John R. Thorstensen

The Quadruple Gravitational Lens PG 1115+080: Time Delays and Models

Optical photometry is presented for the quadruple gravitational lens PG 1115+080. A preliminary reduction of data taken from 1995 November to 1996 June gives component C leading component B by 23.7 ? 3.4 days and components A1 and A2 by 9.4 days. A range of models has been fitted to the image positions, none of which gives an adequate fit. The best-fitting and most physically plausible of these, taking the lensing galaxy and the associated group of galaxies to be singular isothermal spheres, gives a Hubble constant of 42 km s-1 Mpc-1 for ? = 1, with an observational uncertainty of 14%, as computed from the B - C time delay measurement. Taking the lensing galaxy to have an approximately E5 isothermal mass distribution yields H0 = 64 km s-1 Mpc-1, while taking the galaxy to be a point mass gives H0 = 84 km s-1 Mpc-1. The former gives a particularly bad fit to the position of the lensing galaxy, while the latter is inconsistent with measurements of nearby galaxy rotation curves. Constraints on these and other possible models are expected to improve with planned Hubble Space Telescope observations.

THE PECULIAR TYPE Ic SUPERNOVA 1997ef: ANOTHER HYPERNOVA

SN 1997ef has been recognized as a peculiar supernova from its light curve and spectral properties. The object was classified as a Type Ic supernova (SN Ic) because its spectra were dominated by broad absorption lines of oxygen and iron, lacking any clear signs of hydrogen or helium line features. The light curve is very different from that of previously known SNe Ic, showing a very broad peak and a slow tail. The strikingly broad line features in the spectra of SN 1997ef, which were also seen in the hypernova SN 1998bw, suggest the interesting possibility that SN 1997ef may also be a hypernova. The light curve and spectra of SN 1997ef were modeled first with a standard SN Ic model assuming an ordinary kinetic energy of explosion EK = 1051 ergs. The explosion of a CO star of mass MCO ≈ 6 M☉ gives a reasonably good fit to the light curve but clearly fails to reproduce the broad spectral features. Then, models with larger masses and energies were explored. Both the light curve and the spectra of SN 1997ef are much better reproduced by a C+O star model with EK = 8 × 1051 ergs and MCO = 10 M☉. Therefore, we conclude that SN 1997ef is very likely a hypernova on the basis of its kinetic energy of explosion. Finally, implications for the deviation from spherical symmetry are discussed in an effort to improve the fits to the observations.SN 1997ef has been recognized as a peculiar supernova from its light curve and spectral properties. The object was classified as a Type Ic supernova (SN Ic) because its spectra are dominated by broad absorption lines of oxygen and iron, lacking any clear signs of hydrogen or helium line features. The light curve is very different from that of previously known SNe Ic, showing a very broad peak and a slow tail. The strikingly broad line features in the spectra of SN 1997ef, which were also seen in the hypernova SN 1998bw, suggest the interesting possibility that SN 1997ef may also be a hypernova. The light curve and spectra of SN 1997ef were modeled first with a standard SN~Ic model assuming an ordinary kinetic energy of explosion

Parallaxes and Distance Estimates for 14 Cataclysmic Variable Stars

E_{\rm K} = 10^{51}

PG0027 + 260 - An example of a class of cataclysmic binaries with mysterious, but consistent, behavior

erg. The explosion of a CO star of mass

HS 2331+3905: The cataclysmic variable that has it all

M_{\rm CO} \approx 6 M_\odot

GRB 021004: A Possible Shell Nebula around a Wolf-Rayet Star Gamma-Ray Burst Progenitor*

gives a reasonably good fit to the light curve but clearly fails to reproduce the broad spectral features. Then, models with larger masses and energies were explored. Both the light curve and the spectra of SN 1997ef are much better reproduced by a C+O star model with

GRB 991216 Joins the Jet Set: Discovery and Monitoring of Its Optical Afterglow

E_{\rm K} =

Is FIRST J102347.6+003841 Really a Cataclysmic Binary?*

8 \e{51} erg and

ORBITAL PERIODS FOR SEVEN DWARF NOVAE OF THE SU URSAE MAJORIS SUBCLASS FROM RADIAL VELOCITIES AT MINIMUM LIGHT

M_{\rm CO} = 10 M_\odot

1RXS J232953.9+062814: A Dwarf Nova with a 64 Minute Orbital Period and a Conspicuous Secondary Star*

. Therefore, we conclude that SN 1997ef is very likely a hypernova on the basis of its kinetic energy of explosion. Finally, implications for the deviation from spherical symmetry are discussed in an effort to improve the light curve and spectral fits.