Antonio Copete

A relativistic type Ibc supernova without a detected γ-ray burst

Long duration γ-ray bursts (GRBs) mark the explosive death of some massive stars and are a rare sub-class of type Ibc supernovae. They are distinguished by the production of an energetic and collimated relativistic outflow powered by a central engine (an accreting black hole or neutron star). Observationally, this outflow is manifested in the pulse of γ-rays and a long-lived radio afterglow. Until now, central-engine-driven supernovae have been discovered exclusively through their γ-ray emission, yet it is expected that a larger population goes undetected because of limited satellite sensitivity or beaming of the collimated emission away from our line of sight. In this framework, the recovery of undetected GRBs may be possible through radio searches for type Ibc supernovae with relativistic outflows. Here we report the discovery of luminous radio emission from the seemingly ordinary type Ibc SN 2009bb, which requires a substantial relativistic outflow powered by a central engine. A comparison with our radio survey of type Ibc supernovae reveals that the fraction harbouring central engines is low, about one per cent, measured independently from, but consistent with, the inferred rate of nearby GRBs. Independently, a second mildly relativistic supernova has been reported.

Panchromatic Observations of SN 2011dh Point to a Compact Progenitor Star

– 3 –the first three weeks after explosion. Combining these observations with earlyoptical photometry, we show that the panchromatic dataset is well-described bynon-thermal synchrotron emission (radio/mm) with inverse Compton scattering(X-ray) of a thermal population of optical photons. We derive the properties ofthe shockwave and the circumstellar environment and find a time-averaged shockvelocity of v ≈ 0.1c and a progenitor mass loss rate of M˙ ≈ 6 × 10

Spectral Response of THM Grown CdZnTe Crystals

The spectral response of several crystals grown by the Traveling Heater Method (THM) were investigated. An energy resolution of 0.98% for a Pseudo Frisch-Grid of 4 times 4 times 9 mm3 and 2.1% FWHM for a coplanar-grid of size 11 times 11 times 5 mm3 were measured using 137Cs-662 keV. In addition a 4% FWHM at 122 keV has also been measured on 20 times 20 X 5 mm3 monolithic pixellated devices. The material shows great potential toward producing large-volume detectors with spectral performance that meets the requirement for high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy.

THE HIGH-METALLICITY EXPLOSION ENVIRONMENT OF THE RELATIVISTIC SUPERNOVA 2009bb*

We investigate the environment of the nearby (d approximate to 40 Mpc) broad-lined Type Ic supernova (SN) 2009bb. This event was observed to produce a relativistic outflow likely powered by a central accreting compact object. While such a phenomenon was previously observed only in long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs), no LGRB was detected in association with SN 2009bb. Using an optical spectrum of the SN 2009bb explosion site, we determine a variety of interstellar medium properties for the host environment, including metallicity, young stellar population age, and star formation rate. We compare the SN explosion site properties to observations of LGRB and broad-lined SN Ic host environments on optical emission line ratio diagnostic diagrams. Based on these analyses, we find that the SN 2009bb explosion site has a metallicity between 1.7 Z(circle dot) and 3.5 Z(circle dot), in agreement with other broad-lined SN Ic host environments and at odds with the low-redshift LGRB host environments and recently proposed maximum metallicity limits for relativistic explosions. We consider the implications of these findings and the impact that SN 2009bbs unusual explosive properties and environment have on our understanding of the key physical ingredient that enables some SNe to produce a relativistic outflow.

Gamma Ray Spectroscopy with THM CdZnTe Detectors

Good uniformity in electron transport has been observed on Cd0.9Zn0.1Te crystals grown by the Traveling Heater Method (THM) using alpha-particle measurements. Excellent electron mobility-lifetime products have been measured consistently on the order of 1times 10-2 cm2/V. A coplanar-grid detector of size 10times10times5 mm3 has been fabricated from this material, and it shows an energy resolution of 2.1% FWHM at room temperature for 662 keV gamma rays. Pseudo Frisch-Grid 3times3times5 mm3 detectors fabricated from THM Cd0.9Zn0.1Te materials routinely exhibit near 1% FWHM @ 662 keV and < 3% FWHM @ 122 keV at room temperature while 4% FWHM at 122 kev has also been measured on 20times20times5 mm3 monolithic pixellated devices. Other material properties have been characterized using near-IR transmission microscopy, I-V, and Hall measurements. The material shows great potential toward producing large-volume detectors with excellent spectral performance for high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy, with uses in homeland security, nuclear nonproliferation, scientific research, and medical imaging applications.