Po-Chieh Yu

Illuminating gravitational waves: A concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger

GROWTH observations of GW170817 The gravitational wave event GW170817 was caused by the merger of two neutron stars (see the Introduction by Smith). In three papers, teams associated with the GROWTH (Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen) project present their observations of the event at wavelengths from x-rays to radio waves. Evans et al. used space telescopes to detect GW170817 in the ultraviolet and place limits on its x-ray flux, showing that the merger generated a hot explosion known as a blue kilonova. Hallinan et al. describe radio emissions generated as the explosion slammed into the surrounding gas within the host galaxy. Kasliwal et al. present additional observations in the optical and infrared and formulate a model for the event involving a cocoon of material expanding at close to the speed of light, matching the data at all observed wavelengths. Science, this issue p. 1565, p. 1579, p. 1559; see also p. 1554 Observations of a binary neutron star merger at multiple wavelengths can be explained by an off-axis relativistic cocoon model. Merging neutron stars offer an excellent laboratory for simultaneously studying strong-field gravity and matter in extreme environments. We establish the physical association of an electromagnetic counterpart (EM170817) with gravitational waves (GW170817) detected from merging neutron stars. By synthesizing a panchromatic data set, we demonstrate that merging neutron stars are a long-sought production site forging heavy elements by r-process nucleosynthesis. The weak gamma rays seen in EM170817 are dissimilar to classical short gamma-ray bursts with ultrarelativistic jets. Instead, we suggest that breakout of a wide-angle, mildly relativistic cocoon engulfing the jet explains the low-luminosity gamma rays, the high-luminosity ultraviolet-optical-infrared, and the delayed radio and x-ray emission. We posit that all neutron star mergers may lead to a wide-angle cocoon breakout, sometimes accompanied by a successful jet and sometimes by a choked jet.

Spatially Resolved MaNGA Observations of the Host Galaxy of Superluminous Supernova 2017egm

Superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) are found predominantly in dwarf galaxies, indicating that their progenitors have a low metallicity. However, the most nearby SLSN to date, SN 2017egm, occurred in the spiral galaxy NGC 3191, which has a relatively high stellar mass and correspondingly high metallicity. In this paper, we present detailed analysis of the nearby environment of SN 2017egm using MaNGA IFU data, which provides spectral data on kiloparsec scales. From the velocity map we find no evidence that SN 2017egm occurred within some intervening satellite galaxy, and at the SN position most metallicity diagnostics yield a solar and above solar metallicity (12 + log (O/H) = 8.8-9.1). Additionally we measure a small H-alpha equivalent width (EW) at the SN position of just 34 Angs, which is one of the lowest EWs measured at any SLSN or Gamma-Ray Burst position, and indicative of the progenitor star being comparatively old. We also compare the observed properties of NGC 3191 with other SLSN host galaxies. The solar-metallicity environment at the position of SN 2017egm presents a challenge to our theoretical understanding, and our spatially resolved spectral analysis provides further constraints on the progenitors of SLSNe.

IONIZATION MECHANISMS OF HBLR AND NON-HBLR SEYFERT 2 GALAXIES

We investigate the ionization mechanisms for hidden broad-line region (HBLR) and non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies by comparing some optical emission line ratios. We note that the [N II] {lambda}6583/H{alpha} ratio of the non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies is significantly higher than that of the HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies while other line ratios, such as [O III]/H{beta} and [O I]/H{alpha}, are similar. To probe the origin of this difference, we explore theoretical results of different ionization models, such as photoionization, starburst, and shock models. We find that none of these models can explain the high [N II] {lambda}6583/H{alpha} ratio of the non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies with solar abundance; the high [N II] {lambda}6583/H{alpha} must be reproduced from enhanced nitrogen abundance. Since nitrogen overabundance can be achieved from the dredge-up of red supergiants in the post-main-sequence stage, we suggest that the observed nitrogen overabundance of the non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies might be caused by stellar evolution, and there could be an evolutionary connection between the HBLR and non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies.

DUST MORPHOLOGY OF HIDDEN BROAD-LINE REGION AND NON-HIDDEN BROAD-LINE REGION SEYFERT 2 GALAXIES

We investigate the nuclear dust properties of hidden broad-line region (HBLR) and non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies. Optical images obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope for a selected sample of HBLR and non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies are fitted with the Galfit package to probe the inner structures of these galaxies within the central 1 kpc regions. Most of the galaxies show complicated dust features in these regions. However, the dust morphology shows no significant difference between the HBLR and non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies. Dust masses inside the 1 kpc nuclear regions (M1 kpc) are estimated from the obscuration levels in the central regions of these galaxies. We compare our results with other observed properties, including [O III], far-infrared, and radio emission. We find that the HBLR and non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies show different near-infrared colors and M1 kpc-FIR correlations, indicating that these two classes of Seyfert 2 galaxies are dominated by different emission mechanisms. We suggest that they are intrinsically different and cannot be explained by the standard unification model.

TESTING THE EVOLUTIONARY SEQUENCE BETWEEN HIDDEN BROAD-LINE REGION (HBLR) AND NON-HBLR SEYFERT 2 GALAXIES WITH THE 4000 A BREAK STRENGTHS

We compare the 4000 A break (Dn (4000)) strength in the central kpc of hidden broad-line region (HBLR) and non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies to investigate the origin of these galaxies. Our results show that the Dn (4000) strengths in the nuclear regions of the non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies are larger than those in the HBLR galaxies. We also show that the Dn (4000) strength is not related to the morphology of host galaxies. These results imply that the non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies have an older stellar population in nuclear regions than the HBLR galaxies. This suggests that an evolutionary connection might exist between non-HBLR and HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies. We propose a potential evolutionary scenario and a modified unification model for Seyfert galaxies. In this scheme, Seyfert 1 and HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies evolve into unabsorbed and absorbed non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies. We also discuss the implications of our results in the hydrogen column density distribution of the non-HBLR Seyfert 2 galaxies.

Searching for Be Stars in the Open Cluster NGC 663

We present Be star candidates in the open cluster NGC\,663, identified by H

Discovery of a very Lyman- α -luminous quasar at z = 6.62

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Be STARS IN THE OPEN CLUSTER NGC 6830

imaging photometry with the Palomar Transient Factory Survey, as a pilot program to investigate how the Be star phenomena, the emission spectra, extended circumstellar envelopes, and fast rotation, correlate with massive stellar evolution. Stellar membership of the candidates was verified by 2MASS magnitudes and colors, and by proper motions. We discover 4 new Be stars and exclude one known Be star from being a member due to its inconsistent proper motions. The fraction of Be stars to member stars [N(Be)/N(members)] in NGC\,663 is 3.5\%. The spectral type of the 34 Be stars in NGC\,663 shows bimodal peaks at B0--B2 and B5--B7, which is consistent with the statistics in most star clusters. Additionally, we also discover 23 emission-line stars of different types, including non-member Be stars, dwarfs, and giants.

THE PALOMAR TRANSIENT FACTORY AND RR LYRAE: THE METALLICITY–LIGHT CURVE RELATION BASED ON AB-TYPE RR LYRAE IN THE KEPLER FIELD

Distant luminous quasars provide important information on the growth of the first supermassive black holes, their host galaxies and the epoch of reionization. The identification of quasars is usually performed through detection of their Lyman-α line redshifted to 0.9 microns at z > 6.5. Here, we report the discovery of a very Lyman-α luminous quasar, PSO J006.1240 + 39.2219 at redshift z = 6.618, selected based on its red colour and multi-epoch detection of the Lyman-α emission in a single near-infrared band. The Lyman-α line luminosity of PSO J006.1240 + 39.2219 is unusually high and estimated to be 0.8 × 1012 Solar luminosities (about 3% of the total quasar luminosity). The Lyman-α emission of PSO J006.1240 + 39.2219 shows fast variability on timescales of days in the quasar rest frame, which has never been detected in any of the known high-redshift quasars. The high luminosity of the Lyman-α line, its narrow width and fast variability resemble properties of local Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxies which suggests that the quasar is likely at the active phase of the black hole growth accreting close or even beyond the Eddington limit.

Searching for classical Be stars in LAMOST DR1

We report the discovery of 2 new Be stars, and re-identify one known Be star in the open cluster NGC 6830. Eleven H-alpha emitters were discovered using the H-alpha imaging photometry of the Palomar Transient Factory Survey. Stellar membership of the candidates was verified with photometric and kinematic information using 2MASS data and proper motions. The spectroscopic confirmation was carried out by using the Shane 3-m telescope at Lick observatory. Based on their spectral types, three H-alpha emitters were confirmed as Be stars with H-alpha equivalent widths > -10 Angstrom. Two objects were also observed by the new spectrograph SED-Machine on the Palomar 60 inch Telescope. The SED-Machine results show strong H-alpha emission lines, which are consistent with the results of the Lick observations. The high efficiency of the SED-Machine can provide rapid observations for Be stars in a comprehensive survey in the future.