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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Finding Strong Gravitational Lenses In The Desi Decam Legacy Survey, Xiaosheng Huang, Christopher Storfer, V. Ravi, A. Pilon, M. Domingo, D. J. Schlegel, S. Bailey, A. Dey, R. R. Gupta, D. Herrera, S. Juneau, M. Landriau, D. Lang, A. Meisner, J. Moustakas, A. D. Myers, E. F. Schlafly, F. Valdes, B. A. Weaver, J. Yang, C. Yèche May 2020

Finding Strong Gravitational Lenses In The Desi Decam Legacy Survey, Xiaosheng Huang, Christopher Storfer, V. Ravi, A. Pilon, M. Domingo, D. J. Schlegel, S. Bailey, A. Dey, R. R. Gupta, D. Herrera, S. Juneau, M. Landriau, D. Lang, A. Meisner, J. Moustakas, A. D. Myers, E. F. Schlafly, F. Valdes, B. A. Weaver, J. Yang, C. Yèche

Physics and Astronomy

We perform a semi-automated search for strong gravitational lensing systems in the 9000 deg2 Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS), part of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Legacy Imaging Surveys. The combination of the depth and breadth of these surveys are unparalleled at this time, making them particularly suitable for discovering new strong gravitational lensing systems. We adopt the deep residual neural network architecture developed by Lanusse et al. for the purpose of finding strong lenses in photometric surveys. We compile a training sample that consists of known lensing systems in the Legacy Surveys and the Dark Energy Survey as …


Discovering New Strong Gravitational Lenses In The Desi Legacy Imaging Surveys, Xiaosheng Huang, Christopher Storfer, A. Gu, V. Ravi, A. Pilon, W. Sheu, R. Venguswamy, S. Bankda, A. Dey, M. Landriau, D. Lang, A. Meisner, J. Moustakas, A. D. Myers, R. Sajith, E. F. Schlafly, D. J. Schlegel May 2020

Discovering New Strong Gravitational Lenses In The Desi Legacy Imaging Surveys, Xiaosheng Huang, Christopher Storfer, A. Gu, V. Ravi, A. Pilon, W. Sheu, R. Venguswamy, S. Bankda, A. Dey, M. Landriau, D. Lang, A. Meisner, J. Moustakas, A. D. Myers, R. Sajith, E. F. Schlafly, D. J. Schlegel

Physics and Astronomy

We have conducted a search for new strong gravitational lensing systems in the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Legacy Imaging Surveys’ Data Release 8. We use deep residual neural networks, building on previous work presented in Huang et al. (2020). These surveys together cover approximately one third of the sky visible from the northern hemisphere, reaching a z-band AB magnitude of ∼ 22.5. We compile a training sample that consists of known lensing systems as well as non-lenses in the Legacy Surveys and the Dark Energy Survey. After applying our trained neural networks to the survey data, we visually inspect and …


Precise Mass Determination Of Spt-Cl J2106-5844, The Most Massive Cluster At Z > 1, Jinhyub Kim, M. James Jee, Saul Perlmutter, Brian Hayden, David Rubin, Xiaosheng Huang, Greg Aldering, Jongwan Ko Dec 2019

Precise Mass Determination Of Spt-Cl J2106-5844, The Most Massive Cluster At Z > 1, Jinhyub Kim, M. James Jee, Saul Perlmutter, Brian Hayden, David Rubin, Xiaosheng Huang, Greg Aldering, Jongwan Ko

Physics and Astronomy

We present a detailed high-resolution weak-lensing study of SPT-CL J2106-5844 at z = 1.132, claimed to be the most massive system discovered at z > 1 in the South Pole Telescope Sunyaev–Zel'dovich survey. Based on the deep imaging data from the Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3 on board the Hubble Space Telescope, we find that the cluster mass distribution is asymmetric, composed of a main clump and a subclump ~640 kpc west thereof. The central clump is further resolved into two smaller northwestern and southeastern substructures separated by ~150 kpc. We show that this rather complex …


The Discovery Of A Gravitationally Lensed Supernova Ia At Redshift 2.22, David Rubin, Brian Hayden, Xiaosheng Huang, Greg Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, K Boone, M Brodwin, S E. Deustua, S Dixon, P Eisenhardt, A S. Fruchter, A H. Gonzalez, A Goobar, R R. Gupta, I Hook, M. James Jee, A G. Kim, M Kowalski, C Lidman, E V. Linder, K Luther, J Nordin, R Pain, Saul Perlmutter, Z Raha, M Rigault, P Ruiz-Lapuente, C Saunders, C Sofiatti, A L. Spadafora, S A. Stanford, D Stern, N Suzuki, S C. Williams Oct 2018

The Discovery Of A Gravitationally Lensed Supernova Ia At Redshift 2.22, David Rubin, Brian Hayden, Xiaosheng Huang, Greg Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, K Boone, M Brodwin, S E. Deustua, S Dixon, P Eisenhardt, A S. Fruchter, A H. Gonzalez, A Goobar, R R. Gupta, I Hook, M. James Jee, A G. Kim, M Kowalski, C Lidman, E V. Linder, K Luther, J Nordin, R Pain, Saul Perlmutter, Z Raha, M Rigault, P Ruiz-Lapuente, C Saunders, C Sofiatti, A L. Spadafora, S A. Stanford, D Stern, N Suzuki, S C. Williams

Physics and Astronomy

We present the discovery and measurements of a gravitationally lensed supernova (SN) behind the galaxy cluster MOO J1014+0038. Based on multi-band Hubble Space Telescope and Very Large Telescope (VLT) photometry of the supernova, and VLT spectroscopy of the host galaxy, we find a 97.5% probability that this SN is a SN Ia, and a 2.5% chance of a CC SN. Our typing algorithm combines the shape and color of the light curve with the expected rates of each SN type in the host galaxy. With a redshift of 2.2216, this is the highest redshift SN Ia discovered with a spectroscopic …


On The Time Variation Of Dust Extinction And Gas Absorption For Type Ia Supernovae Observed Through A Nonuniform Interstellar Medium, Xiaosheng Huang, G Aldering, M. Biederman, B. Herger Nov 2017

On The Time Variation Of Dust Extinction And Gas Absorption For Type Ia Supernovae Observed Through A Nonuniform Interstellar Medium, Xiaosheng Huang, G Aldering, M. Biederman, B. Herger

Physics and Astronomy

For Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) observed through a nonuniform interstellar medium (ISM) in its host galaxy, we investigate whether the nonuniformity can cause observable time variations in dust extinction and in gas absorption due to the expansion of the SN photosphere with time. We show that, owing to the steep spectral index of the ISM density power spectrum, sizable density fluctuation amplitudes at the length scale of typical ISM structures () will translate to much smaller fluctuations on the scales of an SN photosphere. Therefore, the typical amplitude of time variation due to a nonuniform ISM, of absorption equivalent …


The Extinction Properties Of And Distance To The Highly Reddened Type Ia Supernova Sn 2012cu, Xiaosheng Huang, Z. Raha, G. Aldering, P. Antilogus, S. Bailey, C. Baltay, K. Barbary, D. Baugh, K. Boone, S. Bongard, C. Buton, J. Chen, N. Chotard, Y. Copin, P. Fagrelius, H. K. Fakhouri, U. Feindt, D. Fouchez, E. Gangler, B. Hayden, W. Hillebrandt, A. G. Kim, M. Kowalski, P. F. Leget, S. Lombardo, J. Nordin, R. Pain, E. Pecontal, R. Pereira, S. Perlmutter, D. Rabinowitz, M. Rigault, D. Rubin, K. Runge, C. Saunders, G. Smadja, C. Sofiatti, A. Stocker, N. Suzuki, S. Taubenberger, C. Tao, R. C. Thomas Feb 2017

The Extinction Properties Of And Distance To The Highly Reddened Type Ia Supernova Sn 2012cu, Xiaosheng Huang, Z. Raha, G. Aldering, P. Antilogus, S. Bailey, C. Baltay, K. Barbary, D. Baugh, K. Boone, S. Bongard, C. Buton, J. Chen, N. Chotard, Y. Copin, P. Fagrelius, H. K. Fakhouri, U. Feindt, D. Fouchez, E. Gangler, B. Hayden, W. Hillebrandt, A. G. Kim, M. Kowalski, P. F. Leget, S. Lombardo, J. Nordin, R. Pain, E. Pecontal, R. Pereira, S. Perlmutter, D. Rabinowitz, M. Rigault, D. Rubin, K. Runge, C. Saunders, G. Smadja, C. Sofiatti, A. Stocker, N. Suzuki, S. Taubenberger, C. Tao, R. C. Thomas

Physics and Astronomy

Correcting Type Ia Supernova brightnesses for extinction by dust has proven to be a vexing problem. Here we study the dust foreground to the highly reddened SN 2012cu, which is projected onto a dust lane in the galaxy NGC 4772. The analysis is based on multi-epoch, spectrophotometric observations spanning from 3300–9200 Å, obtained by the Nearby Supernova Factory. Phase-matched comparison of the spectroscopically twinned SN 2012cu and SN 2011fe across 10 epochs results in the best-fit color excess of (, RMS) = (1.00, 0.03) and total-to-selective extinction ratio of (R V , RMS) = (2.95, 0.08) toward SN 2012cu …


Lensed Type Ia Supernovae As Probes Of Cluster Mass Models, J Nordin, David Rubin, J Richard, E Rykoff, Greg Aldering, R Amanullah, H Atek, K Barbary, S Deustua, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, A Goobar, I Hook, E Y. Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, J P. Kneib, C Lidman, J Meyers, S Perlmutter, C Saunders, A L. Spadafora, N Suzuki Apr 2014

Lensed Type Ia Supernovae As Probes Of Cluster Mass Models, J Nordin, David Rubin, J Richard, E Rykoff, Greg Aldering, R Amanullah, H Atek, K Barbary, S Deustua, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, A Goobar, I Hook, E Y. Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, J P. Kneib, C Lidman, J Meyers, S Perlmutter, C Saunders, A L. Spadafora, N Suzuki

Physics and Astronomy

Using three magnified Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) detected behind CLASH (Cluster Lensing and Supernovae with Hubble) clusters, we perform a first pilot study to see whether standardizable candles can be used to calibrate cluster mass maps created from strong lensing observations. Such calibrations will be crucial when next-generation Hubble Space Telescope cluster surveys (e.g. Frontier) provide magnification maps that will, in turn, form the basis for the exploration of the high-redshift Universe. We classify SNe using combined photometric and spectroscopic observations, finding two of the three to be clearly of Type Ia and the third probable. The SNe exhibit …


Precision Measurement Of The Most Distant Spectroscopically Confirmed Supernova Ia With The Hubble Space Telescope, D Rubin, R A. Knop, E Rykoff, G Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, M S. Burns, A Conley, N Connolly, S Deustua, V Fadeyev, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, R A. Gibbons, G Goldhaber, A Goobar, E Y. Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, M Kowalski, C Lidman, J Meyers, J Nordin, S Perlmutter, C Saunders, A Spadafora, V Stanishev, N Suzuki, L Wang, Supernova Cosmology Project Jan 2013

Precision Measurement Of The Most Distant Spectroscopically Confirmed Supernova Ia With The Hubble Space Telescope, D Rubin, R A. Knop, E Rykoff, G Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, M S. Burns, A Conley, N Connolly, S Deustua, V Fadeyev, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, R A. Gibbons, G Goldhaber, A Goobar, E Y. Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, M Kowalski, C Lidman, J Meyers, J Nordin, S Perlmutter, C Saunders, A Spadafora, V Stanishev, N Suzuki, L Wang, Supernova Cosmology Project

Physics and Astronomy

We report the discovery of a redshift 1.71 supernova in the GOODS North field. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS spectrum has almost negligible contamination from the host or neighboring galaxies. Although the rest frame sampled range is too blue to include any Si ii line, a principal component analysis allows us to confirm it as a Type Ia supernova with 92% confidence. A recent serendipitous archival HST WFC3 grism spectrum contributed a key element of the confirmation by giving a host-galaxy redshift of 1.713 +/- 0.007. In addition to being the most distant SN Ia with spectroscopic confirmation, this …


The Escape Fraction Of Ionizing Radiation From Galaxies, A Benson, Aparna Venkatesan, J Shull Jan 2013

The Escape Fraction Of Ionizing Radiation From Galaxies, A Benson, Aparna Venkatesan, J Shull

Physics and Astronomy

The escape of ionizing radiation from galaxies plays a critical role in the evolution of gas in galaxies, and the heating and ionization history of the intergalactic medium. We present semi-analytic calculations of the escape fraction of ionizing radiation for both hydrogen and helium from galaxies ranging from primordial systems to disk-type galaxies that are not heavily dust-obscured. We consider variations in the galaxy density profile, source type, location, and spectrum, and gas overdensity/distribution factors. For sufficiently hard first-light sources, the helium ionization fronts closely track or advance beyond that of hydrogen. Key new results in this work include calculations …


The Hubble Space Telescope Cluster Supernova Survey: V. Improving The Dark Energy Constraints Above Z>1 And Building An Early-Type-Hosted Supernova Sample, N Suzuki, D Rubin, C Lidman, G Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, L F. Barrientos, J Botyanszki, M Brodwin, N Connolly, K S. Dawson, A Dey, M Doi, M Donahue, S Deustua, P Eisenhardt, E Ellingson, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, D G. Gilbank, M D. Gladders, G Goldhaber, A H. Gonzalez, A Goobar, A Gude, T Hattori, H Hoekstra, E Y. Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, Y Ihara, M J. Jee, D Johnston, K Kashikawa, B Koester, K Konishi, M Kowalski, E V. Linder, L Lubin, J Melbourne, J Meyers, T Morokuma, F Munshi, C Mullis, T Oda, N Panagia, S Perlmutter, M Postman, T Pritchard, J Rhodes, P Ripoche, P Rosati, D J. Schlegel, A Spadafora, S A. Stanford, V Stanishev, D Stern, M Strovink, N Takanashi, K Tokita, M Wagner, L Wang, N Yasuda, H. K. C. Yee, Supernova Cosmology Project Jan 2012

The Hubble Space Telescope Cluster Supernova Survey: V. Improving The Dark Energy Constraints Above Z>1 And Building An Early-Type-Hosted Supernova Sample, N Suzuki, D Rubin, C Lidman, G Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, L F. Barrientos, J Botyanszki, M Brodwin, N Connolly, K S. Dawson, A Dey, M Doi, M Donahue, S Deustua, P Eisenhardt, E Ellingson, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, D G. Gilbank, M D. Gladders, G Goldhaber, A H. Gonzalez, A Goobar, A Gude, T Hattori, H Hoekstra, E Y. Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, Y Ihara, M J. Jee, D Johnston, K Kashikawa, B Koester, K Konishi, M Kowalski, E V. Linder, L Lubin, J Melbourne, J Meyers, T Morokuma, F Munshi, C Mullis, T Oda, N Panagia, S Perlmutter, M Postman, T Pritchard, J Rhodes, P Ripoche, P Rosati, D J. Schlegel, A Spadafora, S A. Stanford, V Stanishev, D Stern, M Strovink, N Takanashi, K Tokita, M Wagner, L Wang, N Yasuda, H. K. C. Yee, Supernova Cosmology Project

Physics and Astronomy

We present Advanced Camera for Surveys, NICMOS, and Keck adaptive-optics-assisted photometry of 20 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Cluster Supernova Survey. The SNe Ia were discovered over the redshift interval 0.623 < z < 1.415. of these sne ia, 14 pass our strict selection cuts and are used in combination with the world's sample of sne ia to derive the best current constraints on dark energy. of our new sne ia, 10 are beyond redshift z = 1, thereby nearly doubling the statistical weight of hst-discovered sne ia beyond this redshift. our detailed analysis corrects for the recently identified correlation between sn ia luminosity and host galaxy mass and corrects the nicmos zero point at the count rates appropriate for very …


The Hubble Space Telescope * Cluster Supernova Survey. Ii. The Type Ia Supernova Rate In High-Redshift Galaxy Clusters, K Barbary, G Aldering, R Amanullah, M Brodwin, N Connolly, Ks Dawson, M Doi, P Eisenhardt, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, Hk Fakhouri, As Fruchter, D G. Gilbank, Md Gladders, G Goldhaber, A Goobar, T Hattori, E Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, Y Ihara, K Kashikawa, B Koester, K Konishi, M Kowalski, C Lidman, L Lubin, J Meyers, T Morokuma, T Oda, N Panagia, S Perlmutter, M Postman, P Ripoche, P Rosati, D Rubin, Dj Schlegel, Al Spadafora, Sa Stanford, M Strovink, N Suzuki, N Takanashi, K Tokita, N Yasuda Dec 2011

The Hubble Space Telescope * Cluster Supernova Survey. Ii. The Type Ia Supernova Rate In High-Redshift Galaxy Clusters, K Barbary, G Aldering, R Amanullah, M Brodwin, N Connolly, Ks Dawson, M Doi, P Eisenhardt, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, Hk Fakhouri, As Fruchter, D G. Gilbank, Md Gladders, G Goldhaber, A Goobar, T Hattori, E Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, Y Ihara, K Kashikawa, B Koester, K Konishi, M Kowalski, C Lidman, L Lubin, J Meyers, T Morokuma, T Oda, N Panagia, S Perlmutter, M Postman, P Ripoche, P Rosati, D Rubin, Dj Schlegel, Al Spadafora, Sa Stanford, M Strovink, N Suzuki, N Takanashi, K Tokita, N Yasuda

Physics and Astronomy

We report a measurement of the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) rate in galaxy clusters at 0.9 < z < 1.46 from the Hubble Space Telescope Cluster Supernova Survey. This is the first cluster SN Ia rate measurement with detected z > 0.9 SNe. Finding 8 ± 1 cluster SNe Ia, we determine an SN Ia rate of 0.50+0.23 –0.19 (stat) +0.10 –0.09 (sys) h 2 70 SNuB (SNuB ≡ 10–12 SNe L –1 ☉, B yr–1). In units of stellar mass, this translates to 0.36+0.16 –0.13 (stat) +0.07 –0.06 (sys) h 2 70 SNuM (SNuM ≡ 10–12 SNe M –1 ☉ yr–1). This represents a …


Impacts Of Dark Stars On Reionization And Signatures In The Cosmic Microwave Background, P Scott, E Roebber, G Holder, Aparna Venkatesan, P Gondolo, E Pierpaoli Jan 2011

Impacts Of Dark Stars On Reionization And Signatures In The Cosmic Microwave Background, P Scott, E Roebber, G Holder, Aparna Venkatesan, P Gondolo, E Pierpaoli

Physics and Astronomy

We perform a detailed and systematic investigation of the possible impacts of dark stars on the reionization history of the universe, and its signatures in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). We compute hydrogen reionization histories, CMB optical depths, and anisotropy power spectra for a range of stellar populations including dark stars. If dark stars capture large amounts of dark matter (DM) via nuclear scattering, reionization can be substantially delayed, leading to decreases in the integrated optical depth to last scattering and large-scale power in the EE polarization power spectrum. Using the integrated optical depth observed by the Wilkinson Microwave Anistropy …


Scaling Relations And Overabundance Of Massive Clusters At Z ≳ 1 From Weak-Lensing Studies With The Hubble Space Telescope, M J. Jee, Ks Dawson, H Hoekstra, S Perlmutter, P Rosati, M Brodwin, N Sukuzi, B Koester, M Postman, L Lubin, J Meyers, Sa Stanford, K Barbary, F Barrientos, P Eisenhardt, Hc Ford, Dg Gibank, Md Gladders, A Gonzalez, Dw Harris, Xiaosheng Huang, C Lidman, Es Rykoff, D Rubin, Al Spadafora Jan 2011

Scaling Relations And Overabundance Of Massive Clusters At Z ≳ 1 From Weak-Lensing Studies With The Hubble Space Telescope, M J. Jee, Ks Dawson, H Hoekstra, S Perlmutter, P Rosati, M Brodwin, N Sukuzi, B Koester, M Postman, L Lubin, J Meyers, Sa Stanford, K Barbary, F Barrientos, P Eisenhardt, Hc Ford, Dg Gibank, Md Gladders, A Gonzalez, Dw Harris, Xiaosheng Huang, C Lidman, Es Rykoff, D Rubin, Al Spadafora

Physics and Astronomy

We present weak gravitational lensing analysis of 22 high-redshift (z 1) clusters based on Hubble Space Telescope images. Most clusters in our sample provide significant lensing signals and are well detected in their reconstructed two-dimensional mass maps. Combining the current results and our previous weak-lensing studies of five other high-z clusters, we compare gravitational lensing masses of these clusters with other observables. We revisit the question whether the presence of the most massive clusters in our sample is in tension with the current ΛCDM structure formation paradigm. We find that the lensing masses are tightly correlated with the …


Discovery Of An Unusual Optical Transient With The Hubble Space Telescope, K Barbary, Ks Dawson, K Tokita, G Aldering, R Amanullah, Nv Connolly, M Doi, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, As Fruchter, G Goldhaber, A Goobar, A Gude, Xiaosheng Xiaosheng Huang, Y Ihara, K Konishi, M Kowalski, C Lidman, J Meyers, T Morokuma, P Nugent, S Perlmutter, D Rubin, D Schlegel, Al Spadafora, N Suzuki, Hk Swift, N Takanashi, Rc Thomas, N Yasuda, Supernova Cosmology Project Jan 2009

Discovery Of An Unusual Optical Transient With The Hubble Space Telescope, K Barbary, Ks Dawson, K Tokita, G Aldering, R Amanullah, Nv Connolly, M Doi, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, As Fruchter, G Goldhaber, A Goobar, A Gude, Xiaosheng Xiaosheng Huang, Y Ihara, K Konishi, M Kowalski, C Lidman, J Meyers, T Morokuma, P Nugent, S Perlmutter, D Rubin, D Schlegel, Al Spadafora, N Suzuki, Hk Swift, N Takanashi, Rc Thomas, N Yasuda, Supernova Cosmology Project

Physics and Astronomy

We present observations of SCP 06F6, an unusual optical transient discovered during the Hubble Space Telescope Cluster Supernova Survey. The transient brightened over a period of ~;;100 days, reached a peak magnitude of ~;;21.0 in both i_775 and z_850, and then declined over a similar timescale. There is no host galaxy or progenitor star detected at the location of the transient to a 3 sigma upper limit of i_775 = 26.4 and z_850 = 26.1, giving a corresponding lower limit on the flux increase of a factor of ~;;120. Multiple spectra show five broad absorption bands between 4100 AA and …


An Intensive Hst Survey For Z>1 Supernovae By Targeting Galaxy Clusters, K S. Dawson, G Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, L F. Barrientos, M Brodwin, N Connolly, A Dey, M Doi, M Donahue, P Eisenhardt, E Ellingson, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, D G. Gilbank, M D. Gladders, G Goldhaber, A H. Gonzalez, A Goobar, A Gude, T Hattori, H Hoekstra, Xiaosheng Huang, Y Ihara, B T. Jannuzi, D Johnston, K Kashikawa, B Koester, K Konishi, M Kowalski, C Lidman, E V. Linder, L Lubin, J Meyers, T Morokuma, F Munshi, C Mullis, T Oda, N Panagia, S Perlmutter, M Postman, T Pritchard, J Rhodes, P Rosati, D Rubin, D J. Schlegel, A Spadafora, S A. Stanford, V Stanishev, D Stern, M Strovink, N Suzuki, N Takanashi, K Tokita, M Wagner, L Wang, N Yasuda, H. K. C. Yee, Supernova Cosmology Project Jan 2009

An Intensive Hst Survey For Z>1 Supernovae By Targeting Galaxy Clusters, K S. Dawson, G Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, L F. Barrientos, M Brodwin, N Connolly, A Dey, M Doi, M Donahue, P Eisenhardt, E Ellingson, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, D G. Gilbank, M D. Gladders, G Goldhaber, A H. Gonzalez, A Goobar, A Gude, T Hattori, H Hoekstra, Xiaosheng Huang, Y Ihara, B T. Jannuzi, D Johnston, K Kashikawa, B Koester, K Konishi, M Kowalski, C Lidman, E V. Linder, L Lubin, J Meyers, T Morokuma, F Munshi, C Mullis, T Oda, N Panagia, S Perlmutter, M Postman, T Pritchard, J Rhodes, P Rosati, D Rubin, D J. Schlegel, A Spadafora, S A. Stanford, V Stanishev, D Stern, M Strovink, N Suzuki, N Takanashi, K Tokita, M Wagner, L Wang, N Yasuda, H. K. C. Yee, Supernova Cosmology Project

Physics and Astronomy

We present a new survey strategy to discover and study high redshift Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). By targeting massive galaxy clusters at 0.9<zHST field survey and a factor of three improvement in the total yield of SN detections in relatively dust-free red-sequence galaxies. In total, sixteen SNe were discovered at z>0.95, nine of which were in galaxy clusters. This strategy provides a SN sample that can be used to decouple the effects of host galaxy extinction and intrinsic color in high redshift SNe, thereby reducing one of the …


Hubble Space Telescope Discovery Of A Z = 3.9 Multiply Imaged Galaxy Behind The Complex Cluster Lens Warps J1415.1+36 At Z = 1.026, Xiaosheng Huang, T Morokuma, Hk Fakhouri, G Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, M Brodwin, Nv Connolly, Ks Dawson, M Doi, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, As Fruchter, G Goldhaber, Md Gladders, Jf Hennawi, Y Ihara, Mj Jee, M Kowalski, K Konishi, C Lidman, J Meyers, La Moustakas, S Perlmutter, D Rubin, Dj Schlegel, Al Spadafora, N Suzuki, N Takanashi, N Yasuda Jan 2009

Hubble Space Telescope Discovery Of A Z = 3.9 Multiply Imaged Galaxy Behind The Complex Cluster Lens Warps J1415.1+36 At Z = 1.026, Xiaosheng Huang, T Morokuma, Hk Fakhouri, G Aldering, R Amanullah, K Barbary, M Brodwin, Nv Connolly, Ks Dawson, M Doi, L Faccioli, V Fadeyev, As Fruchter, G Goldhaber, Md Gladders, Jf Hennawi, Y Ihara, Mj Jee, M Kowalski, K Konishi, C Lidman, J Meyers, La Moustakas, S Perlmutter, D Rubin, Dj Schlegel, Al Spadafora, N Suzuki, N Takanashi, N Yasuda

Physics and Astronomy

We report the discovery of a multiply lensed Ly Alpha (Lya) emitter at z = 3.90 behind the massive galaxy cluster WARPS J1415.1+3612 at z = 1.026. Images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope(HST) using ACS reveal a complex lensing system that produces a prominent, highly magnified arc and a triplet of smaller arcs grouped tightly around a spectroscopically confirmed cluster member. Spectroscopic observations using FOCAS on Subaru confirm strong Lya emission in the source galaxy and provide redshifts for more than 21 cluster members, from which we obtain a velocity dispersion of 807+/-185 km/s. Assuming a singular isothermal sphere …


Constraints On First-Light Ionizing Sources From Optical Depth Of The Cosmic Microwave Background, J Shull, Aparna Venkatesan Jan 2008

Constraints On First-Light Ionizing Sources From Optical Depth Of The Cosmic Microwave Background, J Shull, Aparna Venkatesan

Physics and Astronomy

We examine the constraints on high-redshift star formation, ultraviolet and X-ray preionization, and the epoch of reionization at redshift zr, inferred from the recent WMAP-5 measurement, τe = 0.084 ± 0.016, of the electron- scattering optical depth of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Half of this scattering can be accounted for by the optical depth, τe = 0.04-0.05, of a fully ionized intergalactic medium (IGM) at z ≤ zGP ≈ 6-7, consistent with Gunn-Peterson absorption in neutral hydrogen. The required additional optical depth, Δτe = 0.03 ± 0.02 atz > zGP, …


A Cosmic Milestone: Constraints From Metal-Poor Halo Stars On The Cosmological Reionization Epoch, Aparna Venkatesan Jan 2006

A Cosmic Milestone: Constraints From Metal-Poor Halo Stars On The Cosmological Reionization Epoch, Aparna Venkatesan

Physics and Astronomy

Theoretical studies and current observations of the high-redshift intergalactic medium (IGM) indicate that at least two cosmic transitions occur by the time the universe reaches gas metallicities of about 10-3 Z. One is the cosmological reionization of the IGM, and the second is the transition from a primordial to present-day mode of star formation. We quantify this relation through new calculations of the ionizing radiation produced in association with the elements carbon, oxygen, and silicon observed in Galactic metal-poor halo stars, which are likely second-generation objects formed in the wake of primordial supernovae. We demonstrate that sufficient …


The Radiative Transport Of Dust In Primordial Galaxies And Second-Generation Star Formation, Aparna Venkatesan, Biman B. Nath, J Shull Jan 2006

The Radiative Transport Of Dust In Primordial Galaxies And Second-Generation Star Formation, Aparna Venkatesan, Biman B. Nath, J Shull

Physics and Astronomy

We investigate the radiativetransport of dust inprimordial galaxies in thepresence of the UVradiation field from thefirst metal-free stars. Wefind that dust createdin the first supernova(SN) explosions can bedriven through the interiorof the SN remnantto accumulate in theSN shells, where second-generationstars may form fromcompressed cooling gas. Thisscenario requires metal-free starsto form continuously overtimescales of up to10 Myr, consistent withrecent estimates. Silicate andgraphite grains, as wellas iron-bearing magnetites, aretransported to the shellsfor reasonable parameter assumptions,but their relative yieldsfrom primordial SNe isan important factor inthe resulting abundance ratios.We compare the resultsof segregated grain transportwith the current nucleosyntheticdata on extremely metal-poorGalactic halo stars. Fossilsignatures …


Nucleosynthesis, Reionization, And The Mass Function Of The First Stars, Jason Tumlinson, Aparna Venkatesan, J Shull Jan 2004

Nucleosynthesis, Reionization, And The Mass Function Of The First Stars, Jason Tumlinson, Aparna Venkatesan, J Shull

Physics and Astronomy

We critique the hypothesisthat the first starswere very massive stars(VMSs; M > 140 M).We review the twomajor lines of evidencefor the existence ofVMSs: (1) that therelative metal abundances ofextremely metal-poor Galactic halostars show evidence ofVMS enrichment and (2)that the high electron-scatteringoptical depth (e) tothe cosmic microwave backgroundfound by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe(WMAP) requires VMSs forreionization in a concordanceCDM cosmology. The yieldpatterns of VMSs explodingas pair-instability supernovae areincompatible with the Fe-peakand r-process abundances inhalo stars. Models includingType II supernovae and/or"hypernovae" from zero-metallicity progenitorswith M = 840 Mcan better explain theobserved trends. We usethe …


The Ionizing Efficiency Of The First Stars, Aparna Venkatesan, James W. Truran Jan 2003

The Ionizing Efficiency Of The First Stars, Aparna Venkatesan, James W. Truran

Physics and Astronomy

We investigate whether a single population of first stars could have influenced both the metal enrichment and reionization of the high-redshift intergalactic medium (IGM), by calculating the generated ionizing radiation per unit metal yield as a function of the metallicity of stellar populations. We examine the relation between the ionizing radiation and carbon created by the first stars, since the evidence for the widespread enrichment of the IGM at redshifts z about 3-4 comes from the detection of C IV absorption. We find that the number of ionizing photons per baryon generated in association with the detected IGM metallicity may …


Feedback From The First Supernovae In Protogalaxies: The Fate Of The Generated Metals, Keiichi Wada, Aparna Venkatesan Jan 2003

Feedback From The First Supernovae In Protogalaxies: The Fate Of The Generated Metals, Keiichi Wada, Aparna Venkatesan

Physics and Astronomy

We investigate the chemo-dynamical effects of multiple supernova explosions in the central region of primordial galaxies using three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of the inhomogenous interstellar medium down to parsec-scales. We find that the final protogalactic structure and metal distribution depend strongly on the number of SNe. Specifically, 1) 1000 SNe after an instantaneous burst of star formation are sufficient to almost completely blow away the gas in these systems, whereas 2) 100 SN explosions trigger the collapse of the protogalactic cloud, leading to the formation of a cold, dense clumpy disk (n > 300 cm^-3) with metallicity, Z = 4 10^-4 Z_sun. …


Cosmological Effects Of The First Stars: Evolving Spectra Of Population Iii, Jason Tumlinson, J Shull, Aparna Venkatesan Jan 2003

Cosmological Effects Of The First Stars: Evolving Spectra Of Population Iii, Jason Tumlinson, J Shull, Aparna Venkatesan

Physics and Astronomy

The first stars hold intrinsic interest for their uniqueness and for their potentially important contributions to galaxy formation, chemical enrichment, and feedback on the intergalactic medium (IGM). Although the sources of cosmological reionization are unknown at present, the declining population of large bright quasars at redshifts z > 3 implies that stars are the leading candidates for the sources that reionized the hydrogen in the IGM by z ~ 6. The metal-free composition of the first stars restricts the stellar energy source to proton-proton burning rather than the more efficient CNO cycle. Consequently, they are hotter, smaller, and have harder spectra …


Evolving Spectra Of Population Iii Stars: Consequences For Cosmological Reionization, Aparna Venkatesan, Jason Tumlinson, J Shull Jan 2003

Evolving Spectra Of Population Iii Stars: Consequences For Cosmological Reionization, Aparna Venkatesan, Jason Tumlinson, J Shull

Physics and Astronomy

We examine the significance of the first metal-free stars (Population III) for the cosmological reionization of H I and He II. These stars have unusually hard spectra, with the integrated ionizing photon rates from a Population III stellar cluster for H I and He II being 1.6 and 105 times stronger, respectively, than those from a Population II cluster. For the currently favored cosmology, we find that Population III stars alone can reionize H I at redshifts of z 9 and 4.7 and He II at z 5.1 and 0.7 for continuous and instantaneous modes of star formation, respectively. …


Mutual Constraints Between Reionization Models And Parameter Extraction From Cosmic Microwave Background Data, Aparna Venkatesan Jan 2002

Mutual Constraints Between Reionization Models And Parameter Extraction From Cosmic Microwave Background Data, Aparna Venkatesan

Physics and Astronomy

Spectroscopic studies of high-redshift objects and increasingly precise data on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) are beginning to independently place strong complementary bounds on the epoch of hydrogen reionization. Parameter estimation from current CMB data continues, however, to be subject to several degeneracies. Here, we focus on those degeneracies in CMB parameter forecasts related to the optical depth to reionization. We extend earlier work on the mutual constraints that such analyses of CMB data and a reionization model may place on each other to a more general parameter set and to the case of data anticipated from the MAP satellite. …


Heating And Ionization Of The Intergalactic Medium By An Early X-Ray Background, Aparna Venkatesan, Mark L. Giroux, J Shull Jan 2001

Heating And Ionization Of The Intergalactic Medium By An Early X-Ray Background, Aparna Venkatesan, Mark L. Giroux, J Shull

Physics and Astronomy

Observational studies indicate that the intergalactic medium (IGM) is highly ionized up to redshifts just over 6. A number of models have been developed to describe the process of reionization and the effects of the ionizing photons from the first luminous objects. In this paper we study the impact of an X-ray background, such as high-energy photons from early quasars, on the temperature and ionization of the IGM prior to reionization, before the fully ionized bubbles associated with individual sources have overlapped. X-rays have large mean free paths relative to EUV photons, and their photoelectrons can have significant effects on …


A Spectroscopic Redshift For The Cl 0024+16 Multiple Arc System: Implications For The Central Mass Distribution, Tom Broadhurst, Xiaosheng Huang, Brenda Frye, Richard Ellis May 2000

A Spectroscopic Redshift For The Cl 0024+16 Multiple Arc System: Implications For The Central Mass Distribution, Tom Broadhurst, Xiaosheng Huang, Brenda Frye, Richard Ellis

Physics and Astronomy

We present a spectroscopic redshift of z = 1.675 for the well-known multiply lensed system of arcs seen in the z = 0.39 cluster Cl 0024+16. In contrast to earlier work, we find that the lensed images are accurately reproduced by a projected mass distribution which traces the locations of the brightest cluster elliptical galaxies, suggesting that the most significant minima of the cluster potential are not dynamically erased. The averaged mass profile is shallow and consistent with predictions of recent numerical simulations. The source redshift enables us to determine an enclosed cluster mass of M(<100 kpc h-1) = …


The Optical Depth To Reionization As A Probe Of Cosmological And Astrophysical Parameters, Aparna Venkatesan Jan 2000

The Optical Depth To Reionization As A Probe Of Cosmological And Astrophysical Parameters, Aparna Venkatesan

Physics and Astronomy

Current data of high-redshift absorption-line systems imply that hydrogen reionization occurred before redshifts of about 5. Previous works on reionization by the first stars or quasars have shown that such scenarios are described by a large number of cosmological and astrophysical parameters. Here we adopt a semianalytic model of stellar reionization in order to quantify how the optical depth to reionization depends on such parameters, and combine this with constraints from the cosmic microwave background (CMB). We find this approach to be particularly useful in alleviating the well-known degeneracy in CMB parameter extraction between the optical depth to reionization and …


Neutron Stars And Black Holes As Machos, Aparna Venkatesan, Angela V. Olinto, James W. Truran Jan 1999

Neutron Stars And Black Holes As Machos, Aparna Venkatesan, Angela V. Olinto, James W. Truran

Physics and Astronomy

We consider the contribution of neutron stars and black holes to the dynamical mass of galactic halos. In particular, we show that if these compact objects were produced by an early generation of stars with initial metallicity 10-4 Z, they can contribute at most 30%-40% of the Galactic halo mass without creating supersolar levels of enrichment. We show that the case for halo neutron stars and black holes cannot be rejected on metal overproduction arguments alone because of the critical factor of the choice of progenitor metallicity in determining the yields. We show that this scenario satisfies …


Constraints On The Production Of Ultra–High-Energy Cosmic Rays By Isolated Neutron Stars, Aparna Venkatesan, M Coleman Miller, Angela V. Olinto Jan 1997

Constraints On The Production Of Ultra–High-Energy Cosmic Rays By Isolated Neutron Stars, Aparna Venkatesan, M Coleman Miller, Angela V. Olinto

Physics and Astronomy

The energetics, spectrum, and composition of cosmic rays with energies below ~1015 eV are fairly well explained by models involving supernova shocks. In contrast, no widely accepted theory exists for the origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), which have energies above 1015 eV. Instead of proposing a specific model, here we place strong constraints on any model of UHECRs involving isolated neutron stars (no companions). We consider the total power requirements and show that the only viable power source associated with isolated neutron stars is rotation. Mechanisms based on accretion from the interstellar medium fall short of the …