-collapse SN and has the most detailed rest-frame UV observations of any SLSN. We present densely sampled rest-frame UV-to-optical photometry and spectroscopy out to +80 d post-peak (rest frame) from several facilities, including JWST, Keck, VLT, Gemini, the Palomar 200-inch, the Fraunhofer Telescope at Wendelstein, and the Liverpool Telescope. Correcting for lensing magnification, SN 2025wny reaches a peak pseudo-bolometric luminosity of $L_{\rm peak}\gtrsim4\times10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$ over rest-frame 1500-4230 Å, placing it within the luminosity range of typical SLSNe-I. SN 2025wny exhibits several unusual features, including a continuum excess and sharp spectral features in the FUV from +20-60 d that coincide with an FUV light-curve plateau and higher inferred blackbody temperatures. SN 2025wny's spectra also show little to no UV line blanketing, no obvious O II absorption despite high temperatures, and evidence for C II, H$α$, and possible He I. Light-curve modeling suggests that SN 2025wny may require a hybrid or non-standard power source. This work provides some of the first detailed constraints on high-redshift SLSNe and establishes SN 2025wny as an essential spectral and photometric reference for identifying and interpreting high-redshift SLSNe discovered by Rubin and Roman.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2026

Probabilistic kilonova prediction from gravitational wave inferred binary neutron star parameters

Kilonovae provide a key electromagnetic window into binary neutron star mergers, revealing the properties of the merging system while probing r-process nucleosynthesis of the Universe. However, only a few kilonova candidates have been detected to date, with AT2017gfo being the only one associated with a gravitational wave event, GW170817. In this work, we present \textsc{Genova}, a probabilistic framework for predicting kilonova spectra and light curves directly from gravitational wave posterior samples of binary neutron star mergers. This method uses a conditional normalising flow to learn the distribution of rest-frame spectra conditioned on the source-frame component masses, tidal deformabilities, viewing angle and time since merger. Other kilonova model parameters, such as ejecta opacities, are marginalised over during training, so that their effects are propagated into the predicted spectra as predictive uncertainty. In the self-consistency test, the flow model reproduces the median light curves with residuals typically below $\sim 0.1$ mag, and the ratio of the predicted central 68\% interval widths remains predominantly between $0.8$ and $1.4$ over $\sim 0.4$--$8.0$ days. Comparisons with a physically distinct kilonova model show that the probabilistic prediction can remain informative beyond the model used for training. We apply \textsc{Genova} to GW170817/AT2017gfo using multi-band observations, including newly re-reduced $Y$-, $J$-, $K_s$-band photometry from the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy, which we present in this work. The resulting predictive intervals broadly encompass the observations while capturing both gravitational wave posterior uncertainty and the variation induced by marginalised kilonova model parameters.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

A JWST redshift for the host galaxy of EP250207b of z=3.2: a collapsar origin is viable

We present James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of the field of the fast X-ray transient (FXT) detected by Einstein Probe, EP250207b, to resolve any ambiguity about the host galaxy and redshift of the FXT. EP250207b was originally associated with a nearby galaxy at z=0.082, based on its low chance alignment probability, and a binary neutron star merger origin was proposed. However, we report the detection of a background galaxy at z=3.2 at the location of EP250207b. Assuming this galaxy is the actual host galaxy, the rest-frame energetics and timescales of the event change. Furthermore, the available data are not able to rule out the presence of a supernova associated with EP250207b if at this redshift. We model the X-ray, optical, near-infrared and radio light curves using a tophat jet model implemented in Redback and find that they are consistent with an on-axis gamma ray burst afterglow. The energetics and host galaxy properties do not allow us to distinguish between a collapsar and a merger driven event.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Ab Initio Real-Time Gravitational-Wave Parameter Estimation

We present a specialised GPU-native nested sampling kernel targeting rapid parameter estimation for gravitational wave inference problems. Building upon a Slice-within-Gibbs (SwiG) structure for rapid mixing, we investigate how far we can push baseline stochastic sampling techniques on modern GPU hardware. We demonstrate that for typical long-duration binary neutron star signals observed by the LIGO and Virgo detectors, we can achieve well calibrated posterior inference on the full uncompressed data of a three detector network in a median of twelve minutes on a single GPU. This falls to five minutes when sharded across four devices. Utilising heterodyning to compress the data reduces the median wall time across an injection campaign to 89 seconds -- less than the length of the segment itself -- and enables inference with precessing spin, tidal waveforms on GW170817 in around two minutes. This pushes stochastic sampling techniques using full physical waveform calculations, launched from an uninformed prior state, towards real-time gravitational wave parameter estimation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Gamma-ray burst progenitors revisited

Recently, several long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) associated with kilonovae have cast doubt on the traditional, dichotomous mapping between gamma-ray duration and progenitor system. Here, we investigate the rates and properties of bursts which appear to cross this dichotomy using a sample of GRBs for which progenitor constraints are possible. We first build a sample of known Swift-detected GRBs at z<0.3, finding 8 short- and 21 long-duration GRBs. Of these long GRBs, we find 9 bursts with deep limits on supernova emission, evidence for kilonova emission, or association with a quiescent galaxy (31% $\pm$ 9% of all GRBs at z<0.3), implying that a significant fraction of nearby long GRBs likely do not come from massive stars. At z<0.3, no short GRB has an observed supernova counterpart. We find comparable numbers when expanding to z<0.5 and other gamma-ray telescopes, though we obtain a decreased fraction of bursts with robust constraints on a progenitor. We further find that the long GRBs with no associated supernovae possess on-average fainter afterglows and lie in less star-forming host galaxies than those with supernovae, supporting that these events may originate in compact object mergers. We estimate approximate volumetric rates, finding similar (on-axis) rates for short GRBs and supernova-less long GRBs of $\sim 0.5-2.5$ Gpc$^{-3}$ yr$^{-1}$, although a search for possible low-redshift hosts of the complete Swift catalog suggests that our sample may be $\sim$50% complete. If supernova-less long GRBs arise from compact object mergers, this implies that $\sim$ 30-70% of all z<0.3 Swift long GRBs may arise from mergers and that the $z<0.3$ rates of mergers from long and short GRBs are comparable. These findings hold substantial implications for gravitational-wave coincidence and heavy element enrichment.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Surrogate models for type II supernovae: Probing low-energy explosions and interaction-free regimes

To address the computational bottleneck of analyzing type II supernova samples from surveys such as the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, we present two STELLA-based neural-network surrogates: an interaction model for low-energy explosions with possible circumstellar-material (CSM) interaction and a photospheric model for standard interaction-free SNe IIP. Each uses an autoencoder to compress spectral energy distributions and an emulator to map physical parameters to the latent space. Latent-mixup regularization improves latent-space continuity, with ResNet blocks used for the interaction model and 2D CNNs for the photospheric model. Their normalized test-set reconstruction MSEs are approximately 9.1e-5 and 1.0e-4, respectively. Applied to SN 2005cs, the interaction model favors a low-mass progenitor, M_ZAMS = 10.40(+0.04/-0.05) M_sun, and confined dense CSM, providing a scenario consistent with direct imaging and helping resolve the historical mass discrepancy. For SN 2012aw, it recovers M_ZAMS = 11.05(+0.06/-0.06) M_sun, consistent with previous studies. For SN 1999em, the photospheric model gives M_ZAMS = 10.05(+0.07/-0.04) M_sun, broadly consistent with preexplosion imaging limits without explicit CSM modeling. These surrogates reduce full Bayesian inference from days to minutes and enable rapid physical characterization of large supernova samples.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

A Multi-Wavelength View of the First Type Ic-BL Supernova with an Einstein Probe X-ray Shock Breakout

In March 2026, the Einstein Probe (EP) discovered its most nearby (z = 0.0343) Fast X-ray Transient (FXT), EP260321a, the first EP FXT to provide a strong match to expectations for X-ray "shock breakout'" (SBO) emission. Here, we present our multi-wavelength follow-up campaign of EP260321a and its broad-line Type Ic (Ic-BL) supernova (SN) counterpart, SN2026gzf. We show that our radio follow-up extending over 5.8 - 54.5 days post-FXT rules out an on-axis jet counterpart of isotropic-equivalent kinetic energy $E_{K} \gtrsim 10^{49}$ erg for circumburst densities $n > 10^{-2}~{\rm cm}^{-3}$ and assuming microphysical parameters $ε_e = ε_B = 0.1$. Our radio data also constrains a median mass-loss rate of $\dot{M} \lesssim 1.2 \times 10^{-5} M_{\odot}~{\rm yr}^{-1}$ for a Wolf-Rayet progenitor. In addition, we derive SN2026gzf's properties, including $^{56}$Ni mass, diffusion timescale, and expansion velocities, from our $\sim$nightly-cadence optical data and compare them with those of optically discovered Type Ic-BL SNe, finding that SN 2026gzf is well within the 90\% confidence interval across all properties. We further fit SN2026gzf's light curve and determine that combined emission from both interaction with CSM and $^{56}$Ni radioactive decay provides the best fit with plausible model parameters. Finally, using the rate of Ic-BL SNe from the ZTF Bright Transient Survey and assuming all Type Ic-BL SNe produce EP260321a-like FXTs, we infer an expected rate of EP-detected SBOs of 4.4 - 16 year$^{-1}$. This is inconsistent at the 90% confidence level with current EP detection rates, potentially indicating that most Type Ic-BL SNe produce less luminous X-ray SBO signals compared to EP260321a.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Decoding the Early-Time Light Curves of Type Ia Supernovae. II. Population Parameters of One Thousand ZTF Supernovae

Early-time light curves of Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) encode critical information about their progenitor systems. We characterize the rise of normal SNe Ia using a volume-complete sample of 972 events from the Zwicky Transient Facility Data Release 2, an order of magnitude larger than any previous dataset for similar analyses. Fitting light curves up to $30\%$ of peak flux with a power-law model under a hierarchical Bayesian framework, we provide robust population-level constraints on the rise time ($t_\mathrm{rise}$; $μ=18.55\pm0.08$ days, $σ=1.42\pm0.07$ days), rise index ($α$; $μ=2.10\pm0.04$, $σ=0.48\pm0.03$ in ZTF $r$), and $g-r$ color evolution ($α_g - α_r$; $μ=0.20\pm0.02$, $σ=0.17\pm0.02$). These power-law fits are sensitive to the chosen truncation epoch if data beyond $\sim$$40\%$ of peak flux are included, but generally converge when restricted to earlier epochs. The relation between rise morphology and light-curve width ($\texttt{SALT2}$ $x_1$ stretch) bifurcates into two distinct regimes: high-stretch SNe Ia show clear trends where a higher $x_1$ correlates with shallower rises and more persistent blue colors, whereas low-stretch SNe Ia lack such trends. While rise times correlate positively with $x_1$ overall, this relation flattens significantly within the high-stretch population. Searching for anomalies, we identify several normal SNe Ia with unusually long rise times, which potentially exhibit short-duration ($\lesssim$2 days) flux excesses over a smooth rise. Long-duration ($\sim$5 days) flux excesses appear common within the high-stretch population and are tied to the shallow rises and early blue colors, pointing to widespread outward $^{56}$Ni mixing. Multi-dimensional explosion models with more realistic progenitor setups are needed to fully reproduce the observed dichotomy in rise morphology and stretch.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Multiwavelength Modeling of the Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient AT2024wpp

Luminous fast blue optical transients (LFBOTs) are a growing class of enigmatic energetic transients. They show fast rises and declines, high temperatures throughout their evolution, and non-thermal emission in radio and X-rays. Their power source is currently unknown, but proposed models include engine-driven supernovae, interaction-powered supernovae, shock cooling emission, intermediate mass black hole tidal disruption events (IMBH TDEs), and Wolf-Rayet/black hole mergers, among others. AT2024wpp is the most optically luminous LFBOT to date and has been observed extensively at multiple wavelengths, including radio, optical, UV, and X-rays. We take models from multiple scenarios and fit them to the AT2024wpp optical, radio, and X-ray light curves to determine which of these scenarios can best describe all aspects of the data. We show that none of the multiwavelength light curve models can reasonably explain the data, and that other physical arguments disfavour models with homologously expanding ejecta. We discuss how a stellar mass/IMBH TDE of a low mass star can be tested with late-time observations, and what other scenarios could possibly explain the broadband data.

astro-ph.HE↗