Browsing by Author "Leloudas, G."

Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A young stellar environment for the superluminous supernova PTF12dam
    (OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 2015) Thoene, C. C.; Postigo, A. de Ugarte; Garcia Benito, R.; Leloudas, G.; Schulze, S.; Amorin, R.
    The progenitors of superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) are still a mystery. Hydrogen-poor SLSN hosts are young, highly star-forming dwarf galaxies and the majority belongs to the class of 'extreme emission line galaxies'. Here we present a resolved long-slit study of the host of the hydrogen-poor SLSN PTF12dam probing the kiloparsec environment of the SN site to determine the age of the progenitor. The SN occurred in a star-forming region in the head of a 'tadpole' galaxy with largely uniform properties. The galaxy experienced a recent starburst superimposed on an underlying old stellar population (SP). We determine a very young SP at the SN site of similar to 3 Myr and a metallicity of 12+log(O/H)=8.0 but do not observe any Wolf-Rayet features. The progenitor of PTF12dam was likely a massive star of >60 M-circle dot and one of the first stars exploding as an SN in the most recent starburst episode.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Cosmic evolution and metal aversion in superluminous supernova host galaxies
    (2018) Schulze, Steve; Krühler, T.; Leloudas, G.; Gorosabel, J.; Mehner, A.; Buchner, J.; Kim, Sam; Ibar, Edo; Amorín, Ricardo; Herrero Illana, Rubén; Anderson, Joseph; Bauer, Franz Erik
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Delayed appearance and evolution of coronal lines in the TDE AT2019qiz
    (Oxford University Press, 2023) Short, P.; Lawrence, A.; Nicholl, M.; Ward, M.; Reynolds, T. M.; Mattila, S.; Yin, C.; Arcavi, I; Carnall, A.; Charalampopoulos, P.; Gromadzki, M.; Jonker, P. G.; Kim, Sam; Leloudas, G.; Mandel, I; Onori, F.; Pursiainen, M.; Schulze, S.; Villforth, C.; Wevers, T.
    Tidal disruption events (TDEs) occur when a star gets torn apart by a supermassive black hole as it crosses its tidal radius. We present late-time optical and X-ray observations of the nuclear transient AT2019qiz, which showed the typical signs of an optical-UV transient class commonly believed to be TDEs. Optical spectra were obtained 428, 481, and 828 rest-frame days after optical light-curve peak, and a UV/X-ray observation coincided with the later spectrum. The optical spectra show strong coronal emission lines, including [Fe vii], [Fe x], [Fe xi], and [Fe xiv]. The Fe lines rise and then fall, except [Fe xiv] that appears late and rises. We observe increasing flux of narrow H & alpha; and H & beta; and a decrease in broad H & alpha; flux. The coronal lines have full width at half-maximum ranging from & SIM;150-300 km s(-1), suggesting they originate from a region between the broad- and narrow-line emitting gas. Between the optical flare and late-time observation, the X-ray spectrum softens dramatically. The 0.3-1 keV X-ray flux increases by a factor of & SIM;50, while the hard X-ray flux decreases by a factor of & SIM;6. Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer fluxes also rose over the same period, indicating the presence of an infrared echo. With AT2017gge, AT2019qiz is one of two examples of a spectroscopically confirmed optical-UV TDE showing delayed coronal line emission, supporting speculations that Extreme Coronal Line Emitters in quiescent galaxies can be echos of unobserved past TDEs. We argue that the coronal lines, narrow lines, and infrared emission arise from the illumination of pre-existing material likely related to either a previous TDE or active galactic nucleus activity.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    DISCOVERY OF THE BROAD-LINED TYPE Ic SN 2013cq ASSOCIATED WITH THE VERY ENERGETIC GRB 130427A
    (2013) Xu, D.; de Ugarte Postigo, A.; Leloudas, G.; Kruehler, T.; Cano, Z.; Hjorth, J.; Malesani, D.; Fynbo, J. P. U.; Thoene, C. C.; Sanchez-Ramirez, R.; Schulze, S.; Jakobsson, P.; Kaper, L.; Sollerman, J.; Watson, D. J.; Cabrera-Lavers, A.; Cao, C.; Covino, S.; Flores, H.; Geier, S.; Gorosabel, J.; Hu, S. M.; Milvang-Jensen, B.; Sparre, M.; Xin, L. P.; Zhang, T. M.; Zheng, W. K.; Zou, Y. C.
    Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) at z < 1 are found in most cases to be accompanied by bright, broadlined Type Ic supernovae (SNe Ic-BL). The highest-energy GRBs are mostly located at higher redshifts, where the associated SNe are hard to detect observationally. Here, we present early and late observations of the optical counterpart of the very energetic GRB 130427A. Despite its moderate redshift, z = 0.3399+/-0.0002, GRB 130427A is at the high end of the GRB energy distribution, with an isotropic-equivalent energy release of E-iso similar to 9.6 x 10(53) erg, more than an order of magnitude more energetic than other GRBs with spectroscopically confirmed SNe. In our dense photometric monitoring, we detect excess flux in the host-subtracted r-band light curve, consistent with that expected from an emerging SN, similar to 0.2 mag fainter than the prototypical SN 1998bw. A spectrum obtained around the time of the SN peak (16.7 days after the GRB) reveals broad undulations typical of SNe Ic-BL, confirming the presence of an SN, designated SN 2013cq. The spectral shape and early peak time are similar to those of the high expansion velocity SN 2010bh associated with GRB 100316D. Our findings demonstrate that high-energy, long-duration GRBs, commonly detected at high redshift, can also be associated with SNe Ic-BL, pointing to a common progenitor mechanism.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    GRB 120422A/SN 2012bz : Bridging the gap between low- and high-luminosity gamma-ray bursts
    (2014) Schulze, S.; Malesani, D.; Cucchiara, A.; Tanvir, N.; Kruhler, T.; De Ugarte Postigo, A.; Leloudas, G.; Lyman, J.; Bersier, D.; Bauer, Franz Erik
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    On the nature of hydrogen-rich superluminous supernovae
    (2018) Inserra, C.; Smartt, S. J.; Gall, E. E. E.; Leloudas, G.; Chen, T-W.; Schulze, S.; Jerkstrand, A.; Nicholl, M.; Anderson, J. P.; Arcavi, I.; Benetti, S.; Cartier, R. A.; Childress, M.; Della Valle, M.; Flewelling, H.; Fraser, M.; Gal-Yam, A.; Gutierrez, C. P.; Hosseinzadeh, G.; Howell, D. A.; Huber, M.; Kankare, E.; Kruehler, T.; Magnier, E. A.; Maguire, K.; McCully, C.; Prajs, S.; Primak, N.; Scalzo, R.; Schmidt, B. P.; Smith, M.; Smith, K. W.; Tucker, B. E.; Valenti, S.; Wilman, M.; Young, D. R.; Yuan, F.
    We present two hydrogen-rich superluminous supernovae (SLSNe): SN2103hx and PS 15br. These objects, together with SN2008es, are the only SLSNe showing a distinct, broad H alpha feature during the photospheric phase; also, they show no sign of strong interaction between fast moving ejecta and circumstellar shells in their early spectra. Despite the fact that the peak luminosity of PS 15br is fainter than that of the other two objects, the spectrophotometric evolution is similar to SN2103hx and different from any other supernova in a similar luminosity space. We group all of them as SLSNe II and hence they are distinct from the known class of SLSN IIn. Both transients show a strong, multicomponent H alpha emission after 200 d past maximum, which we interpret as an indication of the interaction of the ejecta with an asymmetric, clumpy circumstellar material. The spectra and photometric evolution of the two objects are similar to Type II supernovae, although they have much higher luminosity and evolve on slower time-scales. This is qualitatively similar to how SLSNe I compare with normal type Ic, in that the former are brighter and evolve more slowly. We apply a magnetar and an interaction semi-analytical code to fit the light curves of our two objects and SN2008es. The overall observational data set would tend to favour the magnetar, or central engine, model as the source of the peak luminosity, although the clear signature of late-time interaction indicates that interaction can play a role in the luminosity evolution of SLSNe II at some phases.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    SN 2023emq: A Flash-ionized Ibn Supernova with Possible C iii Emission
    (2023) Pursiainen, M.; Leloudas, G.; Schulze, S.; Charalampopoulos, P.; Angus, C. R.; Anderson, J. P.; Bauer, F.; Chen, T. -w.; Galbany, L.; Gromadzki, M.; Gutierrez, C. P.; Inserra, C.; Lyman, J.; Mueller-Bravo, T. E.; Nicholl, M.; Smartt, S. J.; Tartaglia, L.; Wiseman, P.; Young, D. R.
    SN 2023emq is a fast-evolving transient initially classified as a rare Type Icn supernova (SN), interacting with a H- and He-free circumstellar medium (CSM) around maximum light. Subsequent spectroscopy revealed the unambiguous emergence of narrow He lines, confidently placing SN 2023emq in the more common Type Ibn class. Photometrically, SN 2023emq has several uncommon properties regardless of its class, including its extreme initial decay (faster than >90% of Type Ibn/Icn SNe) and sharp transition in the decline rate from 0.20 to 0.07 mag day(-1) at +20 days. The bolometric light curve can be modeled as CSM interaction with 0.32M(circle dot) of ejecta and 0.12M(circle dot) of CSM, with 0.006M(circle dot) of nickel, as expected of fast, interacting SNe. Furthermore, broadband polarimetry at +8.7 days (P = 0.55% +/- 0.30%) is consistent with spherical symmetry. A discovery of a transitional Type Icn/Ibn SN would be unprecedented and would give valuable insights into the nature of mass loss suffered by the progenitor just before death, but we favor an interpretation that SN 2023emq is a Type Ibn SN that exhibited flash-ionized features in the earliest spectrum, as the features are not an exact match with other Type Icn SNe to date. However, the feature at 5700 & Aring;, in the region of C iii and N ii emission, is significantly stronger in SN 2023emq than in the few other flash-ionized Type Ibn SNe, and if it is related to C iii, it possibly implies a continuum of properties between the two classes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The superluminous transient ASASSN-15lh as a tidal disruption event from a Kerr black hole.
    (2016) Leloudas, G.; Kim, Sam; Fraser, M.; Stone, N. C.; Velzen, S. van; Jonker, P. G.; Arcavi, I.; Fremling, C.; Maund, J. R.; Smartt, S. J.; Krühler, Thomas
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The supermassive black hole coincident with the luminous transient ASASSN-15lh.
    (2017) Krühler, Thomas; Kim, Sam; Fraser, M.; Leloudas, G.; Schulze, Steve; Stone, N. C.; Velzen, S. van; Amorin, R.; Hjorth, J.; Jonker, P. G.; Kann, D. A.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    VLT/X-Shooter emission-line spectroscopy of 96 gamma-ray-burst-selected galaxies at 0.1 < z < 3.6
    (EDP SCIENCES S A, 2015) Kruehler, T.; Malesani, D.; Fynbo, J. P. U.; Hartoog, O. E.; Hjorth, J.; Jakobsson, P.; Perley, D. A.; Rossi, A.; Schady, P.; Schulze, S.; Tanvir, N. R.; Vergani, S. D.; Wiersema, K.; Afonso, P. M. J.; Bolmer, J.; Cano, Z.; Covino, S.; D'Elia, V.; de Ugarte Postigo, A.; Filgas, R.; Friis, M.; Graham, J. F.; Greiner, J.; Goldoni, P.; Gomboc, A.; Hammer, F.; Japelj, J.; Kann, D. A.; Kaper, L.; Klose, S.; Levan, A. J.; Leloudas, G.; Milvang Jensen, B.; Guelbenzu, A. Nicuesa; Palazzi, E.; Pian, E.; Piranomonte, S.; Sanchez Ramirez, R.; Savaglio, S.; Selsing, J.; Tagliaferri, G.; Vreeswijk, P. M.; Watson, D. J.; Xu, D.
    We present data and initial results from VLT/X-Shooter emission-line spectroscopy of 96 galaxies selected by long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) at 0.1 < z < 3.6, the largest sample of GRB host spectra available to date. Most of our GRBs were detected by Swift and 76% are at 0.5 < z < 2.5 with a median z(med) similar to 1.6. Based on Balmer and/or forbidden lines of oxygen, nitrogen, and neon, we measure systemic redshifts, star formation rates (SFR), visual attenuations (A(V)), oxygen abundances (12 + log(O/H)), and emission-line widths (sigma). We study GRB hosts up to z similar to 3.5 and find a strong change in their typical physical properties with redshift. The median SFR of our GRB hosts increases from SFRmed similar to 0.6 M circle dot yr(-1) at z similar to 0.6 up to SFRmed similar to 15 M circle dot yr(-1) at z similar to 2. A higher ratio of [O III]/[O II] at higher redshifts leads to an increasing distance of GRB-selected galaxies to the locus of local galaxies in the Baldwin-Phillips-Terlevich diagram. There is weak evidence for a redshift evolution in A(V) and similar to, with the highest values seen at z similar to 1.5 (A(V)) or z similar to 2 (sigma). Oxygen abundances of the galaxies are distributed between 12 + log(O/H) = 7.9 and 12 + log(O/H) = 9.0 with a median 12 + log(O/H)(med) similar to 8.5. The fraction of GRB-selected galaxies with super-solar metallicities is similar to 20% at z < 1 in the adopted metallicity scale. This is significantly less than the fraction of total star formation in similar galaxies, illustrating that GRBs are scarce in high metallicity environments. At z similar to 3, sensitivity limits us to probing only the most luminous GRB hosts for which we derive metallicities of Z less than or similar to 0.5 Z circle dot. Together with a high incidence of Z similar to 0.5 Z circle dot galaxies at z similar to 1.5, this indicates that a metallicity dependence at low redshift will not be dominant at z similar to 3. Significant correlations exist between the hosts' physical properties. Oxygen abundance, for example, relates to A(V) (12 + log(O/H) proportional to 0.17 A(V)), line width (12 + log(O/H) proportional to sigma(0.6)), and SFR (12 + log(O/H) proportional to SFR0.2). In the last two cases, the normalization of the relations shift to lower metallicities at z > 2 by similar to 0.4 dex. These properties of GRB hosts and their evolution with redshift can be understood in a cosmological context of star-forming galaxies and a picture in which the hosts' properties at low redshift are influenced by the tendency of GRBs to avoid the most metal-rich environments.