Y. L. Qiu

Spectrum Analysis of the Type Ib Supernova SN 1999dn: Probable Identifications of C II and Hα

Low-resolution spectra of SN 1999dn at early times are presented and compared with synthetic spectra generated with the parameterized supernova synthetic spectrum code SYNOW. We find that the spectra of SN 1999dn strongly resemble those of SN 1997X and SN 1984L, and hence we classify it as a Type Ib event. Line identifications are established through spectrum synthesis. Strong evidence of both Hα and C II λ6580 is found. We infer that Hα appears first, before the time of maximum brightness, and then is blended with and finally overwhelmed by the C II line after maximum; this favors a thin high-velocity hydrogen skin in this Type Ib supernova.

Optical Observations of the Rapidly Expanding Type Ia Supernova 2007gi

We present optical photometry and spectra for the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2007gi in the nearby galaxy NGC 4036. SN 2007gi is characterized by extremely high-velocity (HV) features of the intermediate-mass elements (Si, Ca, and S), with expansion velocities (vexp) approaching ∼15;500 kms � 1 near-maximum brightness (compared to ∼10;600 kms � 1 for SNe Ia with normal vexp). SN 2007gi reached a B-band peak magnitude of 13:25 � 0:04 mag with a decline rate of Δm15ðBÞðtrue Þ¼ 1:33 � 0:09 mag. The B-band light curve of SN 2007gi demonstrated an interesting two-stage evolution during the nebular phase, with a decay rate of 1:16 � 0:05 mag ð100 daysÞ � 1 during t ¼ 60-90 days and 1:61 � 0:04 mag ð100 daysÞ � 1 thereafter. Such behavior was also ob- served in the HV SN Ia 2006X, and might be caused by the interaction between supernova ejecta and circumstellar material (CSM) around HV SNe Ia. Based on a sample of a dozen well-observed R band (or unfiltered) light curves of SNe Ia, we confirm that the HV events may have a faster rise time to maximum than those with normal vexp.

CCD Photometry of Candidate RR Lyrae Stars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We present unfiltered CCD photometry of a sample of 71 candidate RR Lyrae stars during 2003 and 2004, out of 148 candidate stars that were selected from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) commissioning data by Ivezic and coworkers. We obtain light curves of 69 candidate stars and present a catalog of their positions, amplitudes, periods, types, and mean magnitudes. We confirm that the 69 stars are true RR Lyrae variables based on periods and light curves, for the first time for 41 of them. We identify 57 type ab, 11 type c, and 1 type d (double-mode) in our sample. The double-mode RR Lyrae star shows properties similar to globular cluster stars and are unlike field stars of the Galactic halo in the Petersen diagram. We also find one RR Lyrae star that is related to Pal 5 and recover another. In our sample, only two candidate stars do not have a reasonable light curve. We conclude that the ratio of contamination in our sample is less than ~8%, which shows that the criteria used by Ivezic and coworkers to select RR Lyrae stars from the SDSS two-epoch data are reliable.

Evidence for Magnetar Formation in Broad-lined Type Ic Supernovae1998bw and 2002ap

Broad-lined type Ic supernovae (SNe Ic-BL) are peculiar stellar explosions that distinguish themselves from ordinary SNe. Some SNe Ic-BL are associated with long-duration (\gtrsim 2 s) gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Black holes and magnetars are two types of compact objects that are hypothesized to be central engines of GRBs. In spite of decades of investigations, no direct evidence for the formation of black holes or magnetars has been found for GRBs so far. Here we report the finding that the early peak (t \lesssim 50 days) and late-time (t \gtrsim 300 days) slow decay displayed in the light curves of both SNe 1998bw (associated with GRB 980425) and 2002ap (not GRB-associated) can be attributed to magnetar spin-down with initial rotation period P0 \sim 20 ms, while the intermediate-time (50 \lesssim t \lesssim 300 days) linear decline is caused by radioactive decay of 56Ni. The connection between the early peak and late-time slow decline in the light curves is unexpected in alternative models. We thus suggest that GRB 980425 and SN 2002ap were powered by magnetars.

A Global Photoionization Response to Prompt Emission and Outliers: Different Origin of Long Gamma-ray Bursts?

By using the line ratio \ion{C}{4}

A New Serial-direction Trail Effect in CCD Images of the Lunar-based Ultraviolet Telescope

\lambda1549

An unprecedented constraint on water content in the sunlit lunar exosphere seen by Lunar-based Ultraviolet Telescope of Chang׳e-3 mission

/\ion{C}{2}

Lunar exosphere influence on lunar-based near-ultraviolet astronomical observations

\lambda1335

18-Months operation of Lunar-based Ultraviolet Telescope: a highly stable photometric performance

as a tracer of ionization ratio of the interstellar medium (ISM) illuminated by a long gamma-ray burst (LGRB), we identify a global photoionization response of the ionization ratio to the photon luminosity of the prompt emission assessed by either

Astrometric Support for the Lunar-based Ultraviolet Telescope

L_{\mathrm{iso}}/E_{\mathrm{peak}}