arXiv subjects

R. A. Chevalier

Publications and source records attributed to R. A. Chevalier.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

The Radio Evolution of the Ordinary Type Ic SN 2002ap

We report the discovery and monitoring of radio emission from the Type Ic SN 2002ap ranging in frequency from 1.43 to 22.5 GHz, and in time from 4 to 50 days after the SN explosion. As in most other radio SNe, the radio spectrum of SN 2002ap shows evidence for absorption at low frequencies, usually attributed to synchrotron self-absorption or free-free absorption. While it is difficult to discriminate between these two processes based on a goodness-of-fit, the unabsorbed emission in the free-free model requires an unreasonably large ejecta energy. Therefore, on physical grounds we favor the synchrotron self-absorption (SSA) model. In the SSA framework, at about day 2, the shock speed is approximately 0.3c, the energy in relativistic electrons and magnetic fields is approximately 1.5e45 erg and the inferred progenitor mass loss rate is approximately 5e-7 solar masses per year (assuming a 1,000 km/sec wind). These properties are consistent with a model in which the outer, high velocity supernova ejecta interact with the progenitor wind. The amount of relativistic ejecta in this model is small, so that the presence of broad lines in the spectrum of a Type Ib/c supernova, as observed in SN 2002ap, is not a reliable indicator of a connection to relativistic ejecta and hence gamma-ray emission.

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arXiv2002

Detection of a supernova signature associated with GRB 011121

Using observations from an extensive monitoring campaign with the Hubble Space Telescope we present the detection of an intermediate-time flux excess which is redder in color relative to the afterglow of GRB 011121, currently distinguished as the gamma-ray burst with the lowest known redshift. The red ``bump,'' which exhibits a spectral roll-over at ~7200 Angstrom, is well described by a redshifted Type Ic supernova that occurred approximately at the same time as the gamma-ray burst event. The inferred luminosity is about half that of the bright supernova 1998bw. These results serve as compelling evidence for a massive star origin of long-duration gamma-ray bursts. Models that posit a supernova explosion weeks to months preceding the gamma-ray burst event are excluded by these observations. Finally, we discuss the relationship between spherical core-collapse supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.

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arXiv2002

X-ray, Optical, and Radio Observations of the Type II Supernovae 1999em and 1998S

Observations of the Type II-P (plateau) Supernova (SN) 1999em and Type IIn (narrow emission line) SN 1998S have enabled estimation of the profile of the SN ejecta, the structure of the circumstellar medium (CSM) established by the pre-SN stellar wind, and the nature of the shock interaction. SN 1999em is the first Type II-P detected at both X-ray and radio wavelengths. The Chandra X-ray data indicate non-radiative interaction of SN ejecta with a power-law density profile (rho \propto r^{-n} with n ~ 7) with a pre-SN wind with a low mass-loss rate of ~2 \times 10^{-6} M_sun/yr for a wind velocity of 10 km/sec, in agreement with radio mass-loss rate estimates. The Chandra data show an unexpected, temporary rise in the 0.4--2.0 keV X-ray flux at ~100 days after explosion. SN 1998S, at an age of >3 years, is still bright in X-rays and is increasing in flux density at cm radio wavelengths. Spectral fits to the Chandra data show that many heavy elements (Ne, Al, Si, S, Ar, and Fe) are overabundant with respect to solar values. We compare the observed elemental abundances and abundance ratios to theoretical calculations and find that our data are consistent with a progenitor mass of approximately 15-20 M_sun if the heavy element ejecta are radially mixed out to a high velocity. If the X-ray emission is from the reverse shock wave region, the supernova density profile must be moderately flat at a velocity ~10^4 km/sec, the shock front is non-radiative at the time of the observations, and the mass-loss rate is 1-2 \times 10^{-4} M_sun/yr for a pre-supernova wind velocity of 10 km/sec. This result is also supported by modeling of the radio emission which implies that SN 1998S is surrounded by a clumpy or filamentary CSM established by a high mass-loss rate, ~2 \times 10^{-4} M_sun/yr, from the pre-supernova star.

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arXiv2000

Nonthermal Emission from a Supernova Remnant in a Molecular Cloud

In evolved supernova remnants (SNRs) interacting with molecular clouds, such as IC 443, W44, and 3C391, a highly inhomogeneous structure consisting of a forward shock of moderate Mach number, a cooling layer, a dense radiative shell and an interior region filled with hot tenuous plasma is expected. We present a kinetic model of nonthermal electron injection, acceleration and propagation in that environment and find that these SNRs are efficient electron accelerators and sources of hard X- and gamma-ray emission. The energy spectrum of the nonthermal electrons is shaped by the joint action of first and second order Fermi acceleration in a turbulent plasma with substantial Coulomb losses. Bremsstrahlung, synchrotron, and inverse Compton radiation of the nonthermal electrons produce multiwavelength photon spectra in quantitative agreement with the radio and the hard emission observed by ASCA and EGRET from IC 443. We distinguish interclump shock wave emission from molecular clump shock wave emission accounting for a complex structure of molecular cloud. Spatially resolved X- and gamma- ray spectra from the supernova remnants IC 443, W44, and 3C391 as might be observed with BeppoSAX, Chandra XRO, XMM, INTEGRAL and GLAST would distinguish the contribution of the energetic lepton component to the gamma-rays observed by EGRET.

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arXiv1999

Gamma-Ray Burst Environments and Progenitors

Likely progenitors for the GRBs (gamma-ray bursts) are the mergers of compact objects or the explosions of massive stars. These two cases have distinctive environments for the GRB afterglow: the compact object explosions occur in the ISM (interstellar medium) and those of massive stars occur in the preburst stellar wind. We calculate the expected afterglow for a burst in a Wolf-Rayet star wind and compare the results to those for constant, interstellar density. The optical afterglow for the wind case is generally expected to decline more steeply than in the constant density case, but this effect may be masked by variations in electron spectral index, and the two cases have the same evolution in the cooling regime. Observations of the concurrent radio and optical/X-ray evolution are especially useful for distinguishing between the two cases. The different rates of decline of the optical and X-ray afterglows of GRB 990123 suggest constant density interaction for this case. We have previously found strong evidence for wind interaction in SN 1998bw/GRB 980425 and here present a wind model for GRB 980519. We thus suggest that there are both wind type GRB afterglows with massive star progenitors and ISM type afterglows with compact binary star progenitors. The wind type bursts are likely to be accompanied by a supernova, but not the ISM type.

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arXiv1994

Circumstellar Interaction in SN 1993J

The radio and X-ray observations of SN 1993J during the first year can be consistently explained as a result of interaction of the expanding ejecta with a circumstellar medium. The density of the circumstellar gas can be deduced from the free-free absorption of the radio emission and from the X-ray luminosity. During the first two weeks, both sets of observations indicate a mass loss rate of $\sim 4\EE{-5} \Msun ~\rm yr^{-1}$ for a wind velocity of $10 \kms$. The subsequent radio and X-ray observations indicate a density gradient $\propto r^{-s}$, with $1.5 \lsim s \lsim 1.7$, as opposed to the $r^{-2}$ gradient expected for a steady, spherically symmetric wind. This may either be caused by a variation of the mass loss rate from the progenitor system, or by a non-spherically symmetric geometry. To explain the properties of the X-ray emission, a steep density gradient in the ejecta is needed. During the first months most of the observed X-ray emission originates from the circumstellar shock, which is adiabatic, while the reverse shock is radiative. To avoid excessive Comptonization in the X-ray range collisionless heating must be ineffective. The soft X-rays observed at 220 days probably originate from the reverse shock. The ionization and temperature structures of the circumstellar gas are calculated; we find that the temperature is in excess of $10^5 \rm~K$ and the medium is nearly completely ionized by the shock radiation after the formation of the shocks. Preacceleration of the circumstellar gas by the radiation from the outbreak can explain

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