arXiv subjects

Poonam Chandra

Publications and source records attributed to Poonam Chandra.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Unraveling the complex magnetosphere of the B star HD 133880 via wideband observation of coherent radio emission

HD 133880 is one of the six hot magnetic stars known to produce coherent pulsed radio emission by the process of electron cyclotron maser emission (ECME). In this paper, we present observations of ECME from this star over a wide frequency range, covering nearly 300 - 4000 MHz with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). This study, which is the first of its kind, has led to the discovery of several interesting characteristics of the phenomenon and also of the host star. We find that the observable properties of ECME pulses, e.g. the time lag between right and left circularly polarized pulses, the amplitudes of the pulses, and their upper cut-off frequencies appear to be dependent on the stellar orientation with respect to the line of sight. We suggest that all these phenomena, which are beyond the ideal picture, can be attributed to a highly azimuthally asymmetric matter distribution in the magnetosphere about the magnetic field axis, which is a consequence of both the high obliquity (the angle between rotation axis and the magnetic field axis) of the star and the deviation of the stellar magnetic field from a dipolar topology.

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arXiv2020

A 3D framework to explore the propagation effects in stars exhibiting electron cyclotron maser emission

Recently, coherent radio emission has been discovered from a number of hot magnetic stars, via the process of electron cyclotron maser emission (ECME). This emission, observed in the form of highly circularly polarized pulses, have interesting properties which contain information about the host star. One of the important properties of ECME is the frequency dependence of the pulse arrival time. This has been attributed to propagation effect by Trigilio et al. (2011), and could explain the sequence observed for CU Vir qualitatively (Lo et al. 2012). However no quantitative treatment exists for this phenomenon which is a promising tool to estimate the density in the stellar magnetosphere. Besides, the effect of propagation through the magnetosphere on ECME has been thought to be limited to giving rise to a particular sequence of arrival of pulses, and in some cases producing the upper cut-off frequency for ECME (Leto et al. 2019). Here, we present a framework to deal with the propagation effect by considering continuous refraction in the inner magnetosphere of the star. This framework is capable of incorporating any type of density distribution, and in principle any type of magnetic field, though we limit ourselves to a dipolar magnetic field for this work. We show by simulation that for stars with high obliquity, the propagation effect can influence not only the sequence of arrival of pulses drastically, but also the pulse shapes, and the observability of a pulse from a particular magnetosphere.

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arXiv2020

The Polarization Convention of the uGMRT in Band 4

We present an experiment performed to understand the polarization convention adopted for band 4 (550--900 MHz) of the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT). For that we observed the pulsar B1702--19 in this band, both in interferometry and pulsar modes, and compare the results with its already known Stokes $I$, $Q$, $U$, $V$ profiles obtained with the Lovell telescope. We find that the results obtained from interferometry and pulsar modes of the uGMRT agree with each other. However, although the Stokes $U$ profile obtained with the uGMRT match with that obtained by the Lovell telescope, Stokes $Q$ and $V$ do not. This can be explained if the $X$ and $Y$ dipoles in this band, from which $R$ and $L$ are derived, are swapped w.r.t. the IAU convention. The swapping makes $RR^*$ and $LL^*$ of the uGMRT band 4 to be $LL^*$ and $RR^*$ respectively according to the IEEE convention. This implies that if we need to compare polarization measurements obtained in band 4 of the uGMRT with telescopes like Lovell, Parkes, Very Large Array etc. (all follow IEEE convention for defining right and left hand circular polarization), we must interchange $RR^*$ and $LL^*$, and change the sign of Stokes $Q$ for the uGMRT data. Note that this is the current convention for uGMRT band 4, and is likely to change in future once the swapping of the dipoles is taken care of. Once it is done, it will be notified in another technical report.

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arXiv2020

Radio view of a broad-line Type Ic supernova ASASSN-16fp

We present extensive radio observations of a Type Ic supernova, ASASSN-16fp. Our data represents the lowest frequency observations of the SN beyond 1000 days with a frequency range of $0.33-25$ GHz and a temporal range of $\sim$ 8 to 1136 days post-explosion. The observations are best represented by a model of synchrotron emission from a shocked circumstellar shell initially suppressed by synchrotron self-absorption. Assuming equipartition of energy between relativistic particles and magnetic fields, we estimate the velocity and radius of the blast wave to be $v \sim 0.15c$ and $r \sim 3.4$ $\times$ $10^{15}$ cm respectively at $t_{0}$ $\sim$ 8 days post-explosion. We infer the total internal energy of the radio-emitting material evolves as $E$ $\sim$ 0.37 $\times$ $10^{47}$ (t/t$_{0}$)$^{0.65}$ erg. We determine the mass-loss rate of the progenitor star to be $\dot{M}$ $\sim$ $(0.4-3.2) \times10^{-5}$ $M_{\odot}\rm yr^{-1}$ at various epochs post-explosion, consistent with the mass-loss rate of Galactic Wolf-Rayet stars. The radio light curves and spectra show a signature of density enhancement in the CSM at a radius of $\sim$ $1.10 \times 10^{16}$ cm from the explosion center.

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arXiv2019

Probing the magnetospheres of hot magnetic stars using ECME

We discuss Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission (ECME), observed in the form of highly circularly polarized pulses, from a few hot magnetic stars. This emission is one of the manifestations of stellar wind-magnetic field interaction. With the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), we have observed ECME from four magnetic B/A type stars. Currently, we are trying to understand certain properties of the ECME pulses and their dependences on the magnetospheric plasma. Here we briefly review all those works which have used ECME observed from hot magnetic stars to infer some physical properties of the host stars. We finally discuss how this phenomenon can further be exploited to probe the stellar magnetosphere.

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arXiv2019

The fifth main sequence magnetic B-type star showing coherent radio emission: is this really a rare phenomenon?

We report the discovery of intense, highly directional radio emission from the Bp star HD 35298, which we interpret as the consequence of Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission (ECME). The star was observed with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope near the rotational phases of both magnetic nulls in band 4 (550-750 MHz) and one of the nulls in band 5 (1060-1460 MHz). In band 4, we observed flux density enhancement in both circular polarizations near both magnetic nulls. The sequences of arrival of the left and right circularly polarized pulses are opposite near the two nulls. In band 5, we did not have circular polarization information and hence measured only the total intensity lightcurve, which also shows enhancement around the magnetic null. The observed sequence of the circular polarization signs in band 4, compared with the longitudinal magnetic field curve, is able to locate the hemisphere from which ECME arises. This observational evidence supports the scenario of ECME in the ordinary mode, arising in a magnetosphere shaped like an oblique dipole. HD 35298 is the most slowly rotating and most distant main sequence magnetic star from which ECME has been observed.

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arXiv2019

Detection of coherent emission from the Bp star HD 142990 at uGMRT frequencies

HD 142990 is a Bp-type star with a nearly dipolar surface magnetic field of kG strength. Recently Lenc et al. (2018) reported the tentative discovery of Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission (ECME) from this star at 200 MHz. This type of emission has been observed from only three other hot magnetic stars. In this paper, we present our observations of HD 142990 with the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio telescope (uGMRT) at 550-804 MHz and with the legacy GMRT at 1420 MHz near the rotational phases of the nulls of the longitudinal magnetic field. We found strong enhancements in flux density in both circular polarisations suggesting an ECME bandwith of at least 1.2 GHz (200-1420 MHz). In one of the observation sessions, we observed enhancements with opposite circular polarisations from the same magnetic pole. This has not been reported in any other hot magnetic star known to exhibit ECME. In order to explain this unusual finding, we suggest a scenario that involves a transition of the dominant mode of ECME between the magneto-ionic modes.

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arXiv2019

Type Ib supernova Master OT J120451.50+265946.6: radio emitting shock with inhomogeneities crossing through a dense shell

We present radio observations of a Type Ib supernova (SN) Master OT J120451.50+265946.6. Our low frequency Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) data taken when the SN was in the optically thick phase for observed frequencies reveal inhomogeneities in the structure of the radio emitting region. The high frequency Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array data indicate that the shock is crossing through a dense shell between $\sim$ 47 to $\sim 87$ days. The data $\ge 100$ days onwards are reasonably well fit with the inhomogeneous synchrotron-self absorption model. Our model predicts that the inhomogeneities should smooth out at late times. Low frequency GMRT observations at late epochs will test this prediction. Our findings suggest the importance of obtaining well-sampled wide band radio data in order to understand the intricate nature of the radio emission from young supernovae.

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arXiv2019

Evolution of the progenitors of SNe 1993J and 2011dh revealed through late time radio and X-ray studies

We perform hydrodynamical simulations of the interaction between supernova (SN) ejecta and circumstellar medium (CSM) for SN 1993J and SN 2011dh, and calculate the radio and X-ray emissions expected from the shocked gas at late epochs ($t$). Considering the ejecta structure from multi-group radiation hydrodynamics simulation, we find that the observed rapid drop in radio and X-ray light curves of SN 1993J at $t>$3000 days can be due to a change in the mass-loss rate ($\dot M$) around $\sim$6500 years prior to the explosion of the SN. The exact epoch scales inversely with the assumed wind velocity of $v_{\rm w}=10~ km~s^{-1}$. The progenitor of this SN very likely belonged to a binary system, where, during its evolution, the primary had transferred material to the secondary. It is argued in the paper that the change in $\dot M$ can happen because of a change in the mass accretion efficiency ($η$) of the companion star. It is possible that before $\sim6500~(v_{\rm w}/10~km~s^{-1})^{-1}$years prior to the explosion, $η$ was high, thus the CSM was tenuous, which causes the late time downturn in fluxes. In the case of SN 2011dh, the late time evolution is found to be consistent with a wind medium with $\dot M/v_{\rm w}=4\times10^{-6 }~M_{\odot}~ yr^{-1}/10 ~{km ~s^{-1}}$. It is difficult from our analysis to predict whether the progenitor of this SN had a binary companion, however, if future observations show similar decrease in radio and X-ray fluxes, then that would give strong support to a scenario where both SNe had undergone similar kind of binary evolution before explosion.

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arXiv2018

Low-frequency GMRT observations of ultra-cool dwarfs

Observations of radio emission in about 10 per cent of ultra-cool dwarfs (UCDs) indicate the presence of strong, persistent magnetic fields in these stars. These results are in contrast to early theoretical expectations on fully-convective dynamos, and to other tracers of magnetic activity, such as H α and X-ray luminosity. Radio-frequency observations have been key to physically characterising UCD magnetospheres, although explaining the diverse behaviour within them remains challenging. Most radio-frequency studies of UCDs have been conducted in the 4-8 GHz band, where traditional radio interferometers are typically most sensitive. Hence, the nature of UCD radio emission at low frequencies ($\lesssim 1.4\,\mathrm{GHz}$) remains relatively unexplored, but can probe optically thick emission, and regions of lower magnetic field strengths -- regimes not accessible to higher-frequency observations. In this work, we present the results from Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope observations of nine UCDs taken at $\sim 610$ and $1300\,\mathrm{MHz}$. These are the first observations of UCDs in this frequency range to be published in the literature. Using these observations, we are able to constrain the coronal magnetic field strength and electron number density of one of the targets to $1 \lesssim B \lesssim 90\,\mathrm{G}$ and $4 \lesssim \log(N_e) \lesssim 10$, respectively. We do not detect the flaring emission observed at higher frequencies, to a limit of a few millijanskys. These results show that some UCDs can produce low-frequency radio emission, and highlights the need for simultaneous multi-wavelength radio observations to tightly constrain the coronal and magnetospheric properties of these stars.

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arXiv2018

Long term behaviour of a Type IIP supernova SN 2004dj in the radio bands

We present radio observations and modelling of one of the nearest and brightest Type IIP supernova SN\,2004dj exploded in the galaxy NGC 2403 at a distance of $\sim$ 3.5 Mpc. Our observations span a wide frequency and temporal range of 0.24 - 43 GHz and $\sim 1$ day to 12 years since the discovery. We model the radio light curves and spectra with the synchrotron emission. We estimate the mass-loss rate of the progenitor star to be $\dot{M}$ $\sim$ 1 $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ M$_{\odot}\, \rm yr^{-1}$ for a wind speed of 10 km\,s$^{-1}$. We calculate the radio spectral indices using 1.06, 1.40, 5.00 and 8.46 GHz flux density measurements at multiple epochs. We witness steepening in the spectral index values for an extended period predominantly at higher frequencies. We explain this as a signature of electron cooling happening at the supernova shock in the plateau phase of the supernova. We estimate the cooling timescales for inverse Compton cooling and synchrotron cooling and find that inverse Compton cooling is the dominant cooling process.

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arXiv2018

Circumstellar interaction in supernovae in dense environments - an observational perspective

In a supernova explosion, the ejecta interacting with the surrounding circumstellar medium (CSM) give rise to variety of radiation. Since CSM is created from the mass lost from the progenitor star, it carries footprints of the late time evolution of the star. This is one of the unique ways to get a handle on the nature of the progenitor star system. Here, I will focus mainly on the supernovae (SNe) exploding in dense environments, a.k.a. Type IIn SNe. Radio and X-ray emission from this class of SNe have revealed important modifications in their radiation properties, due to the presence of high density CSM. Forward shock dominance of the X-ray emission, internal free-free absorption of the radio emission, episodic or non-steady mass loss rate, asymmetry in the explosion seem to be common properties of this class of SNe.

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arXiv2017

Discovery of electron cyclotron MASER emission from the magnetic Bp star HD 133880 with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope

We report the discovery of coherent radio emission from the young, rapidly-rotating magnetic Bp star HD 133880 at a frequency of 610 MHz with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). This is only the second magnetic star in which coherent radio emission has been detected. In our observations of HD 133880 covering the full rotational cycle of the star (except for a phase window 0.17-0.24), we witness an abrupt order-of-magnitude flux enhancement along with $\approx100$ percent right circular polarization. We attribute this phenomenon to coherent Electron Cyclotron MASER Emission. We attribute the lack of left circularly polarised emission to the asymmetric topology of the star's magnetic field. The phase of enhancement, $0.73$, differs from the previously reported phase of enhancement, $0.16$, (at 610 MHz Chandra et al. 2015) by one-half cycle. However, no flux enhancement is found at phase $0.16$ in our data, which could be due to an unstable or drifting emission region, or a consequence of the reported changes of the star's rotational period. Either of these factors could have shifted the enhancement to the above-mentioned phase window not sampled by our observations.

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arXiv2017

Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope monitoring of the black hole X-ray binary, V404 Cygni, during its June 2015 outburst

We report results from a Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) monitoring campaign on the black hole X-ray binary V404 Cygni during its 2015 June outburst. The GMRT observations were carried out at observing frequencies of 1280, 610, 325 and 235 MHz, and extended from June 26.89 UT (a day after the strongest radio/X-ray outburst) to July 12.93 UT. We find the low-frequency radio emission of V404 Cygni to be extremely bright and fast-decaying in the outburst phase, with an inverted spectrum below 1.5 GHz and an intermediate X-ray state. The radio emission settles to a weak, quiescent state $\approx 11$ days after the outburst, with a flat radio spectrum and a soft X-ray state. Combining the GMRT measurements with flux density estimates from the literature, we identify a spectral turnover in the radio spectrum at $\approx 1.5$ GHz on $\approx$ June 26.9 UT, indicating the presence of a synchrotron self-absorbed emitting region. We use the measured flux density at the turnover frequency with the assumption of equipartition of energy between the particles and the magnetic field to infer the jet radius ($\approx 4.0 \times 10^{13}$ cm), magnetic field ($\approx 0.5$ G), minimum total energy ($\approx 7 \times 10^{39}$ ergs) and transient jet power ($\approx 8 \times 10^{34}$ erg s$^{-1}$). The relatively low value of the jet power, despite V404 Cygni's high black hole spin parameter, suggests that the radio jet power does not correlate with the spin parameter.

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arXiv2017

325 and 610 MHz Radio Counterparts of SNR G353.6$-$0.7 a.k.a. HESS J1731$-$347

HESS J1731$-$347 a.k.a. SNR G353.6$-$0.7 is one of the five known shell-type supernova remnants (SNRs) emitting in the very high energy (VHE, Energy $>$ 0.1 TeV) $γ$-ray domain. We observed this TeV SNR with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in 1390, 610 and 325 MHz bands. In this paper, we report the discovery of 325 and 610 MHz radio counterparts of the SNR HESS J1731$-$347 with the GMRT. Various filaments of the SNR are clearly seen in the 325 and 610 MHz bands. However, the faintest feature in the radio bands corresponds to the peak in VHE emission. We explain this anti-correlation in terms of a possible leptonic origin of the observed VHE $γ$-ray emission. We determine the spectral indices of the bright individual filaments, which were detected in both the 610 and the 325 MHz bands. Our values range from $-$1.11 to $-$0.15, consistent with the non-thermal radio emission. We also report a possible radio counterpart of a nearby TeV source HESS J1729$-$345 from the 843 MHz Molonglo Galactic Plane Survey and the 1.4 GHz Southern Galactic Plane Survey maps. The positive radio spectral index of this possible counterpart suggests a thermal origin of the radio emission of this nearby TeV source.

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arXiv2016

Gamma Ray Bursts -- A radio perspective

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are extremely energetic events at cosmological distances. They provide unique laboratory to investigate fundamental physical processes under extreme conditions. Due to extreme luminosities, GRBs are detectable at very high redshifts and potential tracers of cosmic star formation rate at early epoch. While the launch of {\it Swift} and {\it Fermi} has increased our understanding of GRBs tremendously, many new questions have opened up. Radio observations of GRBs uniquely probe the energetics and environments of the explosion. However, currently only 30\% of the bursts are detected in radio bands. Radio observations with upcoming sensitive telescopes will potentially increase the sample size significantly, and allow one to follow the individual bursts for a much longer duration and be able to answer some of the important issues related to true calorimetry, reverse shock emission and environments around the massive stars exploding as GRBs in the early Universe.

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arXiv2016

A JVLA survey of the high frequency radio emission of the massive magnetic B- and O-type stars

We conducted a survey of seven magnetic O and eleven B-type stars with masses above $8M_{\odot}$ using the Very Large Array in the 1cm, 3cm and 13cm bands. The survey resulted in a detection of two O and two B-type stars. While the detected O-type stars - HD 37742 and HD 47129 - are in binary systems, the detected B-type stars, HD 156424 and ALS 9522, are not known to be in binaries. All four stars were detected at 3cm, whereas three were detected at 1cm and only one star was detected at 13cm. The detected B-type stars are significantly more radio luminous than the non-detected ones, which is not the case for O-type stars. The non-detections at 13cm are interpreted as due to thermal free-free absorption. Mass-loss rates were estimated using 3cm flux densities and were compared with theoretical mass-loss rates, which assume free-free emission. For HD 37742, the two values of the mass-loss rates were in good agreement, possibly suggesting that the radio emission for this star is mainly thermal. For the other three stars, the estimated mass-loss rates from radio observations were much higher than those expected from theory, suggesting either a possible contribution from non- thermal emission from the magnetic star or thermal or non-thermal emission due to interacting winds of the binary system, especially for HD 47129. All the detected stars are predicted to host centrifugal magnetospheres except HD 37742, which is likely to host a dynamical magnetosphere. This suggests that non-thermal radio emission is favoured in stars with centrifugal magnetospheres.

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arXiv2016

Explosive and radio-selected Transients: Transient Astronomy with SKA and its Precursors

With the high sensitivity and wide-field coverage of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), large samples of explosive transients are expected to be discovered. Radio wavelengths, especially in commensal survey mode, are particularly well suited for uncovering the complex transient phenomena. This is because observations at radio wavelengths may suffer less obscuration than in other bands (e.g. optical/IR or X-rays) due to dust absorption. At the same time, multiwaveband information often provides critical source classification rapidly than possible with only radio band data. Therefore, multiwaveband observational efforts with wide fields of view will be the key to progress of transients astronomy from the middle 2020s offering unprecedented deep images and high spatial and spectral resolutions. Radio observations of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) with SKA will uncover not only much fainter bursts and verifying claims of sensitivity limited population versus intrinsically dim GRBs, they will also unravel the enigmatic population of orphan afterglows. The supernova rate problem caused by dust extinction in optical bands is expected to be lifted in the SKA era. In addition, the debate of single degenerate scenario versus double degenerate scenario will be put to rest for the progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae, since highly sensitive measurements will lead to very accurate mass loss estimation in these supernovae. One also expects to detect gravitationally lensed supernovae in far away Universe in the SKA bands. Radio counterparts of the gravitational waves are likely to become a reality once SKA comes online. In addition, SKA is likely to discover various new kinds of transients.

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